Mitchell learned from one of the best -- "Smoke"

This story was excerpted from Justice delos Santos' Pirates Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Every ballplayer had a mentor growing up, someone who taught them the nuances and details of the game. Some sages have more knowledge, more experience than others. In the case of Cal Mitchell, one of his coaches didn’t just have a lifetime of baseball knowledge to share, but was one of the most feared right-handed pitchers of his era.

From ages 11 to 13, Mitchell played for the Easton A's under the tutelage of Dave Stewart, who served as his travel ball coach in Southern California prior to his tenure as D-backs general manager. Mitchell briefly played for Stewart’s son, Adrian, as well. In the moment, Mitchell didn’t realize the gravity of having “Smoke” as his coach. Now 23 years old, Mitchell looks back on the opportunity to play for Stewart in awe.

“It’s wild,” Mitchell said. “When I was a kid, I didn’t understand the gravity of it until now. Having him in my life helps with everything. How to handle yourself on the field. What the big leagues was going to be like or what the big leagues is like now."

Stewart imparted a wealth of knowledge. Mitchell recalled Stewart talking about hitting through the lens of batters he had trouble facing, mentioning Wade Boggs because of his ability to go the other way. Stewart would even get behind the L-screen and throw batting practice; he wouldn’t let it eat like back in the ol’ days, but would mix in some secondary pitches to keep Mitchell and company honest. And along with the baseball itself, Stewart helped prepare Mitchell to navigate life outside the confines of the ballpark as well.

“He’s a great friend,” Mitchell said. “He’s knowledgeable on lots of things about baseball and life, just how to navigate this new thing that I’m doing. It’s invaluable.”