What the Kansas City Royals are getting in Sinton High School's Blake Mitchell
The Kansas City Royals have selected Sinton catcher Blake Mitchell as the eighth overall pick in the first round of the MLB Draft on Sunday.
Mitchell, who has signed with LSU, becomes the first Coastal Bend area high school baseball player drafted in the first round in 11 years, when Carroll's Courtney Hawkins was selected No. 13 to the Chicago White Sox in 2012. He is also the fourth Sinton player taken in the first 10 rounds, joining pitcher Anthony Banda (10th round, 2012); his coach Adrian Alaniz (8th round, 2007) and Jaime Sepeda (6th round, 1992).
Mitchell, who was recently named the All-South Texas MVP, joins a list that includes notable names such as Brooks Kieschnick, Burt Hooton and Cliff Pennington that are players with Coastal Bend roots drafted in the first round.
Mitchell hit .457 with 15 doubles and six home runs for the Pirates this season, adding 42 RBI, scored 48 runs, drew 61 walks and stole 41 bases. He spent much of the year behind the plate but did compile 21 strikeouts in 10.1 innings on the mound.
Mitchell will also join former Coastal Bend baseball players Nick Loftin and Kale Emshoff in the Royals organization.
Rising prospect: Sinton's Blake Mitchell combines love of game, strong work ethic
Pros of Kansas City Royals drafting Sinton catcher Blake Mitchell
After his growth spurt from his freshman to sophomore year, Mitchell has been on pro scout's radars and it has only increased. If he signs, Mitchell will take plenty of power to all fields and strong plate discipline (61 walks in 2023), plus his arm is rated by some among the best of the catching class. His ability to pitch makes him a prospect teams may take a chance on if catching does not work out.
Cons of Kansas City Royals drafting Sinton catcher Blake Mitchell
Major league teams tend to shy away from drafting high school catchers high, even though they are typically one of a team's best athletes, and some mock drafts had Mitchell falling because of that fact. Plus, there will be a learning curve as an 18-year old to adjust to the professional game.
Final thoughts
Whether he signs with the Royals or goes to LSU, Mitchell will leave the Coastal Bend as one of the area's most highly decorated and best players. He has put himself in position to be remembered in the same sentence as players such as Hooton, Kieschnick, Wyatt Mathiesen and Bart Shirley, and has cemented his legacy as one of the area's top programs.
Coastal Bend First Round Draft Picks
A look at some of the players from the Coastal Bend that have been drafted in the first round
Darrell Clifton, Calallen, Blinn College
1984, 18th overall, Philadelphia Phillies
Courtney Hawkins, Carroll
2012, 13th overall, Chicago White Sox
Burt Hooton, King, Texas
1971, 2nd overall (secondary phase of draft), Chicago Cubs
Note: Hooton was taken in the fifth round out of high school in 1968
Brooks Kieschnick, Carroll, Texas
1993, 19th overall, Chicago Cubs
Nick Loftin, Ray, Baylor
2020, 32nd overall (compensation pick), Kansas City Royals
Cliff Pennington, Carroll, Texas A&M
2005, 21st overall, Oakland AthleticsRelated image (ID: 11275719002)
Notable players from Sinton drafted
Adrian Alaniz, Eighth round, 2007, Washington Nationals (out of Texas)
Anthony Banda, 10th round, 2012, Milwaukee Brewers (out of San Jacinto College)
Jaime Sepeda, Sixth round, 1992, by Phillies (out of Stanford)
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Sinton High School's Blake Mitchell selected by Kansas City Royals
