Mitchell committed to UCLA before his senior year (2017) at Orange Lutheran High School.

In 2017, the A's chose Garrett in the 14th round, but Mitchell chose UCLA.

The pump is constantly connected to outfielder Garrett Mitchell.

Every day, every hour and every minute of his life—aside from a brief moment every three days when he changes it—Mitchell is connected to a small piece of plastic tubing that acts as a vital organ.

For everyone with a working pancreas—which, statistically, is most everybody—let Mitchell break it down.

“So the pump acts as a pancreas for me, and you obviously have a pancreas. We both do, but yours works and mine doesn’t,” said Mitchell, who played for Orange Lutheran High. “So, basically, when you eat food, it doesn’t matter if it’s bread, pasta or anything—whatever food you eat, your pancreas corrects for it.

“It keeps your blood sugar in the area of 80 or 90 to 100, 120 (millimoles per liter). You won’t ever really go above or under that. It’s just because the pancreas is able to produce enough insulin to always make sure you stay stable.

“And mine doesn’t produce any.”

That’s because Mitchell is a Type 1 diabetic. He has been since he was 9 years old. Or, at least, that’s when he was diagnosed. His father Antony remembers the moment vividly. He remembers sitting in the hospital and having flashbacks of when Mitchell was born and of when he first threw a baseball. Of the wide smile on his face and of the first time he hit a home run.

He thought of everything that had seemed possible for his son just moments ago, but now—who knows?

“He had excessive urination, thirst, hunger, some mood changes, a little bit of weight loss,” Antony said. “When we took him in, we thought maybe it was a (urinary tract infection) or something like that. And then he was diagnosed.

“I just remember that night in the hospital, him and his mom (Shannon) and I. I knew enough about (Type 1 diabetes), but at the same time it was like, ‘How normal does he get to be?’ ” (Carlos Collazo - Baseball America - 5/12/2017)

If anything, diabetes seems to have helped Mitchell.

“I feel like if I weren’t a diabetic and I was just a high school kid playing baseball, things wouldn’t be the same,” he said. “I know God’s path for me. Everything that’s happened up to this point has happened for a reason. I don’t feel like I would be in this same position that I’m in now if I weren’t a diabetic.”

Garrett didn’t always feel that way. Being diagnosed at such a young age, Mitchell felt like the world was against him. Why was he the person who had to deal with this? He didn’t even really understand the extent of what he had to deal with. He couldn’t even freely live out his childhood.

Perspective has a way of clearing everything up.

“Kind of looking back on it now, I thank God that I was the person who he gave diabetes,” Mitchell said, “because I want to be able to share my story with other kids who are diabetic and think the world is against them. I know that even with diabetes, it’s not going to stop me from . . . achieving my dreams.” (Carlos Collazo - Baseball America - 5/12/2017)

Garrett lists his hobbies as hanging out with friends and family, playing video games, working out, playing basketball.

Spring 2020: In three years at UCLA, Mitchell hit .327/.393/.478 with 24 home runs, 15 triples, and six home runs, plus stole 28 bases in 121 games. He led the NCAA with 12 triples as a sophomore in 2019, and was hitting .355/.425/.484 through 15 games this year before the NCAA shut down all spring sports in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

June 2020: One scout's take on Mitchell: "Might be the best player I've ever scouted. Take away the diabetic aspect and he could be drafted 1-1. Stays in center field, plus defender, plus arm, 80 run times on turns ... zero effort."

June 2020: The Brewers chose Mitchell in the first round (#20 overall), out of Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, California.

July 8, 2020: Mitchell signed for $3,242,900, via scouts Daniel Cho and Corey Rodriguez.

June 10, 2020: Days before the 2017 Draft, a 17-year-old Garrett had a clear view of what needed to happen in order for him to achieve his goal of playing professionally. As one of the top high school players in the country, Mitchell was well aware of his strengths. That was the easy part – anyone who had watched the high school star could see he was a special talent.

But Mitchell also recognized the areas where he would need to improve. Three years later, his decision to postpone pro ball and further hone his skills in college ball looks like it was a good one.

"The one thing I get knocked down for the most is the ability to have a consistent swing and hit the ball for power," Mitchell said in an interview with MLB.com in 2017, days before the A's selected him in the 12th round of the Draft. "So for me, just trying to stay consistent with my swing, staying short to the ball and not getting big, and getting upward tilt on my baseball to get backspin on it and drive the ball is what I'm working on the most."

The work paid off. After starring as an outfielder for baseball powerhouse UCLA, Mitchell is now a top 20 pick. MLB Pipeline had him ranked as the No. 6 prospect in that year’s Draft class.

Over time, Savage watched Mitchell transform from a raw talent to a more complete player, one who worked tirelessly on his swing and developed plate discipline that simply comes with repetition and experience.

"He's really grown mentally. He's gotten stronger physically," Savage said. "He's just a completely different hitter than he was when he first came out of high school. It's maturity, it's discipline, it's clearly some mechanical adjustments, to just have a feel now to be a good hitter."

There's plenty to like about Mitchell's abilities. He bats left-handed and hits lefty pitchers well. In 2019, he led the Pac-12 with 12 triples, evidence he can drive the ball to the gaps. He was 18-for-22 in stolen base attempts, and his excellent speed has translated to defense, too. He's considered an above-average defender who covers a ton of ground in center field -- a premium position that can work to his advantage if he shows he can handle the job long-term.

Mitchell’s path has not come without challenges. After his sophomore year, he was selected to play for Team USA, but a leg injury thwarted that plan. His recovery prevented him from playing for the Collegiate National Team, and his recovery extended through last fall. But his stock didn't fall with scouts, who were still impressed with what Mitchell showed in batting practice and during the games he played in this spring.

Mitchell's health history has also come up as a possible issue. He was diagnosed as a child with Type 1 diabetes, and though that could be construed as a concern for potential teams interested in drafting the outfielder, his projected positioning suggests health history is not a deterrent. To date, Mitchell’s athletic pursuits have never slowed because of the condition.

The Brewers gain a top-tier prospect developed from one of the most competitive baseball programs in the country. UCLA, which has produced All-Stars Brandon Crawford, Trevor Bauer and Gerrit Cole, may, in time, have another to add to the list.

“I don't think there's any player in the country that possesses his skill set,” Savage said of Mitchell. “He's our strongest guy, he's our fastest guy. He's a dynamic, full-fledged athlete.

“We've had really good players, really good pitchers. But Garrett possesses the most athleticism-slash-baseball tools that we've seen. You can't help but see it right away.” (A Footer - MLB.com - June 10, 2020)

July 7, 2020:  Garrett and Milwaukee tentatively agreed to terms on a signing bonus.  Mitchell, who has been playing with Type 1 diabetes since he was a kid, agreed to sign for right around slot value for the 20th overall pick. That figure was set at $3,242,900. The agreement was pending the results of a physical exam. 

Oct 2020: For Mitchell and some other Brewers Minor Leaguers who lost their season to the coronavirus pandemic, it’s finally time to play ball. The Brewers’ fall instructional league is underway in Phoenix with a 53-man roster. The Brewers’ squad played against the Giants in Scottsdale, Ariz., the first of 25 games against other organizations.

“Mitchell was working out like the other players but doing it from afar and remaining in game shape,” Brewers farm director Tom Flanagan said. “This will be a good opportunity to get him a few games and get him around his future teammates.

“For players who missed out on their season, not having anything this year would have been tough. This allows them at a base level to get to know everybody they’re going to be working with, get to know our complex, but then also to get a little game action and put what they have been working on getting better at on display for us.” (A McCalvy - MLB.com - Oct 12, 2020)

In 2021, the Baseball America Prospect Handbook had Garrett as the Brewer's 2nd-best prospect, behind only SS Brice Turang. Mitchell was at #4 before 2022 spring training. And he was #8 early in 2023. 

Garrett was at #6 in the spring of 2024.

2021 Season: Mitchell dominated in high-A to start the year but missed time with a leg injury and looked absolutely overmatched in Double-A, where he hit .186/.291/.264 while striking out in 28% of his plate appearances. Mitchell’s tools at the plate play down due to a choppy swing and an approach geared more for ground balls than doing damage.

His speed is graded as a legit 80 and he has the tools and athleticism to play plus defense in center field. But without a significant change to his approach and swing, there are major doubts about his ability to be competitive against upper-level pitching.  (Kyle Lesniewski@Kyle_Lesniewski - Dec 14, 2021)

Dec. 18, 2021: A wedding day is always special. For Brewers prospect Garrett Mitchell and his now wife, Haley Cruse, their wedding day just got even more special.

This past Saturday, these two got married and officially became baseball’s top power couple as Mitchell is one of the Brewers top minor league prospects after starring at UCLA and Cruse was a softball star at Oregon and now plays professionally for the USSSA Pride in Florida.  (David Gasper)

March 6, 2022: First-round pick, meet first-round pick. The arrival of 2020 first-round Draft pick Garrett Mitchell to the Brewers’ Minor League Spring Training camp meant the first face-to-face introduction between Mitchell and 2021 first-round pick Sal Frelick. The two have similar scouting reports: left-handed hitter, center fielder, high energy, high baseball IQ. Now it’s a race to Milwaukee.

“I think some people think in pro ball everyone is after you, right?” Mitchell said. “And obviously, we play the same position and we’re similar in what we do. But that’s what makes it fun. I’ve never been one to shy away from a challenge or having to go up against someone. That’s fun. And you know it just as well as I do, that’s so out of my control, whether I get called up or someone else does. So for me, that’s like the least of my worries. 

“I’m not looking at it like, ‘I hope he does really, really bad and I do really good.’ It’s baseball. There’s going to be highs and lows. Things are going to happen. I think the group that we have now, just imagine us in a couple of years. I’m excited. I like playing with people like that.”

Over the last calendar year, Mitchell -- rated by MLB Pipeline as the Brewers' top prospect (Frelick is No. 2) -- has experienced a wider gap of highs and lows than virtually any player in the organization. He starred for the Brewers in his first big league Spring Training, dominated at High-A Wisconsin and married the love of his life. He also batted .186 at Double-A Biloxi, knocked down by back-to-back bouts of strep throat that were so serious, Mitchell needed his tonsils removed during the offseason.

Mitchell wasn’t making excuses when he reported for duty at spring camp.

“It didn’t end the way I wanted it to,” Mitchell said. “But I feel really, really good going into this year.”

The highs were plentiful. The 20th overall pick in the shortened 2020 Draft, Mitchell earned a spot in big league camp in ’21 and made the most of it, hitting .367 with a .973 OPS in 22 Cactus League games while putting his full skill set -- contact, speed, defense -- on display. Mitchell carried that success to Wisconsin, where he missed a few early weeks with a muscle strain behind his right knee but returned to hit .359 with a 1.128 OPS through 120 plate appearances, culminating with a career day on July 4 when he homered twice, tallied four hits and drove in six runs. He was off to Biloxi.

That’s when Mitchell's season turned south. Already faced with the challenges of more advanced pitching and adapting his routine to a new living situation -- Mitchell, a Type 1 diabetic, must be particularly vigilant about his habits in order to manage his blood sugar -- he began to battle a series of illnesses unrelated to diabetes and COVID-19.

It started with a stomach bug, followed by strep throat. Mitchell completed a course of antibiotics and felt better, only to suffer a second bout of strep throat beginning the day after his course of medication ended. This one, he said, was twice as severe as the first.

All told, Mitchell had a .555 OPS in 148 plate appearances at Biloxi. Assignments won’t be set for weeks, but it would not be a surprise to see Mitchell return there to begin the ’21 season on April 8. He worked on a field Sunday with Double-A manager Mike Guerrero in an outfield group that included Frelick, Joey Wiemer and Joe Gray Jr.

“I don’t like playing bad. I’m my worst critic,” Mitchell said. “So having to go through that, it was hard. The part that frustrated me most was that when I was on the field and starting to be a little bit more consistent at Double-A, that’s when it started to fall apart, and I started getting sick.

“I feel like for me, especially being in a new situation in pro ball, my first full year, I give myself the benefit of the doubt. I’m learning how my body was feeling during a full season, and how to be as consistent as possible. Coming into year two, it makes me feel confident just because I’ve been down this road before. I’ve had those ups and downs. Going into this year, it’s a new slate. It’s time to look forward.”

Mitchell has a partner with whom to look forward. In December, he married professional softball player Haley Cruse. She is with him in Phoenix, preparing for her own season with the Viera, Fla.-based USSSA Pride, a team in the Women's Professional Fastpitch League. The two are similar players -- speedy, top-of-the-order types -- who spend a lot of their downtime talking hitting. Mitchell’s chief priority for 2021 is staying on the field.

“I don’t think it’s a baseball thing. I’ve shown I can play baseball at a high level, and I know I can,” Mitchell said. “I think being able to stay confident and stay on the field is definitely going to be the goal for this year. If I can do that, the rest will take care of itself.” (A McCalvy - MLB.com - March 6, 2022)

Aug 30, 2022: Chalk up more firsts for Brewers rookie Garrett Mitchell.

First big league home run. First big league curtain call. First big league ice bath. First time making dad bawl at a baseball game.

After sparking an early rally with a walk and his first career stolen base, Mitchell reawakened American Family Field in the eighth inning with a tying, two-out, two-run home run before Keston Hiura hammered a two-run walk-off homer in the ninth for a 7-5 Brewers win over the Pirates.

Antony Mitchell, who broke down as his son circled the bases, shed more tears when they embraced postgame.  “It’s an accumulation from the first time he stepped on a field,” dad said while waiting with the rest of the family outside the Brewers’ clubhouse. “College was cool. All the steps from Single-A, Double-A, Triple-A. But something today was like, ‘This is real.’  “He’s doing what he’s always done, but to do it like this, it got me. It got me. It was total excitement to start off with. Then I started losing my breath. Then it got me.” 

Has Garrett ever made his dad cry tears of joy before?

Yes, but it was a long time ago. Garrett Mitchell was only 10 years old. 

“When he was diagnosed diabetic,” Antony said, “he came back and said, ‘Dad, I love you more than the game of baseball. Don’t worry about it.’ 

“He gave me something in that moment. He showed me he was OK.”

Mitchell slipped to the Brewers at 20th overall in the 2020 MLB Draft because of concerns over his Type 1 diabetes. But here he is in the Major Leagues 26 months later, less than a month removed from playing Double-A baseball.

But after a brief taste of Triple-A, he earned a callup and started for the first time and delivered a go-ahead single in a series-clinching win over the Cubs. With another righty on the mound for Monday’s series opener against the Pirates, Mitchell started once again and made the most of it.  Mitchell finished 1-for-2 with two runs scored, two RBIs and his first career stolen base, which came on a pickoff attempt and helped spark a three-run Brewers rally in the third inning. (A McCalvy - MLB.com - Aug 29, 2022)

2022 Season: Major League Stats: .311 AVG / .373 OBP / .459 SLG in 68 PAs, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 9 Runs, 8 SB (vs. 0 CS).

In all, Mr. Mitchell saw action in 28 games, including 19 starts, with all 176 1/3 of his innings logged in center field. He committed just one error, had one assist and sprinkled in some highlight reel catches.

Although he wasn’t necessarily the young outfielder many fans expected the Brewers to promote for the stretch run, the 24-year-old Mitchell clearly rates as the top defensive center fielder in the system, giving him the edge to secure an early promotion which he took full advantage of.

The exciting finale to Mitchell's season was even more remarkable considering a relatively slow start at AA Biloxi (.676 over his first 30 games), followed by missing 54 days due to injury. However, Mitchell was a man on a mission after his return: .934 OPS in 34 games at Biloxi and AAA Nashville, with 10 stolen bases (vs. 0 caught stealing).

Of course, there’s still some work to be done at the plate (e.g., 28 Ks in 68 MLB PAs), but fans should expect the hard-working, always hard-charging 20th overall pick out of UCLA in the 2020 draft to be a fixture in center field at American Family Field for many years to come.  (By Damuelle - Oct. 10, 2022)

Feb 3, 2023: You could make a case for Mitchell or Brice Turang as the next-best prospect in the Milwaukee system. We’re leaning on the former here because of his top-line speed, impressive arm strength and the likelihood that he heads into the spring as the Brewers’ starting center fielder. Mitchell’s biggest weakness is his propensity to keep the ball on the ground, which dilutes what could be solid power from the left side, but the other tools are loud enough for him to be a potential everyday player in the bigs. (Callis, Mayo & Dykstra - MLB.com - Feb 3, 2023)

March 14, 2023: The Brewers are taking fans behind the scenes with top prospects in a new documentary series.

Called “The Freshmen,” the docuseries comes from the Brewers’ in-house production team and will feature MLB Pipeline’s Top 5 Brewers prospects: Jackson Chourio, Sal Frelick, Joey Wiemer, Brice Turang and Garrett Mitchell. Episodes will come in three weekly installments before Opening Day, with the potential for more episodes during the regular season.

“The thing I like about it is it’s not just a normal interview,” Turang said. “There’s meaning behind it. It’s allowing people to know us better as the younger guys coming in, and how we get along with each other.” 

 Episode 1 introduces fans to the quartet of top position prospects in big league camp: Outfielders Frelick, Wiemer and Mitchell and infielder Turang, starting with Mitchell’s Major League debut last August and September. He was the first callup from this position player prospect wave, which has drawn comparisons to the mid-2000s group of Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, J.J. Hardy, Corey Hart and eventually Ryan Braun. That crew helped lift the Brewers to postseason contention for the first time in a generation.

Like that prospect group, this one is all homegrown. Chourio was the Brewers’ top international signee in the class of 2020-21. The others are Draft picks; Turang in the first round in 2018 out of high school, Mitchell (first round) and Wiemer (fourth round) in 2020 out of college and Frelick (first round) in 2021, also out of college. Turang, Mitchell, Wiemer and Frelick were all both within 18 months of each other.

“I had a sneak preview, and it looks like they’ve done a great job with this,” Brewers farm director Tom Flanagan said. “Any time you can draw attention to these kinds of players -- and these guys are absolutely worthy of the attention -- it’s a good thing for everybody. It’s a great behind-the-scenes look at these guys, maybe something different for the fans.”  Besides wearing microphones in workouts and, in the case of Spring Training roommates Frelick and Wiemer, inviting cameras into their apartment, each of the players sat for extended documentary-style interviews and talked about the others.

“‘G’ is definitely the best behind the camera,” Wiemer said, referring to Mitchell. “Me, I’m not great behind the camera. But I got to see the first episode and I think it came out awesome. Not that I didn’t expect it to be good, but it exceeded expectations for me.” 

 “It’s fun to see what they came out with, and how it’s more getting to know us instead of us just running around and playing,” Turang said. “You actually get to hear us talking about each other.”

Episode 2 has off-the-field footage with Frelick and Wiemer at home. (The early word is that Frelick is quite an entertaining poker player.) Episode 2 also featues Mitchell and his wife, professional softball player Haley Cruse Mitchell.

In Episode 3, fans will learn about the origin stories of each prospect in their own words, from Frelick’s New England upbringing to Wiemer’s Midwest roots in Michigan to Turang and Mitchell from Southern California.

“It’s awesome to have guys to go through this with,” Wiemer said. “I think the show does a really good job of representing that. Behind the scenes, off the field, it’s really cool to be part of that group of guys.”  (Adam McCalvy)

Mitchell has a rather unconventional lefthanded stroke. He has a deep load with a barred lead arm, and he shows a tendency to expand the strike zone and put himself in negative counts. But he consistently makes hard contact with plus raw power that some scouts say a future grade at 60, on the 20-80 scale. Others say 55. And he has a 50 grade hit tool. 

At 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, Garrett's physicality sticks out, as does his 80 speed on the 20-80 scouting scale. He combines that speed with plus raw power, with exit velocities up to 112 mph. That power is evident in batting practice, but to be able to get to that power in games will require adjustments. His attack angle and swing path aren’t geared to drive the ball in the air, and while he has shown solid patience, his elevated swing-and-miss rate against pitches in the strike zone led to a 38% strikeout rate in the majors in 2023. (Ben Badler - Baseball America Prospect Handbook - Spring, 2024)

Garrett shows plus raw power in batting practice, but neither his swing nor approach allow his power to manifest in games. Mitchell has some choppiness to his stroke and struck out 27% of the time in 2021. Instead of an approach geared to drive the ball in the air, he often slaps the ball on the ground. Mitchell is a patient hitter—he walked in 17% of his plate appearances—but he will likely need a significant swing adjustment to be a more consistent offensive performer against upper-level pitching and better tap into his power.

What makes Mitchell such a promising prospect is his athleticism. He’s a plus-plus runner who can steal a base (17 in 19 attempts in 2021) and turn balls hit to the outfield into extra-base hits. He covers lots of ground in center and showcases a plus arm that makes him an overall defensive asset. The bat remains in question, even more so now after the trip to Biloxi.

The left-handed slugger can show good raw pop in batting practice, but his in-game swing leads to a lot of ground balls. His 61.7 percent GB rate was highest in the system (min. 200 PA), blunting his overall offensive impact. Worth noting: his 17.2 percent walk rate was also third-best. (Spring 2022)

Garrett immediately jumps out for his physicality and athleticism and has raw tools that grade out among the best in the minors. He shows plus raw power in batting practice, but neither his swing nor approach allow his power to manifest in games. Mitchell has some choppiness to his stroke and struck out 27% of the time in 2021. Instead of an approach geared to drive the ball in the air, he often slaps the ball on the ground.

Mitchell is a patient hitter—he walked in 17% of his plate appearances. But he will likely need a significant swing adjustment to be a more consistent offensive performer against upper-level pitching and better tap into his power. (Ben Badler - Baseball America Prospect Handbook - Spring, 2022)

Mitchell has done his part to assuage concerns about his hitting ability by making real strides with his left-handed swing. He hit consistently for the first time in 2019, and he was doing it again early in his junior season, even transferring the plus raw power he showed in batting practice to games. Big and strong, Mitchell is an easy plus runner who can steal bases.  If it all clicks, Mitchell could become an above-average regular at the pro level, perhaps even more if he can come close to reaching his offensive ceiling. (Spring 2021)

Mitchell’s offensive approach was built around his speed at UCLA. There’s some choppiness to his swing, which is geared to hit low line drives and use his wheels to stretch out extra-base hits. Mitchell shows plus raw power in batting practice, but his approach limits his ability to apply it in games.

Garrett has worked on getting his lower half more engaged in his swing to try to do more damage, but it remains to be seen how much power he will be able to unlock. (Ben Badler - Baseball America Prospect Handbook - Spring, 2021)

Mitchell has made real strides with his left-handed swing, one of the concerns when he was coming out of high school. He hit consistently for the first time in 2019 and he was doing it again during his junior season. He showed plus power in BP and his ability to transfer that to games helped him to become one of the top prospects in the country. Big and strong, Mitchell is an easily plus runner who can steal bases and cover a ton of ground in center field, a premium position he'll be able to play long term with the chance to develop into at least an above-average defender in time. 

He has a tantalizing across-the-board tool set, including a 60 grade hit tool. (Spring 2020)

Garrett is a dead pull hitter as far as his power is concerned. But he hits line drives all over the yard.

Mitchell is very aware. You can count on him to take the extra base.

June 10, 2020: Mitchell is described as "toolsy," which is another way of saying he does everything well. He can hit, run, field and throw, while the power potential has noticeably evolved. Mitchell hit consistently through a full season in 2019, showing plus power in batting practice that translated to games -- trends he was repeating before the shutdown this year, 2020.

"He's the best athlete we've ever had, position player-wise," UCLA head baseball coach John Savage said.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down all sports, Mitchell was putting together another elite season. The 6-foot-3, 204-pound outfielder was slashing .355/.425/.484 over 62 at-bats, numbers consistent with the first two years of his college career. In 2019, Mitchell paced the Bruins' offense, slashing .349/.418/.566 over 62 games, all starts, and earning Pac-12 All-Conference Team honors.

There's plenty to like about Mitchell's abilities. He bats left-handed and hits lefty pitchers well. In 2019, he led the Pac-12 with 12 triples, evidence he can drive the ball to the gaps. He was 18-for-22 in stolen base attempts, and his excellent speed has translated to defense, too. He's considered an above-average defender who covers a ton of ground in center field -- a premium position that can work to his advantage if he shows he can handle the job long-term. (A Footer - MLB.com - June 10, 2020)

That’s exactly what center fielder Garrett Mitchell did in spring camp. Playing in 8 of the Brewers’ first 22 exhibition games, the 22-year-old showed no signs of being an untested player. He batted .385 (10-for-26) with a home run, four RBIs and a .429 on-base percentage.

Not too shabby for a player who fell to No. 20 in the draft in part because of concerns about his Type 1 diabetes.

“This is just the start for him,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said of the 6-foot-3, 215-pound lefthanded hitter. “The first time he puts on a uniform in front of fans, he’s playing in major league spring training games. He participated in instructional league, but this is really his first experience, and even this is a little different."

Mitchell broke out of the chute with three hits in his first five at-bats in exhibition play and just kept going. Making his performance even more impressive, he collected five of his first eight hits against lefthanders, showing no intimidation whatsoever.

“I try to stay simple,” Mitchell said of his success against southpaws. “Stay in the strike zone and try to use the middle of the field in that situation. I try to keep my front shoulder closed and not to pull off.

“For me, I see lefties really well.”

No one who saw him in big league camp thinks he'll be overmatched.

“He’s a talented player,” Counsell said. “I think that’s pretty obvious. He brings a lot to the table. I think that’s what’s exciting right now.” (Tom Haudricourt - BA - May 2021)

Garrett has a very strong 60 grade arm from right field. It is a real gun. He's been clocked as high as 94 mph on a throw. His outfield play garners a 60 grade. 

Mitchell’s speed makes him a rangy defender in center field, where he has a plus arm and is a a plus defender.

The Brewers don’t want to get Mitchell too far away from what made him successful in college. That could be delaying an inevitable swing change, but a healthier 2022 would go a long way toward that return to hitting promise. The rest of the tools give Mitchell a promising floor as a fourth outfielder with burning speed and plenty of glove. (Spring 2022)

 Mitchell's defense at a premium position and offensive upside give him a chance to be an above-average, everyday player if he can modify his swing and approach, but the risk of whether that will materialize makes him a divisive player. (Spring, 2022)

Big and strong, Mitchell is an easy plus runner who can steal bases and cover a ton of ground in center field, a premium position he'll be able to play long term, with the chance to develop into at least an above-average defender in time.  If it all clicks, Mitchell could become an above-average regular at the pro level, perhaps even more if he can come close to reaching his offensive ceiling. (Spring 2021)

Mitchell has been playing with Type 1 diabetes since being diagnosed in third grade and has shown he can be a premium athlete while dealing with the disease. He featured perhaps the best collection of tools in the entire 2020 Draft class, and the Brewers believe he will be able to use those tools consistently in games at the pro level. (Spring 2020)

Anderson gobbles up ground quickly with long, easy strides.

He has more than enough speed to handle center field, but showing the defensive acumen to stick there could elevate his toolsy profile.

Garrett has top-of-the-scale speed. He was clocked at 6.35 seconds in the 60-yard dash in 2016. It grades out as a legitimate 80 underway on the 20-80 scouting scale. He can get to first base in 3.9 seconds, at times.

He is an impressive base thief.

Summer 2019: Garrett suffered a leg injury that forced him off the Collegiate National Team.

May 14, 2022: Garrett was placed on IL with an oblique strain.

March 9, 2023: Mitchell reported some tightness in his right hamstring after grounding into a fielder's choice in his lone at-bat against the Giants and still felt it playing the outfield, so the Brewers pulled him from the game as a precaution. 

March 17, 2023: Mitchell resumed full baseball activity after taking it easy for about a week to protect his right hamstring. If all goes well, he will take part in another high-intensity workout before returning to game action.

April 18-Sept 28, 2023: Garrett was on the IL with left shoulder subluxation. The rookie outfielder was forced to exit during an eventful 10th inning in the Brewers' 6-5 win in 11 innings over the Mariners. 

Mitchell first hurt his shoulder on a play at third base in the top of the 10th but was able to remain in the game to score a go-ahead run. In the bottom of the inning, Mitchell caught Ty France's fly ball and let loose a hard throw home, which tailed just far enough to the first base side to allow the Mariners to score the tying run. Mitchell then left the game.

April 21, 2023: Mitchell, hurt on a dive into third base during the extra-inning win at Seattle, has significant damage to the labrum in his non-throwing shoulder and faces a surgery that would likely end his season. First, he’ll get a second opinion in Los Angeles from Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who could perform the repair. 

April 26, 2023: It was determined that he would need surgery to  address a subluxation in his left shoulder, and is expected to miss the rest of the season..

March 25-July 1, 2024: Mitchell was on the IL. He was diagnosed with a fractured left index finger, manager Pat Murphy said, and is expected to miss at least a month, perhaps two. Mitchell suffered the injury during batting practice and was given an X-ray that confirmed the injury. He is to see Phoenix hand specialist Dr. Don Sheridan for a second opinion.

May 17, 2024: Mitchell had been wearing a removable cast since fracturing his left index finger near the end of Spring Training, but a promising X-ray followed by a CT scan meant he could shed that device and ramp up strengthening exercises this weekend in Houston.

If that goes well, Mitchell will progress to hitting as soon as the May 24-26 series at Boston. Mitchell is eligible to be activated from the 60-day IL beginning May 24, but will probably need some time to build a foundation of at-bats given his long layoff.