Kansas City Royals
The Royals added a prep catcher who possesses high upside with their first pick in the 2023 MLB Draft on Sunday night, selecting Blake Mitchell with the No. 8 pick.
Mitchell, MLB Pipeline’s No. 14 Draft prospect, has a long track record of performance, both at Sinton (Texas) High School and on the U.S. junior team the last two summers.
While pulling double duty as a catcher and pitcher, Mitchell won Gatorade state player of the year honors in both 2022 and ‘23, and he helped Sinton win the Texas 4A title during his junior season. This season, he hit .474 with 14 doubles, six home runs and 41 RBIs, posting a 1.543 OPS with 35 stolen bases, 51 walks and just eight strikeouts.
Mitchell participated in the 2022 Under Armour All-America Game at Kauffman Stadium, winning the MVP Award after driving in five runs. He was also part of the USA Baseball 18U national team that won gold at the WBSC Baseball World Cup in 2022 -- he earned the win on the mound with 2 2/3 scoreless innings.
An LSU recruit, Mitchell has the strength, bat speed and patient approach to hit for average and power from the left side of the plate.
There is risk in drafting a high school catcher -- not many make it to the Majors at that position -- but Mitchell is athletic behind the plate and he has plus-plus arm strength, which he’s flashed both behind the plate and on the mound.
With the ability to reach 97 mph with his fastball, Mitchell could have a fallback career as a pitcher, and he fits the offensive profile in right field.
Selecting Mitchell in the top 10 indicates the Royals got a good talent who could sign for below the $5,980,100 slot value of the No. 8 pick, which could help the club save in other rounds of the Draft, as it has done before. Now it remains to be seen how the Royals spread their bonus pool money out across 20 rounds.
The Royals also have two more picks on Day 1: No. 44 overall (second round) and No. 66 (Competitive Balance B).