Jared Mitchell (baseball)

Jared Mitchell
New York Yankees
Outfielder
Born: (1988-10-13) October 13, 1988 New Iberia, Louisiana
Bats: Left Throws: Left
Career highlights and awards
College World Series Most Outstanding Player

Jared Christopher Mitchell (born October 13, 1988) is an American professional baseball outfielder in the New York Yankees organization. He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the first round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft. He played college baseball at LSU, where he was the College World Series Most Outstanding Player in 2009.

Biography

Mitchell attended Westgate High School, where Baseball America picked him as the No. 3 high school athlete and 43rd-best overall high school baseball prospect in the nation for 2006.

Mitchell turned down a $700,000 signing bonus from the Minnesota Twins in order to attend LSU after being selected by the club in the 10th round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft.

"They came at me hard but kept [the offer] around the same as the original," Mitchell said. "I had a number in my head, and they never got there. It's a great organization; things just didn't work out when we had a chance to do something. Who knows what will happen three years down the line?"

Mitchell played for both the LSU Tigers baseball team and the LSU Tigers football team. He was awarded the College World Series Most Outstanding Player for his play during the 2009 College World Series which was won by the LSU Tigers. He also played on the 2007 LSU BCS National Championship football team as a wide receiver. He is a rare two-sport college national champion along with LSU baseball and football teammate Chad Jones.

Professional career

Mitchell was drafted in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft by the Chicago White Sox. White Sox scouting director Doug Laumann was familiar with Mitchell because he played the previous two summers in an amateur league near Laumann's Cincinnati-area residence. He began his professional career with the Kannapolis Intimidators, the Class A affiliate of the White Sox. He finished the season with a .296 batting average, 12 doubles, two triples, no home runs, 10 runs batted in, 5 stolen bases, 23 walks, and 40 strikeouts in 115 at-bats.

On March 16, 2010, Mitchell underwent surgery to repair a tear of the tendon in his left ankle; he missed the entire season. He returned to play in 2011 in Class A-Advanced ball for the Winston-Salem Dash in North Carolina. He finished the 2011 season batting .222 AVG, 31 2Bs, 8 3Bs, 9 HRs, 58 RBI, 14 SBs, 52 BBs and 183 Ks in 477 at bats. In 2012, Mitchell moved up to Double-A Birmingham Barons. Later in the 2012 season Mitchell was promoted to Triple-A Charlotte Knights. Mitchell finished the 2012 season hitting a combined .237 AVG, 24 2Bs, 13 3Bs, 11 HRs, 67 RBI, 21 SBs, 78 BBs and 179 Ks in 455 at bats. Mitchell started the 2013 season with Triple-A Charlotte but after hitting .132 AVG in his first 53 at bats, he was demoted back to Double-A Birmingham. He finished the 2013 season between AAA and AA batting .167 AVG, 8 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 5 HRs, 23 RBI, 17 SBs, 51 BBs and 123 Ks in 300 at bats. Despite the poor season, Mitchell started the 2014 season at Triple-A Charlotte and was added to the White Sox 40-man roster. On May 3, 2015, Mitchell was released by the White Sox.

Mitchell signed a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on May 16, 2015.

Awards

• 2008 NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team
• 2008 Second-Team All-Louisiana
• SEC Freshman of the Week (Feb. 26, 2007)

External links

• Career statistics from Baseball Reference (Minors)