Catcher Blake Mitchell plans to sign with the Kansas City Royals soon and is excited about the opportunity to join the team's farm system. Mitchell aims to reach the majors at an accelerated rate and believes the Royals' focus on homegrown players will benefit his career. Director of scouting Danny Ontiveros praises Mitchell's calmness at the plate and ability to work the strike zone. Meanwhile, reactions to the Royals' draft picks and the designation for assignment of reliever Amir Garrett are discussed.
The Kansas City Royals selected high school catcher Blake Mitchell with the No. 8 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. Mitchell, ranked as the No. 14 Draft prospect, has excelled both as a catcher and pitcher, winning multiple awards and helping his high school team win a state title. He possesses strong arm strength and the ability to hit for average and power from the left side of the plate. While there is risk in drafting a high school catcher, Mitchell's athleticism and potential as a pitcher provide a fallback option. The Royals' selection of Mitchell in the top 10 suggests they may be able to sign him for less than the slot value, allowing them to allocate more money to other rounds of the Draft.
The Kansas City Royals have selected high school catcher Blake Mitchell with the eighth overall pick in the 2023 draft. Mitchell is a two-way player who brings power potential but also carries the risk of being a prep hitter who needs development. Despite having established catchers in their roster, the Royals may have drafted Mitchell with an eye towards the future, as he could potentially move to another position. Drafting high school catchers is considered risky, but Mitchell's selection could allow the Royals to allocate more of their bonus pool to other talented players in the draft.
The Kansas City Royals have selected Blake Mitchell, a top LSU baseball signee, with the No. 8 pick in the first round of the 2023 MLB Draft. Mitchell, a highly regarded high school prospect and catcher, has decided to sign with the Royals instead of attending LSU. He had an impressive season at Sinton High School, batting .451 with six home runs and 42 RBIs. Mitchell is considered the top recruit in LSU's 2023 class and the only catcher in their recruiting class.
Travis d'Arnaud hit two home runs to help the Atlanta Braves win their fourth consecutive game against the Colorado Rockies. The Braves are projected to select catcher Blake Mitchell in the upcoming MLB draft. In MLB news, several players, including Mike Clevinger, Mitch Haniger, Max Muncy, and Gio Urshela, have been placed on the injured list due to various injuries.