Persevering with our collection of prospect profiles forward of subsequent month’s MLB Draft, we now head all the way down to Texas. Catcher Blake Mitchell is the 14th-ranked total draft prospect on MLB.com’s listing and the second-highest catcher. The one higher-ranked catcher is Kyle Teel of the Virginia Cavaliers, who’s eleventh total. Mitchell, 18, isn’t any stranger to successful. Out of Sinton Excessive Faculty in southeast Texas, he led his squad to a 4-A state title in his junior 12 months, when he additionally took house state participant of the 12 months honors. Mitchell additionally gained gold on the 18-and-under World Cup taking part in for the U.S. junior group, the place he stood out as a pitcher, his different place. He’s an LSU commit, however he’ll possible go early on this 12 months’s draft. Right here’s a better take a look at what Blake Mitchell brings to the desk.
Right here is Blake Mitchell’s walk-off from @SHS_PirateBball win over Calallen in recreation 1 of the collection, 2-1 within the tenth inning. Heck of a recreation@ChrisThomasson7 @kiii3sports @4ATxHsBaseball @TxHS_Baseball @LarissaLiska @Caller_Len @CallerSports @THSBCA pic.twitter.com/XKP9cfFcrC
— Marcus Sarate (@marcussarate) May 12, 2023
Blake Mitchell Draft Profile
Scouting grades (MLB.com): Hit: 55 | Energy: 55 | Run: 35 | Arm: 70 | Discipline: 50 | General: 55
Strengths
Mitchell possesses a strong body for a catcher, at 6’1″ and 202 lbs. He has power on the plate with good bat velocity, and he hits from the left aspect, including some versatility to any lineup. Mitchell has demonstrated a capability to work counts, though he typically strikes out amid his quest for homers. Defensively, he sports activities a powerful throwing arm, which compensates for his in any other case common blocking and catching potential. In line with Perfect Game, Mitchell can also be a superb scholar, which is an particularly essential trait for a backstop to have.
Whereas he’s listed primarily as a catcher, Mitchell has additionally had success as each a pitcher and outfielder. His fastball has reached 97 mph, and he additionally incorporates a changeup and curveball on the mound. If he veers off the catching path for no matter purpose, the farm system that develops him can have some choices to develop him right into a bona fide major-league expertise. In a great world, Mitchell will become a good defensive catcher with a capability to throw out baserunners, and a pesky hitter with some pop.
Weaknesses
Like many catchers, Blake Mitchell will not be blessed with the present of velocity. It will hopefully not come into play an excessive amount of if he’s a sensible baserunner, however don’t anticipate him to take many probabilities on the basepaths or give his offense further at-bats by beating out grounders. Mitchell’s positional versatility might supply him a number of paths to major-league success. Nonetheless, some groups might not wish to cope with experimenting with him within the minors to see the place he suits finest. He’ll possible stick behind the plate for the foreseeable future, however any uncertainty about his final place might trigger a group or two to cross on drafting him.
Mitchell has some pop from the left aspect of the plate, however it will possible result in loads of strikeouts. His affected person method ought to result in his share of walks, although, hopefully making strikeouts a minimal challenge.
Blake Mitchell MLB Participant Comparability
Solely lefty-hitting catchers are few and much between in MLB, however two switch-hitting catchers possess comparable ability units to Mitchell. Adley Rustchman of the Baltimore Orioles and Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners each spend loads of time hitting lefty. They’ve every demonstrated some pop from that aspect of the plate. Furthermore, each catchers, particularly Raleigh, have been proficient at throwing out would-be base stealers with robust throwing arms. Each are barely larger than Mitchell in the intervening time, but when he bulks up after he’s drafted, it might improve his present strengths. Any group that drafts Mitchell could be happy if he turns into as gifted as both of those two catchers.
Photograph Credit score: Angela Piazza/Caller-Occasions-USA TODAY NETWORK
Gamers Talked about: Blake Mitchell, Kyle Teel, Adley Rutschman, Cal Raleigh
