For three years, they were two of the best college baseball players in the country and among the best to ever play for Arizona. But now they’re just two of many hoping to someday reach the big leagues.
Former Wildcat stars Brendan Summerhill and Mason White were back in town on Saturday, playing in an Arizona Fall League doubleheader at Kino Stadium. All four teams featured at least one player with ties to Southern Arizona, including a former high school teammate of White’s at Salpointe Catholic and a one-time
UA signee from Nogales who bypassed college for pro ball.
“Just being back here is so fun,” said Summerhill, who plays for the Scottsdale Scorpions. “Tucson’s got something in the air.”
Summerhill played center field and batted leadoff in the second game of the doubleheader, reaching base all four times in the 10-2 win over the Salt River Rafters. He had a single and double, walked and was hit by a pitch, scoring four runs and swiping a couple bases.
White, who played shortstop and hit fourth for the Mesa Solar Sox, was 0 for 4 in their 7-3 win over the Peoria Javelinas.
“It was really cool to play here,” said White, who learned he would play in the Arizona Fall League in August. “I never really thought about it until they announced the games here.”
The AFL, an annual monthlong league meant to showcase some of Major League Baseball’s top minor league prospects, has served as a springboard for players to get to the bigs. Former UA catcher Daniel Susac played for Mesa in 2024 and made his MLB debut this past season for the San Francisco Giants.
Summerhill and White just completed their first full season of pro ball, each getting drafted in 2025 after helping Arizona return to the College World Series. Summerhill was a supplemental 1st round pick of the Tampa Bay Rays while White was a 4th-round selection of the Boston Red Sox.
Both played well enough to earn in-season promotions, with White finishing the year at Double-A Portland and Summerhill rising to High-A Bowling Green.
“I hit a lot of the goals that I set for myself, and hopefully to continue that into Spring Training and then next year,” said White, who overall hit .251 with 18 home runs and 55 RBI in 101 games.
Summerhill, who combined to hit .251 with five homers and 45 RBI in 85 games, did not meet the expectations he set for 2026. At the same time, he felt he grew as a player thanks to the way the Rays organization has coached him.
“I hit a lot of the goals that I set for myself, and hopefully to continue that into Spring Training and then next year,” he said. “I think the big thing about the Rays is they …want you to be good at what you’re good at.”
Both Summerhill and White have stayed in touch with former UA teammates and coaches, with Summerhill catching Chip Hale’s ceremonial first pitch between games. White trained and worked out with the Wildcats between the end of his regular season and starting AFL play.
