Getting to know freshman NC State baseball slugger Tommy White
If you had not heard the name of NC State freshman first baseman Tommy White going into this past weekend’s season-opening series against Evansville, you probably have now.
White had one of the most spectacular debuts in a Wolfpack uniform, crushing five home runs and hitting at least one in all three games. That included homering in his first career at bat, one of three on opening day, and also smashing a grand slam in game two. His three homers Friday was just the second time since 1999 a NC State baseball player hit that many in a game.
Overall for the series, White went 9 of 14 at the plate, scored seven runs and drove in 12 while drawing a couple of walks, one of them intentional. For his efforts, White was named the ACC Baseball Player of the Week and the National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball.
Last week, The Wolfpacker had a chance to do a series of “getting to know” questions with White for an upcoming edition of the magazine.
Here is your chance to learn more about Tommy White, native of St. Pete Beach, Fla., off the field.
Best movie you have seen? “The Wolf of Wall Street. I think it’s really funny. There’s a lot of funny things that happen in that movie.”
Favorite concert you have been to? “Probably Dierks Bentley my sophomore year in high school. He did a lot of good songs, and I knew all of them. It was my first concert, and it was probably my favorite concert.”
So far what has been your favorite class? “I like my [Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management] class, Sports Management class intro. It’s good to know what’s going on for my major. I’m really interested in all the stuff he had to say. I think I’m in the right major.”
Besides baseball, what’s your favorite sport? “Definitely hockey. I’m a huge Tampa Bay Lightning fan. It’s probably my favorite sport to watch. I love baseball, baseball is my heart and soul, but hockey is definitely my favorite sport outside baseball. … It’s huge in Tampa where I’m from.”
Can you play it? “I can’t skate. I have [tried it] and I’ve fallen a couple of times.”
What’s an athlete you looked up to? “Probably Miguel Cabrera. He was always a hitter I mimicked after. He had a lot of opposite field power, which I try to do in my game. He plays the corners like myself, and he’s a big dude just that hits a lot of home runs. I’ve looked up to him in my career.”
Have you found a favorite restaurant around campus: “I haven’t really experienced restaurants around campus. I’ve been to Amedeo’s. That’s really good. We don’t have Cookout and Bojangles’ back home. It was really good to find those out, but probably Amedeo’s.”
What’s your favorite moment on a baseball team: “Probably my sophomore year of high school. We won a state championship. We were underdogs throughout the whole playoffs. It’s probably the best experience I’ve had on a baseball field. We won on a walk-off hit, and we all stormed the field, dog pile, it was just really fun.”
What’s the last show you binged watch on TV: “Outer Banks. I watched that in two or three days when it came out. It was really good.”
What’s your favorite ballpark that you have seen in person: “I got the opportunity to play in Globe Life Field for the Texas Rangers, that was really fun. Probably the best stadium I’ve seen though is when I went to Boston to see a couple of games at Fenway. You walk in and it’s just different. It’s awesome.”
You have a go-to spot on campus to hang out yet? “Not really. I just stay in my room, watch TV and do my homework. I am still new to campus.”
In one word, how would you describe Coach Avent: “Giving.”
——
• Talk about Tommy White and NC State baseball inside The Wolves’ Den
• Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes
• Subscribe to our YouTube channel
• Learn more about our print and digital publication, The Wolfpacker
• Follow us on Twitter: @TheWolfpacker
• Like us on Facebook
