After a strong cameo in 2022, Brewers OF Garrett Mitchell could be poised to play a big role in Milwaukee’s present and future. But, how much consideration should be given to Mitchell in fantasy this season? Let’s take a closer look at the rookie outfielder’s tools, and how Mitchell could be a difference maker for fantasy owners in 2023.
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A Look at Mitchell
It’s been an interesting past two seasons for former first-round pick Garrett Mitchell. After being drafted by Milwaukee in the 2020 MLB Draft, Mitchell has played just 132 MiLB games and 28 MLB games. Still, he’s made a sizeable impact when on the field.
Lauded for being an exceptional athlete in UCLA, Mitchell hit .273/.382/.419 with 13 home runs, 23 extra base hits, and 34 stolen bases over the past two seasons in the Minors. Just from those numbers, one could see why the hype train exists for a player like Mitchell. The 23-year-old possesses great speed, above-average plate discipline, and good power. Durability and health, however, have been a question mark for the young outfielder.
Mitchell saw his first Major League action late last year and looked impressive. The Brewers outfielder hit .311/.373/.459 with two home runs, five extra base hits, eight stolen bases, and nine RBIs. From August 27 — Mitchell’s MLB debut — onward, Mitchell’s eight steals ranked in the top ten in the league.
At the start of the offseason, it was tough to project whether Milwaukee would opt to have Mitchell be on the Opening Day roster or head back down to the Minors. Nothing is set yet, but he’s off to a good start this spring. In his first six games of the spring, Mitchell batted .500 with two home runs and five RBIs. Both home runs came on the first day of the Spring Training slate.
2023 Fantasy Outlook
With outfielder Tyrone Taylor on the mend and newcomer infielder/outfielder Brian Anderson poised to play at third, there’s a pretty good chance that Mitchell could make it on Milwaukee’s roster and play alongside Christian Yelich in the outfield. All he really needs is a good Spring Training that could force management’s hand. So far, the former UCLA star has done his best to cement a spot on Milwaukee’s team.
Should Mitchell make the Brewers, expect him to slot in at center field. Mitchell possesses the speed and the power to be not just a regular, but an impact player. However, whether he will be an impact guy is yet to be seen.
As of February 28, Mitchell is available in just a little over 50% of all leagues in Yahoo! and should readily available in ESPN leagues. If he’s not on your radar now, he should be going forward.
