Thursday, February 18, 2016

TGP Prospects Month Top 29 Prospects List - #12 Bryan Mitchell


Bryan Mitchell is a name that many Yankees fans, even the most casual fan, knows by now. He's been around the organization for what feels like forever now and has made appearances with the big league club in each of the last two seasons. Last season was especially notable for Mitchell because he took a line drive off the bat to the face that seemingly and presumably messed with his mind and psyche for the remainder of the 2015 season. If anyone has ever been hit in the face with a baseball whether it be in Little League or professional baseball you know more than anyone what an offseason can do for your mind. It's like a reset button so if this was the reason for Mitchell's struggles then I'm not entirely concerned.

Mitchell's stuff cannot be denied. He throws hard and has an absolute ton of movement on his pitches as both a starting pitcher and a relief pitcher. Mitchell has less than 40 innings thrown in the Major Leagues and at 24-years old is just entering the prime of his career. He will likely outgrow his prospect status this season as he is penciled in as a member of the team's bullpen but he could also conceivably lose out on the numbers game and start the season in Scranton. Either way I truly believe Mitchell could be the team's next Adam Warren as he can both start and relieve and he doesn't seem to let the game overwhelm him. Yes his MLB stats are ugly, although his minor league stats are comparable to Warren's for much of their MiLB careers, but the sample size is small and the comparisons to Warren are real.

Maybe I'm off base but behind the likes of James Kaprielian, Domingo Acevedo and the young guys who are two-to-three years away from the major leagues (Drew Finley, Ian Clarkin etc.) I believe Mitchell is the team's best starting pitching prospect. I can admit when I'm wrong, and I know I've been wrong before while letting my fandom get in the way, but I don't think I'm wrong about Mitchell. I don't.

12. Bryan Mitchell
13. Drew Finley
14. Mason Williams
15. Slade Heathcott
16. Abi Avelino
17. Hoy-Jun Park
18. Luis Torrens
19. Cale Coshow
20. Chance Adams
21. Miguel Andujar
22. Jonathan Holder
23. Tyler Wade
24. Nick Rumbelow
25.Jordan Montgomery
26.Trey Amburgey
27. Ben Gamel
28. Austin DeCarr
29. Thairo Estrada
30. James Pazos

2 comments:

  1. Daniel...
    I agree with you as I think I have made clear a few times on this guy being a good starting pitcher...or out of the BP.
    As I wrote before, some guys are never the same after getting hit in the face and others are ok after a few games. You and I have both gotten our bell rung a time or two and understand his problem. That little devil sitting on one's shoulder telling one to "watch out" everytime the ball is hit can be the unmaking of a player but, I can't believe he will be adversely affected by his misadventure at all...well, maybe a little, but he will overcome it and be a good pitcher.

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    1. He is a classic representation of a pitcher with too much movement and not enough control. This can be controlled or changed with an arm slot change or a mechanical adjustment, even if it's ever so slight. It's far too early to give up on Mitchell. The stuff can't be taught for the most part and he has the stuff, the mechanics can and I believe that's his biggest issue.

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