The proof is that the man who has just been named hitting coach for one of the two Frontier League expansion teams, the Bird Dawgs from Down East in North Carolina, still has his head in the game. the formation with which he played from 2019 to 2023.
“I think it will be a great experience,” says White about the adventure which begins in Kinston, a small town of nearly 20,000 inhabitants located a little over an hour’s drive in the suburbs of Raleigh. It’s not the Quebec Capitals, but I think it will be an enjoyable challenge.”
An air of deja vu
The Las Vegas native won’t be completely out of place since the local Grainger Stadium, an old 4,100-seat stadium built in 1948, has the feel of Canac Stadium, where the former first baseman made so many successes. friends during his visit to the capital. “It’ll remind me of the stadium, that’s for sure!” launches the former player-coach of the Capitals.
“Being back on a baseball field is something I’m really excited about.”
— TJ White, Down East Bird Dawgs’ new hitting instructor
The first manager in Bird Dawgs history, Brett Wellman, foiled his plans by offering him a position on his coaching staff on a silver platter and White couldn’t refuse the invitation of his friend. The two men got to know each other during their time with the Chattanooga Lookouts, a club affiliated with the Minnesota Twins at the AA level, a few years earlier.
“My initial idea was to take a few years off and see how things would go,” he says. But Brett really wanted me and things happened quickly.”
A storm of emotions
Last summer, the 32-year-old made a notable return to the Victoria Park stadium, where many Capitals fans went to meet him to check on him and remind him how much he was appreciated.
Even though we saw him smiling toothily, under his blue and yellow cap, White was overcome with great sadness to find himself as a visitor in what he considers to be one of the most beautiful places on earth, Quebec, his “second home”.
“It was the funbut it was very difficult at the same time, because I missed it all so much, says the former number 3. I was happy to be there and to see them win again, but I couldn’t help myself. stop telling myself that I could have been on the team for one more year. But people were once again amazing to me and I was happy.”
Happy for Demers
The thunderclap resounded in the Nevada desert last month when the resignation of Michel Laplante as president of the Capitals was announced. TJ White says he was “really surprised” by the news.
“I thought he would be there forever,” he reflects. It’s incredible what he and his family have done for Quebec. I’m very happy for Charles [Demers, le successeur]it’s really deserved.”
“He has worked so hard to climb the ladder in recent years.”
— TJ White, former player-coach of the Capitals
A visit in July 2025
The double champion (2022 and 2023) is not worried about the future. According to him, Quebec will be able to maintain its place on the independent baseball chessboard.
Even if he has just crossed over to the enemy camp, White will always be an outstanding ambassador for the Capitals. He tells anyone who will listen that he “loved everything” about Quebec, the city, its people and of course its ball club.
Does he expect to maintain his good popularity rating during his next visit in a Bird Dawgs uniform, July 18-20, 2025?
“I don’t know! he smiled. People have always treated me like I was family. It’s going to be really weird to find myself in the opposing camp. But I will only be a coach, not a player. I think it’s a little less bad, right?”
Have no fear, TJ!
