Garrett Mitchell has career day, earns promotion

Since his April arrival in Appleton, Wis., after spending a couple weeks as a non-roster invitee to Milwaukee’s Spring Training, Brewers top prospect Garrett Mitchell has done nothing but rake.

Mitchell was a driving force behind the Timber Rattlers’ 16-6 rout of Beloit, swatting two homers in the first three innings and adding two singles for his first career multihomer and four-hit performance. The UCLA product finished the game 4-for-6 with six RBIs and four runs scored as the designated hitter in the three-hole of Wisconsin’s lineup.

"I know my abilities and what I can bring on any given day. To be able to put it together on an everyday basis, being healthy and feeling comfortable in the box, knowing that I’m going out there and competing every single day on a high level, it means a lot," said Mitchell. "I try to give myself a pat on the back and focus on one day at a time to enjoy the successes when they happen.”

Following Mitchell's career day, Milwaukee promoted its top prospect to the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers after a dominant 28-game stint in Wisconsin.

"After having a really good day on the field it was good to get that news,” said Mitchell. “This is one step in the right direction. There’s a long way to go but it’s nice to be healthy and out there every single day, competing with the guys and winning games.”

MLB Pipeline’s No. 49 overall prospect launched a two-run shot in the first inning, his fourth dinger of the year that put Wisconsin up by three. Mitchell would bat twice in the third, first roping a line-drive single to left field and scoring on a Beloit error on the following play.

After three more runs scored, the 2020 first-rounder stepped into the box with one out and the bases loaded, and delivered with his first career grand slam. Mitchell’s second homer of the day put the Timber Rattlers up 12-0 when the inning ended.

“The time I’ve spent trying to break down my swing myself, and really just focusing on the things that allow me to be successful, which is being in rhythm and timing different pitches," said Mitchell. "When I do that, I tend to have a lot of success, so if I can just continue to keep going with my swing and see pitches well out of the hand, it’ll lead to a lot of success.”

Mitchell batted three more times in the game after Wisconsin’s huge inning, grounding into a fielder’s choice in the fifth, flying out to center field in the eighth and knocking a single in the ninth to wrap up his career-best day at the plate.

The five-tool outfielder was not the only Brewers prospect with a career day in Wisconsin’s lineup. Second basemen Hayden Cantrelle, Milwaukee’s No. 16 prospect, also recorded his first career multihomer game with a solo shot in the first and a two-run dinger in the third, his fourth and fifth long balls on the year.

Mitchell missed most of May with a muscle strain in his left knee while legging out an infield single on May 5. Since his return to the lineup on May 30, the injury has not fazed him, recording a hit in 20 of the 28 games he’s played. Mitchell caught fire this weekend, going 8-for-12 with two homers, a triple, a double and a stolen base over his last three games. He has totaled five doubles, two triples and five long balls as a catalyst in the Timber Rattlers’ lineup.

“You’re constantly learning and growing in every plate appearance, every game, and it’s been nice over the last couple of weeks to be putting some really good at-bats together and having some really good games,” said Mitchell. “The more at-bats I get under my belt, the more consistent I am and the more success I’ll have.”

The 22-year-old is slashing .359/.504/.620 with a 1.124 OPS on the year. While he showcased power and ability to hit gaps this weekend, the lefty's 70-grade speed has been on full display all season with 12 stolen bases. Mitchell has shown his advanced approach at the plate with 33 hits and 27 walks in 119 plate appearances, while cashing in on run scoring opportunities with 33 runs scored and 20 RBIs.

“It’s an everyday game and I’m just trying to be consistent and get as comfortable as possible,” said Mitchell. "“There’s going to be days where I feel good and can’t hit, there’s going to be days where I feel bad and can’t hit. There’s also going to be the same thing, good days of good hitting and bad days of getting on-base.”

Mitchell will join Brewers No. 2 prospect Brice Turang in the Shuckers' lineup, and with his production in a small sample size at High-A, figures to be a force at the top of Biloxi's lineup.