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Blake Mitchell (baseball)
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Blake Austin Mitchell (born August 3, 2004) is an American professional baseball catcher in the Kansas City Royals organization. He was selected with the eighth overall pick in the 2023 Major League Baseball draft.[1]
Key Information
Amateur career
[edit]Mitchell lives in Sinton, Texas and attended Sinton High School.[2] As a junior, he was named the Texas Player of the Year after batting .465 with 17 doubles, seven home runs, and 52 RBIs as Sinton won the Class 4A State Championship.[3][4] After the season, Mitchell was selected to play in the MLB and USA Baseball All-American Game.[5] After the season, Mitchell was named to the roster for the United States national baseball team to compete in the 2022 U-18 Baseball World Cup.[6] He earned the win in the gold medal game after pitching 2+2⁄3 scoreless innings in relief.[7] As a senior, Mitchell repeated as the Gatorade Player of the Year.[8]
Professional career
[edit]Mitchell was selected by the Kansas City Royals with the eighth overall pick of the 2023 Major League Baseball draft. On July 15, 2023, he signed with the Royals for $4.9 million.[11] He made his professional debut with the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Royals, appearing in 13 games. Mitchell was assigned to the Single-A Columbia Fireflies to begin the 2024 season and was promoted to the High-A Quad Cities River Bandits near the season's end.[12] Over 111 games for the season, Mitchell batted .232 with 18 home runs, 51 RBIs, and 26 stolen bases.[13]
On February 23, 2025, it was announced that Mitchell would miss at least 4-6 weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured right hamate bone.[14] Mitchell returned to play in May on a rehab assignment before being assigned to Quad Cities.[15]
References
[edit]- ^ Hayward, Lin (February 19, 2023). "Sinton's Blake Mitchell enters senior year as potential 1st round pick". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
- ^ "Sinton baseball player Blake Mitchell has big league dreams". KRISTV.com. January 25, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
- ^ "Sinton's Mitchell, Stewart share Player of the Year honors on 4A TSWA All-State Team". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. July 28, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
- ^ "Sinton is home to the top high school baseball prospect". SpectrumLocalNews.com. March 17, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
- ^ Thomasson, Chris (July 15, 2022). "Sinton's Mitchell impresses at All-American Game". KIIITV.com. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
- ^ "USA Baseball Announces 2022 18U National Team Roster". Baseball America. September 2, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
- ^ "Team USA tops Chinese Taipei, wins gold at WBSC U18 Baseball World Cup". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. September 20, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
- ^ "Sinton's Blake Mitchell named Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year for second straight season". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. June 2, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
- ^ Folse II, David (July 31, 2022). "LSU 2023 baseball commit coming off of phenomenal junior campaign". 247Sports.com. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
- ^ Liska, Larissa (May 9, 2023). "Sinton senior catcher, Blake Mitchell, projected first round MLB draft prospect". KRISTV.com. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- ^ Nettuno II, Tyler (July 15, 2023). "LSU signee Blake Mitchell officially inks under-slot deal with Royals". usatoday.com. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
- ^ https://www.caller.com/story/sports/local/baseball/2024/10/04/corpus-christi-area-pro-baseball-update-blake-mitchell-earns-kansas-city-royals-honor-george-brett/75410853007/
- ^ https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article300479479.html
- ^ "Royals Notes: Rotation, Cameron, Bowlan, Mitchell". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
- ^ https://qctimes.com/sports/professional/minor/midwest-league/article_3568ec60-fa4e-4cdd-bcbd-7144bfdd12e5.html
External links
[edit]- Career statistics from MLB · Baseball Reference (Minors)
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Blake Mitchell (baseball)
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Amateur career
High school career
Blake Mitchell was born on August 3, 2004, in Clear Lake, Texas, and attended Sinton High School in Sinton, Texas, where he played as a catcher, shortstop, and pitcher for the Sinton Pirates baseball team.[1][9] During his junior year in 2022, Mitchell batted .465 with 17 doubles, 5 triples, 7 home runs, and 52 RBIs (full season including playoffs), helping lead Sinton to the Texas Class 4A state championship.[10][11] His performance earned him co-Texas Player of the Year honors from the Texas Sports Writers Association (TSWA) in Class 4A, as well as recognition as the Texas High School Baseball Defensive Player of the Year for his work behind the plate.[12][11] In his senior year of 2023, Mitchell repeated as the Gatorade Texas Player of the Year after batting .471 with 6 home runs, 41 RBIs, 47 runs scored, and 35 stolen bases, while guiding Sinton to the Class 4A state semifinals.[4] Prior to the MLB Draft, he had committed to play college baseball at Louisiana State University (LSU).[13] Throughout his high school career, Mitchell showcased elite hitting ability with consistent high averages and extra-base power, complemented by strong defensive skills as a catcher, including a powerful throwing arm that deterred baserunners and his leadership in the Pirates' state title run.[14][11]International career
Mitchell represented the United States at the 2022 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Under-18 Baseball World Cup in Bradenton, Florida, where he appeared in all nine games for Team USA.[15] Selected primarily for his defensive skills behind the plate, which had earned him acclaim in high school, Mitchell demonstrated his two-way versatility by contributing both as a catcher and pitcher during the tournament, including a triple against the Netherlands, a home run against South Korea, and an RBI against South Africa.[15][16] In the tournament, Mitchell made two relief appearances on the mound, registering a 0.00 ERA across his outings, including a save against Canada on September 12.[15] His most significant contribution came in the gold medal game against Chinese Taipei on September 18, 2022, where Team USA secured a 5-1 victory to claim the championship—their third consecutive U-18 World Cup title.[16] Entering in the sixth inning with a 4-1 lead, Mitchell pitched 2⅔ scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out three batters to earn the win and preserve the victory.[16][17] This performance highlighted Mitchell's ability to handle high-pressure situations as a reliever, complementing his primary role as a catcher earlier in the tournament, including five innings behind the plate in the semifinal win over Japan.[16] His dual contributions underscored the two-way potential that had drawn scouts' attention, helping Team USA cap a dominant tournament run with the gold medal.[15]Professional career
Draft and signing
Mitchell was selected by the Kansas City Royals with the eighth overall pick in the first round of the 2023 Major League Baseball draft.[18] As the top prep catcher in the draft class, his selection reflected the Royals' strategy to invest in a high-upside backstop to bolster their farm system, particularly given the scarcity of elite catching prospects available.[19] His strong high school and international performances had positioned him as one of the premier amateur talents.[18] Prior to the draft, Mitchell was committed to play college baseball at Louisiana State University but ultimately chose to forgo that opportunity upon being selected.[18] The Royals expressed confidence in securing his signature, viewing him as a long-term solution at the position despite the risks associated with drafting a high school catcher.[18] On July 15, 2023, Mitchell officially signed with the Royals, agreeing to a $4.9 million signing bonus, which was approximately $1.08 million below the slot value of $5.98 million for the eighth pick.[20] This under-slot deal provided the Royals with additional flexibility in their overall draft bonus pool.[20] Shortly thereafter, on July 31, 2023, he was assigned to the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Royals to begin his professional career.[2]2023 season
Mitchell made his professional debut with the Arizona Complex League Royals (ACL Royals) on July 31, 2023, shortly after signing with the Kansas City Royals as the eighth overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft.[1] Due to the late signing on July 15, 2023, his initial professional exposure was limited to 13 games in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League.[1] In 34 at-bats, he recorded a .147 batting average with 5 hits, 3 RBIs, no home runs, and 1 stolen base, while drawing 17 walks for a .423 on-base percentage but striking out 14 times.[21] As a left-handed hitter, Mitchell focused on gaining at-bats to adjust to professional pitching, which proved challenging as he struggled with contact rates, swinging and missing against various pitch types in his brief stint.[14] Defensively, he received reps behind the plate, showcasing his polished skills with solid agility, flexibility, and a 70-grade arm strength that produced pop times of 1.8-1.9 seconds.[14] Following the ACL season, Mitchell participated in the Royals' fall instructional league program to further his development, emphasizing refinements to his hit tool and defensive footwork.[14]2024 season
Mitchell began the 2024 season assigned to the Single-A Columbia Fireflies of the Carolina League, marking his first full professional campaign following a brief debut in the Arizona Complex League the previous year.[1] In 106 games with Columbia, he showcased emerging power and speed, hitting 18 home runs—including his first professional homer on April 13 against the Augusta GreenJackets—and stealing 25 bases while drawing 79 walks to reach base at a .376 clip.[22] His multi-hit efforts, such as a three-hit game on June 15 that included a double and a stolen base, highlighted his growing plate discipline and baserunning instincts.[21] On September 2, Mitchell earned a promotion to the High-A Quad Cities River Bandits of the Midwest League, where he appeared in five games during the final regular-season series and playoffs, going 2-for-15 with a double. Across both levels, he finished with a .232 batting average, 18 home runs, 51 RBIs, and 26 stolen bases in 32 attempts, demonstrating his athleticism despite 149 strikeouts in 486 plate appearances.[21] Defensively, Mitchell handled primary catching duties, logging over 500 innings behind the plate with a 3.89 catcher's ERA in the Carolina League and throwing out 18% of attempted base stealers (22 of 122).[23] His strong arm and quick release contributed to several standout plays, including a game-ending pickoff at second base on August 20.[24] Mitchell's breakout performance earned him multiple postseason honors, including Carolina League All-Star recognition and the Kansas City Royals' George Brett Hitter of the Year award, as well as Baseball America's Royals Minor League Player of the Year.[23][25][26]2025 season
Mitchell received a non-roster invitation to the Kansas City Royals' 2025 major league spring training camp, marking his first time in big league camp.[27] On February 22, during a spring training game, he suffered a fractured right hamate bone, requiring surgery the following week.[28][29] The injury was initially expected to sideline him for 4-6 weeks, but complications and setbacks extended his recovery.[29] Mitchell began his rehabilitation assignment with the rookie-level ACL Royals on May 6.[30] He appeared in 11 games there before being activated from the injured list and assigned to High-A Quad Cities River Bandits on July 7.[1] In 60 regular-season games split between the two levels, Mitchell batted .218 with three home runs, 53 walks, and 81 strikeouts, demonstrating improved plate discipline as his walk total exceeded his strikeouts in early rehab action (17 walks to 14 strikeouts over his first 13 games post-injury, where he hit .147).[21] The hand injury notably impacted his power, limiting him to just 10 extra-base hits in 49 High-A games.[31] He continued to apply his base-stealing skills developed in 2024, successfully swiping bags in limited opportunities during 2025.[21] Following the regular season, Mitchell joined the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League to regain timing and strength.[32] On October 23, he hit a three-run home run off a 116.5 mph exit velocity, the hardest-hit ball in AFL history and harder than all but four home runs in the 2025 MLB season.[33] Over 19 AFL games, he batted .230 with one home run, 20 walks, and 22 strikeouts.[21] On November 5, Mitchell was selected to represent the American League in the AFL Fall Stars Game, where he recorded a leadoff double on November 9.[32][34] On November 13, he hit a walk-off single to send the Saguaros to the AFL championship.[7] On November 14, the Saguaros defeated the Peoria Javelinas 9–4 to win the Arizona Fall League championship, with Mitchell participating in the game.[35]Scouting and prospect status
Scouting report
Blake Mitchell is a 6-foot-1-inch, 202-pound catcher who bats left-handed and throws right-handed; as of 2025, he is 21 years old.[25] Scouts evaluate Mitchell's tools on the standard 20-80 scale as follows:| Tool | Grade |
|---|---|
| Hit | 50 |
| Power | 60 |
| Run | 30 |
| Arm | 70 |
| Field | 55 |
| Overall | 55 |