(November 22, 2018) — Outfielder Jared Mitchell, a key member of the 2016 York Revolution playoff club and the 2017 championship squad, has signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds for the 2018 season, the Revolution announced today.
Mitchell starred during his two seasons in York, combining to bat .291 with 22 home runs and 50 steals, fifth most in franchise history. After joining the team midway through the 2016 season, Mitchell batted .285 with eight home runs and 26 steals over 69 games during his first season in York. He followed that with a full campaign in 2017, during which he hit .295 with 14 home runs, 34 doubles (tied for fourth in Atlantic League), 62 RBI, 66 runs scored, and 24 stolen bases in 122 games played. Those numbers included an outstanding final two months, as Mitchell reached safely in 56 of his last 60 regular season games, batting .326 with 11 home runs on that stretch.
“We are very happy for ‘Mitch’ to get this well-deserved opportunity,” commented Revs manager Mark Mason. “He’s an extremely hard-working and dedicated player that strives to get better every day. We wish him nothing but the best.”
Mitchell was a catalyst for the Revs all season in 2017. His highlights included a four-hit game with a pair of home runs on August 3 at New Britain, a game-winning three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning at Sugar Land on August 18, a 25-game on-base streak (August 8-Sept. 7), and a 31-game home on-base streak (June 15-Sept. 7).
A decorated athlete, the 29-year-old was originally a first-round draft pick (23rd overall) of the Chicago White Sox out of Louisiana State University in 2009. At LSU, Mitchell was named College World Series MVP after leading the Tigers to a national championship. It was not his only national championship in college, as he was also a wide receiver on LSU’s BCS National Championship football team in 2008. The New Iberia, LA-native was a standout right-handed quarterback in high school (Mitchell is ambidextrous and throws and bats left-handed), and in baseball was named the Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year in 2006. He was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 10th round of that year’s draft but elected to attend LSU.
Professionally, Mitchell has reached the Triple-A level over parts of four consecutive seasons (2012-15) with both the White Sox and Los Angeles Angels organizations. He was promoted to the White Sox 40-man roster in 2014 when he entered the season as the franchise’s No. 10 prospect (MLB.com) and belted a career-high 19 home runs. Mitchell also spent time in the New York Yankees farm system in 2016.
The 2018 season will be Mitchell’s ninth in professional baseball.