D. J. Mitchell

D. J. Mitchell
Bridgeport Bluefish – No. 18
Pitcher
Born: May 13, 1987
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 1, 2012 for the New York Yankees
Career statistics
(through 2012 season)
Win–loss record 0–0
Earned run average 3.86
Strikeouts 2
Teams

William Douglas "D. J." Mitchell, Jr. (born May 13, 1987) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Bridgeport Bluefish of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He played in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees in 2012. Before embarking on his professional career, he played college baseball at Clemson University.

College career

Mitchell graduated from North Forsyth High School, and attended Clemson University, where he played college baseball with the Clemson Tigers baseball team in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I. In 2006, Mitchell's freshman year, he played as a right fielder.[1] Mitchell began to pitch in 2007, his sophomore year at Clemson.[2] After Clemson's 2007 season concluded, Mitchell pitched for the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL), a collegiate summer baseball league.[3] He led the CCBL in strikeouts, earning him recognition in Sports Illustrated‍ '​s Faces in the Crowd feature.[4] By 2008, Mitchell played exclusively as a pitcher,[3] and he was named First Team All-ACC.[5][6]

Professional career

New York Yankees

The New York Yankees drafted Mitchell in the 10th round, 320th overall, of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft.[4] Making his professional debut in 2009, he had a 1.95 earned run average (ERA) with the Charleston RiverDogs of the Class A South Atlantic League and a 2.87 ERA with the Tampa Yankees of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League.[4]

Mitchell began the 2010 season with the Trenton Thunder of the Class AA Eastern League. On August 21, 2010, Mitchell was promoted from Trenton to the Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees of the International League.[7] In 2011, Mitchell had a 13–9 win–loss record with a 3.18 ERA for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. For this performance, Mitchell won the 2011 Yankees' Minor League "Pitcher of the Year" Award.[8]

Mitchell was added to the Yankees 40-man roster after the 2011 season to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[9] Competing for the long reliever role with the Yankees in spring training in 2012,[10] the Yankees chose David Phelps for the role, and Mitchell was optioned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.[11]

On April 29, 2012, Mitchell was recalled to the Yankees after Freddy García was moved to the bullpen. Phelps was placed in the rotation, Cody Eppley was optioned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and Mitchell took Phelps' role of long relief. Mitchell had gone 2–1 with a 3.13 ERA in four starts for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, striking out 21 in 23 innings. On June 30, Mitchell was recalled to the Yankees.[12]

Seattle Mariners

Mitchell and pitcher Danny Farquhar were traded by the Yankees to the Seattle Mariners for Ichiro Suzuki on July 23, 2012.[13] Mitchell was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma after the trade.

On April 11, 2013, Mitchell was designated for assignment.[14] After he cleared waivers, Mitchell opted for free agency.[15]

New York Mets

Mitchell signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets on April 22.[16]

Atlantic League

Mitchell signed with Bridgeport Bluefish of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball for 2014 season. He re-signed with the Bluefish for the 2015 season.

References

  1. ↑ Kimmey, Will (June 9, 2006). "College: Super-Regionals: Super-Regional Recaps: Day One". BaseballAmerica.com. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Scout.com: Mitchell Mows Down Panthers". Clemson.scout.com. February 21, 2007. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 McGranahan, Ed (June 4, 2008). "Move to mound paying off for Mitchell". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Raskin, Alex (June 13, 2010). "Mitchell carries no-hitter into seventh". Milb.com. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Clemson's Mitchell bound for Yankees". The Post and Courier. August 12, 2008. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Charlotte: Search Results". May 20, 2008.
  7. ↑ "Top prospects Banuelos, Betances promoted to Thunder rotation". Trentonian.com. August 21, 2010. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Yankees name RHP D.J. Mitchell and C Austin Romine winners of the 2011 Kevin Lawn 'Pitcher of the Year' and 'Player of the Year' awards". MLB.com. March 23, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  9. ↑ Yankees add five players to 40-man roster
  10. ↑ "Yankees: Minor-league trio in hunt for long-relief spot on roster". LoHud.com. April 4, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Yanks add catcher Stewart, option Cervelli". MLB.com. April 4, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Yankees recall RHP D.J. Mitchell, send down Warren". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  13. ↑ Berry, Adam (July 23, 2012). "Mariners trade Ichiro to Yanks for two prospects". MLB.com. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  14. ↑ Stone, Larry (April 11, 2013). "Michael Saunders on DL, Endy Chavez joins club, Aaron Harang on the way". Seattle Times. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  15. ↑ Aderhold, Nathan (April 15, 2013). "West notes: John Ely, Sean Burroughs, D.J. Mitchell, Brandon Allen". MLB Daily Dish. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  16. ↑ "Mets sign DJ Mitchell to minor league deal". New York Daily News. April 22, 2013. Retrieved April 22, 2013.

External links