Owner of an easy, powerful swing and a good batting eye, Jared Mitchell is a dangerous hitter. He has excellent bat speed and a solid plate approach -- looks comfortable hitting to the opposite field.
He played all three outfield positions for LSU in 2009, but was in right field exclusively during the Tigers' six College World Series games. Mitchell doesn't have flawless instincts in the outfield, though with his well-above-average speed, he covers a lot of ground. His arm didn't impress me in any of the five games I saw him play this postseason.
During Regionals, I watched Mitchell strike out on three swings: a swing-through, foul ball, and a swing-through where he missed the ball by about a foot. I didn't see him look nearly that foolish when I watched him in the College World Series.
Mitchell runs upright with virtually no wasted motion. He almost looks mechanical when he runs -- has clearly been coached well in how to move efficiently. He hit sixth or seventh in all of the Tigers' College World Series games except the final game, when he batted 5th. His spot in the postseason batting order was likely more of a lineup chemistry decision than an indicator of his polish.
Mitchell lasted until the 23rd overall pick of the 2009 Draft because he still has holes in his game -- mainly the ability to hit for contact consistently. Even though he was a two-sport athlete in college (football wide receiver/returner), he has a lot more baseball experience than some people give him credit for. And the ability to hit for contact is an area that many hitters manage to improve as they gain pro experience.
With his speed, Mitchell at least deserves a look at center field in pro ball. If he can learn to play center, he could turn into an above-average big leaguer. Still, he comes with a bit more risk than most college hitters who go in the first round.
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