Friday, March 29

UCLA baseball’s Garrett Mitchell selected by Milwaukee Brewers with 20th pick of MLB Draft


UCLA baseball junior center fielder Garrett Mitchell was drafted 20th overall by the Milwaukee Brewers in the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft on Wednesday. (Daily Bruin file photo)


Another year, another Bruin picked in the first round.

UCLA baseball junior center fielder Garrett Mitchell was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers with the 20th pick of the 2020 MLB Draft. It is the highest a Bruin has been selected since then-junior right-hander James Kaprielian was drafted 16th overall by the New York Yankees in 2015. 

The selection marks the second consecutive draft with a Bruin picked in the first round, with then-junior first baseman Michael Toglia going to the Colorado Rockies 23rd overall in 2019.

Mitchell played in all 15 of the Bruins’ games in the shortened 2020 season and batted .355/.425/.484 out of the leadoff spot. He hit six doubles and a triple, and stole five bases.

Coming out of Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, California, Mitchell was a highly-touted prospect, but because of his high price tag and concerns about his Type 1 diabetes, he fell to the 14th round of the 2017 MLB Draft, and chose not to sign with the Oakland Athletics. 

Instead, he took the opportunity to play at UCLA where, in three years, Mitchell played in 121 games and amassed a career slash line of .327/.393/.478. His 15 triples – 12 of which he hit in 2019 to set a UCLA single-season record and lead the NCAA – are the second-most in program history.

The Brewers have made the postseason two years in a row, with the team losing to the eventual World Series champion the Washington Nationals in the wild card game last season. Mitchell – the lone UCLA baseball alum in the Brewers’ organization – will join an organization that has outfield depth in the likes of 2018 National League MVP Christian Yelich, 2019 Gold Glove winner Lorenzo Cain and 2007 NL Rookie of the Year and 2011 NL MVP Ryan Braun.

When professional baseball returns in America, it is unlikely that a Minor League Baseball season will happen, and thus, Mitchell might not be paid to play until 2021 at the earliest. MLB and the MLB Players Association are still negotiating a deal to play an abbreviated season, but the two sides have yet to reach an agreement.

Sports senior staff

Keilin is currently a Sports senior staff writer. He was previously an assistant Sports editor on the baseball, women's soccer, cross country, women's golf and men's golf beats. Keilin was also a contributor on the baseball, women's golf and men's golf beats.


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