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It’s baseball mock draft season already?!
Why not, right?
Well here we are.
In their first iteration of an MLB mock draft, ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel went through the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft and pegged UCLA Bruins CF with the 20th overall pick to the Milwaukee Brewers.
Opinions vary wildly on Mitchell, with some clubs thinking he’s a top-10 talent and others saying they wouldn’t take him in the first round due both to his on-field performance and demeanor. The Brewers are more in that first camp, and Mitchell probably finds a home in this area of the draft.
Though we should be nearing the end of the 2020 regular season by now on Mitchell, the 6’3 junior center fielder has apparently done enough to warrant such a high draft pick with just two-plus years of experience under his belt.
He was a unanimous preseason All-American for the 2020 season after putting together an impressive two-year career to date. He then went on to hit six doubles and a triple in just 62 bats through 15 games in the cancelled 2020 season. He had a 10-game hitting streak to close the year and this all came on the back of him playing for the US Collegiate National Team last summer/fall.
Oh, and he’s a triple machine.
And it’s hard to meet a nicer guy.
For his career, Mitchell has 24 doubles, 15 triples, six home runs in just 477 career at-bats. He’s the single-season record holder for most triples with 12 coming in 2019 and is second all time on the UCLA list with his 15 career triples. He was a 2019 All-American and a Gold Glove finalist.
It’s a great testament to the UCLA baseball program but also Mitchell’s skill to see him selected this high in the shortened 2020 MLB Draft — and just the beginning. We’re excited to see where he lands when the draft does happen.
Career Highs (as of conclusion of 2020)
At-Bats: 6 (seven times)
Runs: 4 (twice)
Hits: 4 (twice)
RBI: 4 (three times)
Doubles: 2 (three times)
Triples: 2 (twice)
Home Runs: 1 (six times)
Stolen Bases: 2 (twice)
The MLB Draft will take place on June 11-12, 2020.