White, Mack Hope For Special Blue Wahoos Connection at MLB All-Star Futures Game

Thomas White and Joe Mack laughed at the suggestion.

Who will lobby Hall of Fame member and team manager Chipper Jones for them to be battery-mates in Saturday’s MLB All-Star Futures Game in Atlanta?

“I think it’s a little bit of both,” said Mack, former Blue Wahoos catcher, speaking earlier this week on the Miami Marlins Radio Network’s “Side Sessions” show.

“I think the dream scenario would be that I get the start and Joe can catch me, so we get the whole warmup together. That would be the dream scenario,” said White, the heralded 20-year-old lefthander, who joined the Blue Wahoos in late June and has made three starts as the No. 1 prospect in the Miami Marlins organization.

The starting lineups for Saturday’s Futures Game, which pairs touted prospects from National League teams against American League teams’ prospects, won’t be revealed until before the game. The seven-inning event begins at 3 p.m. (Central Time) from the Atlanta Braves’ Truist Park.

The game can be viewed on MLB TV, MLB Network and MLB.com. Chipper Jones, along with other former Atlanta Braves stars, lead the coaching staff for the National League stars in the Futures Games.

The Mack and White connection will be another noteworthy moment for the Blue Wahoos.

Mack began the 2025 season in Pensacola and his rapid progression, both as hitter and stopper behind the plate, earned a quick promotion to Triple-A Jacksonville. He helped the Jumbo Shrimp win the first half division title in the International League – the team’s first as a Triple-A member.

Mack was informed of his selection to play in Saturday’s Futures Game, following a Jacksonville road game in Syracuse.

“I’m very, very excited to be selected for this opportunity and get to go out and perform for the team and have a good time,” said Mack, speaking on the Marlins Radio Network program.

White has rare distinction of being chosen for this game in consecutive years. He pitched in the fourth inning of the 2024 Futures Game at the Texas Rangers ballpark in Arlington, Texas.

“Super pumped to be able to go back,” White said. “It’s a great experience. You feel like a big leaguer there for a couple of days. Great to be there with a couple guys I know, so super pumped about it.”

In last year’s game, ironically, White was relieved by Robby Snelling, then a San Diego Padres prospect before the Marlins traded for him. Snelling, the Marlins’ No. 3 rated prospect, was elevated this week from the Blue Wahoos to Jacksonville. He was outstanding in his return to Triple-A on Thursday night, twirling five scoreless innings in the Jumbo Shrimp win against Norfolk.

Snelling pitched one game for Jacksonville in September last year and was the Blue Wahoos staff ace the first half of this season.

For White, his return to the Futures Game experience brings some knowledge. Because this game begins a four-day set of activities around the MLB All-Star Game, it has a massive media contingent on the field during pregame warmups and contains a center-stage type of feel.

White said the hoopla affected him last year more than expected. He pitched two-thirds of an inning, allowing a run on one hit with three walks. Also in that 2024 game was fellow Marlins’ heralded pitching prospect and former No. 1 draft pick Noble Meyer, who has been with the Beloit Sky Carp in High-A so far this season.

“There is more publicity stuff before the game than I thought there would be,” White said on the Marlins Radio Network program. “So just making sure my body is ready to go out and pitch in the game. I don’t think I helped myself much with that last year, so knowing that I really need to set aside time for myself to get ready will be the big thing.”

Mack and White did not play in a game together during spring training, but did workout together in back field sessions as pitcher-catcher. Mack said he caught White “three or four times” during spring training.

White quipped: “He’s too good of a hitter for me to spend too much time around him.”