People will tell you that taking a high school catcher in the first round of the MLB Draft is a mistake. Blake Mitchell would like a word. The Royals were fully aware of the risk when they selected Mitchell with the 8th pick of the 2023 MLB Draft, but they saw something in him that was too good to pass up. Danny Ontiveros, the Royals’ Director of Scouting, had high praise for Mitchell after he was selected: “I’ve done this a long time, and I haven’t seen a high school catcher like this before. I think he’s going to be an impact player and middle-order bat, and his leadership fits everything else. For me, it was tough to pass up and I thought he was the best player on the board, and I feel really good about that pick.”
What was the public’s response to the Royals selecting Mitchell?
It is no surprise that Royals’ fans were generally upset with the pick, and it had nothing to do with Mitchell. Coming off a 106-loss season, the fanbase was hoping that the Royals’ top-10 pick would be a more seasoned player who would be ready to contribute to the major league team as soon as possible. The Royals’ front office, however, decided to keep the big picture in mind, opting to select who they believed to be the best player available at pick #8, rather than adjusting their strategy out of desperation. After letting the dust settle, it became clearer what the Royals saw in Mitchell: a beautiful swing that generates plenty of raw power, mixed with very real talent as a catcher and a strong arm to match.
Mitchell has mixed results in 2023
Mitchell began his professional career in the Arizona Complex League in the fall of 2023, and the results were a bit of a mixed bag. In 52 PA, he only managed a .147 AVG but had a very impressive .423 OBP due to drawing 17 walks. Compare that to his 14 strikeouts (a high number in its own regard) and you can see an advanced approach at the plate for a 19-year-old.
What can we learn from Carter Jensen?
This reminded me of Carter Jensen’s profile as a catcher taken out of high school. He came in with known talent as a catcher, some power to his swing, and an advanced plate approach. Keeping in mind that there is generally less public pressure on Jensen due to being a 3rd round pick instead of #8 overall, here are Jensen’s stats over the past three years, starting with his first full season in Columbia:
2022: .226/.363/.382, 21.2 K%, 17.1 BB%, 113 wRC+
2023: .211/.356/.363, 24.1 K%, 18.5 BB%, 109 wRC+
2024: .339/.451/.559, 21.1 K%, 15.5 BB%, 180 wRC+
I think the Royals may have something with Jensen. It took a while for the bat to come around, and we are just now starting to see the incredibly high ceiling Jensen has. His advanced plate approach, plus the way he can torch the ball to all areas of the field, is a nightmare for opposing pitchers.
How is Mitchell doing and what can we expect moving forward?
I say all this to give an example of what Mitchell’s progression may look like given the similarities between him and Jensen. However, it seems like we may all be pleasantly surprised much sooner. Although it’s a small sample size, Mitchell has been off to a hot start in 2024. Through 68 PA, he is slashing .275/.456/.471, with a 30.9 K%, 23.5 BB%, and 173 wRC+.
This is a great start for any player, but this is an incredibly impressive start for such a young player. His ultimate ceiling will depend on how his plate approach translates against the pitchers who will challenge him more in the strike zone in the upper levels of the minors. It is a very encouraging start for Blake Mitchell’s career, and I am eager to see how he continues to perform as he works his way through the minors. Having two young, top-catching prospects in Mitchell and Jensen is needed with Salvy most likely hanging up the cleats in the next few years, paving the way for them to have ample opportunity to earn a spot in Kansas City.
Ontiveros may have been onto something. Although many of us may have been frustrated with the Royals’ process in choosing Mitchell in the 2023 draft, we cannot deny that he is making us eat our words a bit so far. I am happy to admit it and hope that one year, two years, or five years from now we can all join with Ontiveros in saying, “I feel really good about that pick.”
Image credit: Kansas City Royals
