Devon White (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Devon White |
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White in 2009
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| Center fielder | |||
| Born: December 29, 1962 Kingston, Jamaica |
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| debut | |||
| September 2, 1985, for the California Angels | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 5, 2001, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .263 | ||
| Home runs | 208 | ||
| Runs batted in | 846 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Devon White, also known as "Devo," is a former professional baseball player. He was born in Jamaica on December 29, 1962. Devon was famous for being an amazing center fielder, which means he played in the middle of the outfield. He played for several teams in Major League Baseball (MLB). These teams included the California Angels, Toronto Blue Jays, Florida Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Milwaukee Brewers. After his playing days, White became a coach. He worked as a first base coach for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. He also briefly coached for the Blue Jays in 2022.
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Early Life and Name Change
Devon White was born as Devon Whyte in Kingston, Jamaica. When he was nine years old, his family moved to the United States. During this move, their family name was accidentally misspelled as "White" on their official papers.
Why His Name Changed
In 2003, Devon legally changed his last name back to its original spelling, Whyte. He did this because his children wanted him to. However, during his entire baseball career, everyone knew him as "Devon White." He still uses that spelling when he signs autographs for fans. His daughter, Davellyn Whyte, also became a professional athlete. She played basketball in the WNBA for two seasons.
High School Sports
Devon went to Park West High School in Manhattan, New York City. In high school, he mostly played basketball. He only started playing baseball after watching New York Yankees and Mets games on TV with his dad. Devon was so good at sports that he received a scholarship offer. This offer was to play both college basketball and college baseball for the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
Devon White's Baseball Career
Devon White was a talented player known for his speed and defense. He played for 17 seasons in Major League Baseball.
Playing for the California Angels
The California Angels chose Devon White in the 6th round of the 1981 draft. He first played in the major leagues in 1985. However, he became a regular player in 1987. That year, he showed off his power and speed. He hit 24 home runs and stole 32 bases. Stealing bases means running to the next base without the ball being hit.
In 1988, which was only his second full season, Devon won his first Gold Glove Award. This award is given to the best defensive players in baseball. He would go on to win seven Gold Gloves in his career. On September 9, 1989, he did something very rare. He got to first base, then stole second, then third, and finally home plate all in the same play.
Time with the Toronto Blue Jays
On December 2, 1990, Devon White was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays. He became a very important part of their team. With the Blue Jays, he won two World Series championships. The World Series is the championship series of Major League Baseball. He also won five more Gold Gloves while playing for Toronto.
Devon was known for playing even better in the playoffs. His batting average was much higher in playoff games than in regular season games. In 1992, his defense was so good that he led all of Major League Baseball in a stat called "Defensive Wins Above Replacement." This stat measures how much a player helps their team win with their defense.
Famous World Series Play
In Game 3 of the 1992 World Series against the Atlanta Braves, Devon White was part of a very famous play. A batter hit a fly ball, and Devon ran and caught it while jumping into the wall. Then, he threw the ball to second base. The players tried to get a triple play, which means getting three outs on one play. They almost did it, but the umpire missed a call. Even though it wasn't a triple play, it was still an amazing defensive effort.
While playing for the Blue Jays, Devon White even appeared on a Canadian children's TV show. He was on Under the Umbrella Tree in 1993. He talked with the puppet characters Jacob Bluejay and Iggy Iguana.
Playing for the Florida Marlins
After the 1995 season, Devon White joined the Florida Marlins. He won another World Series with them in 1997. This made him a three-time World Series champion. Devon is special because he was the batter for the last out of two different World Series games where his team won.
Later Years in Baseball
After playing for the Marlins, Devon White played for the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Milwaukee Brewers. He retired from playing baseball in 2002. On April 11, 2000, he made history for the Dodgers. He got the very first base hit in the new ballpark in San Francisco, which is now called Oracle Park.
Career Highlights
Over his 17 seasons, Devon White played in 1941 games. He had a batting average of .263. This means he got a hit about 26.3% of the time he batted. He also hit 208 home runs and had 846 RBI (Runs Batted In), which means he helped score 846 runs for his team. He was also very fast, stealing 346 bases. His defense was excellent, with a .986 fielding percentage. In 49 playoff games, he batted even better, with a .296 average.
Coaching Career
In January 2017, the Blue Jays organization hired Devon White. He became the hitting coach for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. In July 2022, he was called up to the Blue Jays to be a temporary first base coach. This happened when the regular coach, Mark Budzinski, was on leave. Devon did not return to the Bisons coaching staff after that season. Since 2024, he has been working as a "special assistant to player development" for the Blue Jays. This means he helps young players get better.
Personal Life
Devon White has a cousin named Jayden Hylton who also plays baseball.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders
