Lonnie White Jr. could have been a Penn State wide receiver, perhaps one day assuming a prominent role for one of the top college football teams in the nation while playing in front of crowds numbering more than 100,000.

But he chose professional baseball and its much smaller crowds and lower profile, especially when he starts his career in the low minors.

An outfielder who graduated this year from Malvern Prep, White was selected 64th overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Competitive Balance B round of the MLB Draft. MLB Pipeline senior writer Jim Callis reported White signed for $1.5 million, $449,700 above slot.

“It was definitely very difficult, but I think the reason I decided this route was that it’s always been in my heart (since I was) a little kid,” White said Monday during a conference call with reporters. “This is just a dream come true to me.”

White, who was a four-star recruit in Penn State’s class of 2021, said he received guidance and support from his family while making up his mind.

“They’ve always been there for me. They’ve pushed me to be where I am today, so they’re a very big part of this.” he said.

He said Penn State coach James Frankllin, who was one of 23 college football coaches to offer White a scholarship, also was supportive, going as far as sending a good luck tweet toward White the day before the draft.

“It meant a lot, knowing that he wants the best for me, and it doesn’t matter if I went to Penn State or not,” White said. “He just wants the best for me personally. He wants me to be happy, which is awesome. He didn’t want to fight over me or anything like that. He’s just an awesome guy all-around.”

White said he understands baseball is a job now, but it’s also his first love. He was planning to play both sports at Penn State.

“I love to play the game. I could play it all year around,” he said. “And then you look at the school side, the school work, two sports. Each side would have been very difficult, but it would have been very difficult and not many people can do it (play two sports). And on (the baseball) side, it’s just my love for the game.

“I believe that once I get going and once I just focus on just baseball, it will become easier for me.”

White (6-foot-3, 212 pounds) was ranked No. 32 by Baseball America, No. 39 by ESPN and No. 72 by MLB Pipeline. He batted .395 with 11 doubles, five home runs and 25 RBIs as a senior at Malvern Prep, near Philadelphia, and received a 70 run grade on the scouts’ 20-80 scale.

In its scouting report, Baseball America called White “physically mature for his age, but he has the strength, bat speed and swing conducive to tapping into what should consistently be plus raw power.”

Baseball America also noted although White “is built like a corner outfielder, he’s a plus runner now with good instincts in center field.”

Pirates director of amateur scouting Joe DelliCarri said his scouts were impressed by White’s athleticism and by how he acted in the batter’s box.

“We watched him take on at-bats vs. high-level competition last summer coming off of a high school season and through last summer,” he said. “But, especially, watching him compete in some of the things he did in those at-bats offensively really stood out. We got a chance to see him face velocity. Got a chance to see him face a lot of different pitching. Handled himself extremely well in the batter’s box.

“But even moreso, watch him develop as that hitter first. The athlete and the body movements and the impact that he can get to are obvious.”

The Pirates did their part in keeping White and two other draft choices out of college by offering an over-slot bonus. Second-round selection Anthony Solometo, a left-handed pitcher from Bishop Eustace Prep in Pennsauken, N.J., was a North Carolina recruit before he signed for $2.8 million, the Pirates going $800,700 above slot value for the No. 37 pick.

Third-rounder Bubba Chandler, a right-hander and switch-hitting shortstop from North Oconee High in Bogart, Ga., was going to play quarterback at Clemson before signing for $3 million. That’s $2,130,000 above slot value for the No. 72 pick.

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