Garrett Mitchell (baseball)

Garrett Mitchell
Mitchell with UCLA
Milwaukee Brewers – No. 5
Center fielder
Born: (1998-09-04) September 4, 1998 (age 26)
Orange, California, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 27, 2022, for the Milwaukee Brewers
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Batting average.264
Home runs13
Runs batted in37
Stolen bases20
Teams

Garrett Antony-Charles Mitchell (born September 4, 1998) is an American professional baseball center fielder for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). Mitchell was selected 20th overall by the Brewers in the 2020 MLB draft.

Early life

Mitchell grew up in Orange, California, and attended the Lutheran High School of Orange County, where he was a four-year member of the varsity baseball team. He was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at nine years old.[1][2]

Regarded as a top collegiate prospect, Mitchell committed to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to play college baseball for the UCLA Bruins during his sophomore year at Lutheran.[3] He batted .299 with 19 runs scored and 11 runs batted in (RBIs) despite a slow start as a junior. He played in the 2016 Perfect Game All-America Baseball Game and the Under Armour All-America Baseball Game.[4][5][6]

The Oakland Athletics selected Mitchell in the 14th round (411 overall) of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft, but he opted not to sign with the team and attend UCLA.[7] Mitchell played summer collegiate baseball after graduating high school for the Walla Walla Sweets of the West Coast League, batting .462 with one home run and four RBIs in 13 at-bats.[8][9]

College career

As a true freshman, Mitchell was named the Bruins starting right fielder and the Preseason Freshman of the Year by Baseball America.[10] Over 44 games, he batted .280 with 44 hits and 31 RBIs, missing time during the season due to health issues.[11][12] Mitchell played summer baseball in the Northwoods League for the Mankato MoonDogs.[13] During his sophomore year in 2019, he batted .349 with 14 doubles, 12 triples (a UCLA single season record), six home runs, 57 runs scored, and 41 RBIs and was named first team All-Pac-12 Conference and a third team All-American by the NCBWA and ABCA.[14][15] Mitchell spent the following summer playing for the United States collegiate national baseball team.[16]

Mitchell entered his junior season on the watch list for the Golden Spikes Award and as a top prospect for the 2020 Major League Baseball draft.[17][18] Mitchell batted .355 with nine RBIs and 18 runs with five stolen bases before the season was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic.[19]

Professional career

The Milwaukee Brewers selected Mitchell in the first round, with the twentieth overall pick, in the 2020 Major League Baseball draft.[20] He signed with the Brewers on July 7 and received a $3.2 million bonus.[21] Mitchell was named to Milwaukee's 2021 Spring Training roster as a non-roster invitee and batted .367 with one home run and six RBI in 22 games.[22][23]

Mitchell was assigned to the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers to start the 2021 season.[23] He was promoted to the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers in early July after slashing .359/.504/.620 with five home runs, 33 runs scored, 20 RBI, and 12 stolen bases over 28 games with the Timber Rattlers.[24] Over 35 games with Biloxi to end the season, he batted .186/.291/.264 with three home runs and ten RBI over 35 games.[25] He missed time during the season due to a leg injury.[26]

Mitchell returned to Biloxi to start the 2022 season.[27] He suffered an oblique injury in May and was placed on the injured list until July 7, 2022, after a rehab assignment with the Arizona Complex League Brewers.[28] Mitchell batted .277 with four home runs and 25 RBI in 44 games with the Shuckers before being promoted to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds.[29]

On August 27, 2022, the Brewers selected Mitchell's contract from Nashville, promoting him to the major leagues.[30] He missed the phone call from Sounds manager Rick Sweet informing him of his promotion to the majors, telling reporters it was because he was eating a chocolate chip cookie.[31] He made his debut later that day, playing center field at the end of the game.[32] He had his first major league start the day after, on August 28, playing center field and batting 9th. His first at-bat resulted in a flyout to left field.[33] His second at-bat was his first major league hit, a two RBI double into centerfield that gave Milwaukee the lead. He hit his first home run against Wil Crowe of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the bottom of the eighth inning on August 29, 2022.[34] Mitchell completed the 2022 season batting .311/.373/.459 with 19 hits, 2 home runs, and 9 RBI, all in 28 games.[35]

Mitchell made the opening day roster for the Brewers, and also made the starting lineup, batting 7th and playing center field. On April 2, Mitchell hit his first MLB career triple, a sharp line drive to right field, driving in Brian Anderson.[36] Two days later, in a game against the New York Mets, Garrett had his first career two home-run game.[37][38] On May 4, Mitchell underwent shoulder surgery to repair the labrum in his left shoulder. According to manager Craig Counsell, the procedure was likely to end Mitchell's season.[39] On September 28, Mitchell was activated from the injured list.[40] He played in 19 total games for Milwaukee in 2023, hitting .246/.315/.446 with three home runs and seven RBI.

In 2024, Mitchell suffered a broken left hand in spring training and was placed on the injured list to begin the season.[41] He was transferred to the 60–day injured list on April 14, 2024.[42] Mitchell was activated from the injured list on July 1.[43] Later that year, his most memorable MLB moment occurred on October 2nd when his two-run home run with two outs in the bottom of 8th carried the Brewers to a 5-3 victory over the New York Mets in Game #2 of the Wildcard series.

Personal life

At the age of 9, Mitchell was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, which he regulates with an insulin pump. [44]

In 2021, Mitchell married professional softball player Haley Cruse.[45]

References

  1. ^ "On deck: Orange Lutheran High sophomore Mitchell, a Type 1 diabetic, is stealing the spotlight in Orange County". Orange County Register. April 29, 2015. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  2. ^ Miller, Doug (June 11, 2017). "SoCal prep prospect Mitchell overcomes adversity". MLB.com. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  3. ^ "Baseball: Orange Lutheran sophomore Garrett Mitchell". Los Angeles Times. July 23, 2014.
  4. ^ Spratling, Shotgun (May 11, 2016). "Garrett Mitchell turns around junior season". 247Sports.com. Retrieved February 14, 2020.[dead link‍]
  5. ^ "MLB DRAFT: Garrett Mitchell is a "Toolshed"". HEROSports.com. March 7, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  6. ^ "Five standout Orange County players could make history in MLB Draft". Orange County Register. June 7, 2017.
  7. ^ "Four UCLA players picked on final day of MLB draft". Orange County Register. June 14, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  8. ^ "Newest Sweet steps up in 7-0 win over Gresham". Walla Walla Union-Bulletin. June 28, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  9. ^ "Baseball Excels in Summer Leagues". The Daily Bruin. September 18, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  10. ^ "Garrett Mitchell Is A Unique Talent In Many Ways". Baseball America. April 27, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  11. ^ "UCLA baseball's Garrett Mitchell emerging as force on top ranked team". Los Angeles Daily News. April 4, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  12. ^ Kearns, Jack (June 7, 2018). "Mitchell, one of UCLA's best baseball recruits, thrives despite health issues". The Daily Bruin. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  13. ^ Tay, Jared (June 23, 2019). "Baseball sends Bruins to compete in summer leagues, collegiate national team". The Daily Bruin. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  14. ^ "Potential options for Tigers with top overall pick". Toledo Blade. September 27, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  15. ^ Olsen, Eric (February 11, 2020). "Ten players to watch in college baseball in 2020". Washington Post. Associated Press. Retrieved February 14, 2020. [dead link‍]
  16. ^ "Mitchell Invited to USA Baseball Collegiate National Team". USABaseball.com. May 15, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  17. ^ Cavadi, Wayne (February 7, 2020). "1 college baseball player-of-the-year contender at every position for the 2020 season". NCAA.com. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  18. ^ Callis, Jim (August 22, 2019). "These are the best college 2020 Draft prospects". MLB.com. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  19. ^ Nguyen, Thuc Nhi (March 17, 2020). "The coronavirus pandemic has robbed talented junior-filled UCLA baseball's season". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  20. ^ "Garrett Mitchell overcomes concerns about lack of power, Type 1 diabetes to become Brewers' top pick". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. June 11, 2020.
  21. ^ McCalvy, Adam (July 8, 2020). "Brewers sign top pick: 'My hands were shaking'". MLB.com.
  22. ^ "Top prospects Brice Turang, Garrett Mitchell highlight Brewers' non-roster invitees to spring camp". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. February 3, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  23. ^ a b Hurley, Scott (April 22, 2021). "Brewers top prospect Mitchell to begin season with Timber Rattlers". Fox11Online.com. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  24. ^ Trujillo, Nick (July 4, 2021). "Garrett Mitchell has career day, earns promotion". MLB.com. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  25. ^ "Recapping the 2021 MiLB Season for Every UCLA Baseball Alumnus". October 5, 2021.
  26. ^ "No. 1 prospect Garrett Mitchell out with injury". MLB.com.
  27. ^ "Everything you need to know about the Biloxi Shuckers' return". Sun Herald. April 6, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  28. ^ "Brewers' Garrett Mitchell: Nearing return from oblique injury". CBS Sports. RotoWire. July 7, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  29. ^ Heller, Dave (August 4, 2022). "Brewers Triple-A outfield gets overhaul with addition of 4 top prospects". Bally Sports Wisconsin. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  30. ^ "Brewers Select Garrett Mitchell, Place Jonathan Davis On 10-Day IL". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  31. ^ Glasspiegel, Ryan. "Brewers' Garrett Mitchell celebrates first homer with wife, influencer Haley Cruse". New York Post.
  32. ^ "Cubs 0, Brewers 7 Final Score (08/27/2022) on MLB Gameday". MLB.com. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  33. ^ "MLB live updates: Cubs at Brewers game on 08/28/2022 free with MLB Gameday". MLB.com. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  34. ^ "Mitchell's first career home run | August 29, 2022". MLB.com. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  35. ^ "Garrett Mitchell Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  36. ^ "Brewers 9, Cubs 5 Final Score (04/02/2023) on MLB Gameday". MLB.com. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  37. ^ "Back-to-back-to-back! Brewers go wild vs. Scherzer". MLB.com. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  38. ^ "Mets 0, Brewers 9 Final Score (04/04/2023) on MLB Gameday". MLB.com. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  39. ^ "Brewers' Garrett Mitchell: Undergoes shoulder surgery". cbssports.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  40. ^ "Brewers reinstate OF Mitchell, DFA Brian Anderson". ballysports.com. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  41. ^ "Garrett Mitchell injury: Brewers' center fielder to open 2024 season on injured list with fractured left hand". cbssports.com. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  42. ^ "Brewers' Garrett Mitchell: Shifts to 60-day IL". cbssports.com. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  43. ^ "Brewers Designate Owen Miller For Assignment". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  44. ^ "Garrett Mitchell Is A Unique Talent In Many Ways". April 27, 2017.
  45. ^ "Ducks softball star Haley Cruse gets engaged to Brewers' Garrett Mitchell". June 1, 2021.