Calvin David Mitchell (born March 8, 1999) is an American professional baseball outfielder in the San Diego Padres organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Cal Mitchell
Mitchell with the Bradenton Marauders in 2019
San Diego Padres
Outfielder
Born: (1999-03-08) March 8, 1999 (age 25)
San Diego, California, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
May 24, 2022, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.222
Home runs5
Runs batted in17
Teams

Amateur career edit

Mitchell graduated from Rancho Bernardo High School in San Diego, California, where he played four years of varsity baseball.[1] As a junior in 2016, he batted .371 with 12 home runs and 41 RBIs.[2] In 2017, as a senior, he batted .369 with 11 home runs and 34 RBIs.[3] For his high school career, he batted .337 with 29 home runs and 120 RBIs.[4] Mitchell committed to the University of San Diego to play college baseball for the San Diego Toreros baseball team.[5] However, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected him in the second round (50th overall) of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft and he signed for a $1.4 million signing bonus, forgoing his commitment to USD.[6][7]

Professional career edit

Pittsburgh Pirates edit

After signing, Mitchell made his professional debut with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Pirates. He spent all of his first professional season there, batting .245 with two home runs and 20 RBIs in 43 games.[8] He spent 2018 with the West Virginia Power of the Single–A South Atlantic League. He was named the SAL Player of the Week for April 16–22 after hitting .467 with one home run, nine RBIs, and a 1.233 OPS, and also earned All-Star honors.[9][10] Over 119 games for the Power, he hit .280 with ten home runs and 65 RBIs.[11] He spent 2019 with the Bradenton Marauders of the High–A Florida State League, with whom he was named an All-Star.[12][13] Over 118 games, he slashed .251/.304/.406 with 15 home runs and 64 RBIs.[14] He did not play a minor league game in 2020 since the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[15] Mitchell was assigned to the Altoona Curve of the Double-A Northeast for a majority of the 2021 season, slashing .280/.330/.429 with 12 home runs, 61 RBIs, and 19 doubles over 108 games.[16] Following the end of Altoona's season in mid-September, he was promoted to the Indianapolis Indians of the Triple-A East with whom he played seven games.[17] He returned to the Indians to begin the 2022 season.[18]

On May 24, 2022, the Pirates selected Mitchell's contract and promoted him to the major leagues.[19] He made his MLB debut that night as their starting right fielder, going one-for-four and recording his first MLB hit and RBI with a single off of Kyle Freeland in a 2–1 loss to the Colorado Rockies at PNC Park.[20] He hit his first MLB home run on June 5, 2022, in a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. After Miles Mikolas of the St. Louis Cardinals had pitched 8+23 no-hit innings in a game against the Pirates on June 14, 2022, Mitchell laced a ground rule double with two strikes in the count to break up the no-hitter.[21]

Mitchell was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis to begin the 2023 season.[22] In 74 games, he batted .264/.338/.426 with 9 home runs, 53 RBI, and 6 stolen bases. Mitchell played in two games for the Pirates, going hitless with one walk in four at–bats before being designated for assignment by Pittsburgh on September 1, 2023.[23] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple–A Indianapolis on September 5.[24] Mitchell elected free agency following the season on November 6.[25]

San Diego Padres edit

On November 15, 2023, Mitchell signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres that included an invitation to spring training.[26]

References edit

  1. ^ "Outfield lesson sticks with RB standout". UT Preps. May 14, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  2. ^ "RB outfielder's power draws scouts". UT Preps. September 10, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  3. ^ "2017 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Baseball: Second Team". USA Today. June 13, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  4. ^ "Athlete of the Week: RB's Mitchell ready for next chapter in baseball life". The San Diego Union-Tribune. May 31, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  5. ^ "Star outfielder hits stride in time for playoffs". Voice & Viewpoint. June 2, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  6. ^ "Bucs stay in HS ranks, take OF Mitchell 50th". MLB.com. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  7. ^ "Top North County picks eager to begin pro careers". The San Diego Union-Tribune. July 6, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  8. ^ "Calvin Mitchell Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  9. ^ "Mitchell Tabbed as SAL Player of the Week". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  10. ^ Kahn, David (June 5, 2018). "Mitchell and Stafford Named SAL All-Stars | Power". Milb.com. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  11. ^ "Calvin Mitchell Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  12. ^ "Bradenton Season Preview: Cruz, Swaggerty and Mitchell Lead a Solid Group of Prospects". Pirates Prospects. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  13. ^ King, Chuck (June 15, 2019). "Pirates prospects Cal Mitchell, Travis Swaggerty lead South to All-Star win". MiLB.com. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  14. ^ "Pirates future power hitters invited to big league camp". www.audacy.com. February 3, 2021.
  15. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com.
  16. ^ Tribune-Democrat, The (May 3, 2021). "Curve roster for 2021 season loaded with top Pirates prospects". The Tribune-Democrat.
  17. ^ "Sources: Pirates making several promotions to Class AAA Indianapolis". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  18. ^ Kayser, Anna (April 5, 2022). "Pirates No. 1 Prospect, Oneil Cruz, Headlines Indy's Opening Day Roster". Milb.com. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  19. ^ Gorman, Kevin (May 24, 2022). "Pirates promote Cal Mitchell, Roansy Contreras; Heath Hembree, Daniel Vogelbach to IL". TribLIVE.com.
  20. ^ Gorman, Kevin (May 24, 2022). "Pirates rookies Roansy Contreras, Cal Mitchell shine but Rockies rally for 10-inning win". TribLIVE.com.
  21. ^ "Mitchell spoils Mikolas' no-hit bid with 2-out double in 9th". MLB.com.
  22. ^ "Pirates' Cal Mitchell: Off Opening Day roster". CBS Sports. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  23. ^ "Pirates select Miguel Andújar, reinstate Carmen Mlodzinski in flurry of roster moves". bucsdugout.com. September 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  24. ^ "Pirates' Cal Mitchell: Outrighted to Triple-A". CBS Sports. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  25. ^ "2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams". baseballamerica.com. November 13, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  26. ^ "Padres' Cal Mitchell: Signs with Friars". cbssports.com. Retrieved November 15, 2023.

External links edit