D.J. Mitchell

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked New York Yankees #16 prospect in 2012
  Wins don't matter much for minor league pitchers, but Mitchell has 38 victories in three pro seasons. He's keeping himself in the mix as a possible starter despite being dogged by assumptions that he's headed for the bullpen. While his slender frame hasn't filled out much since he signed for $400,000 as a 10th-rounder in 2008, he has logged 452 innings, establishing a strong track record as a durable sinker-slider pitcher. Mitchell prefers to pound the bottom half of the zone with an 89-91 mph fastball and a solid slider more notable for getting grounders than swings-and-misses. His sinking changeup has improved during the last two seasons, as he proved by holding lefthanders to a .684 OPS in 2011 (versus .677 for righthanders). He also owns a curveball that grades out a bit better than his slider, with fairly sharp, late bite when it's right. Mitchell keeps the ball in the ballpark, a must because he isn't a strikeout pitcher. While he has accomplished more than any other member of New York's 2008 draft class, he has a back-of-the-rotation ceiling at best. In an organization focused on impact, his greatest contributions still are expected to come as a middle reliever who can produce a groundout when needed. Protected on the 40-man roster in November, he's likely to return to Triple-A for 2012 unless the Yankees sell high on him in an offseason trade.
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  Ranked New York Yankees #18 prospect in 2011
  Mitchell made the conversion from outfielder to pitcher at Clemson, but pro scouts still liken his thin, wiry frame to that of a position player. While he's long and lean, he has held up well over two pro seasons, throwing 291 innings and finishing last year in the Triple-A rotation. Signed for $450,000 as a 10th-round pick in 2008, Mitchell stands out for his solid command, quick arm and good tempo, all of which help the life on his two-seam fastball play well. He sits at 88-91 mph and touches 93 with his fastball, and he got 2.0 groundouts for every airout last year. As one scout put it, "His fastball moves a ton when he stays on top of it." Mitchell's slider and curveball have occasional bite, but his three-quarters arm slot may not lend itself to a consistent breaker. His sinking changeup might be his best secondary pitch, grading out as average. He's athletic but inexperienced at nuances of pitching such as holding runners and fielding his position. While Mitchell's four-pitch mix helps him profile as a back-end starter, he has more impact potential as a middle reliever for New York. He'll likely be part of a stout Scranton rotation that also should include Hector Noesi, Adam Warren and David Phelps in 2011.
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  Ranked New York Yankees #17 prospect in 2010
  An outfielder for most of his first two seasons at Clemson, Mitchell moved into the Tigers rotation as a sophomore, then gave up hitting altogether that summer in the Cape Cod League and the next spring in preparation for pro ball. He signed for a $450,000 bonus as a 10th-round pick in 2008, and ranked second in the system in wins (12) and strikeouts (125 in 140 innings) and third in ERA (2.63) in his 2009 pro debut. With his repertoire and athleticism, he reminds club officials of Ramiro Mendoza. Mitchell came to the Yankees with a good 89-91 mph sinker, and he has excelled at producing groundouts (2.89 groundout/airout ratio last season) and keeping the ball in the park (no homers allowed in his last 98 innings). Since turning pro, he has switched from a slider to a hard, tight curveball that gives him a strikeout pitch. His changeup hasn't made as much progress, and lefthanders batted .293 against him. Mitchell has time to improve his changeup, but if he doesn't he'll wind up in a middle-relief role. He'll pitch in Trenton's rotation in 2010.
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  Ranked New York Yankees #24 prospect in 2009
  Mitchell began his career at Clemson as a speedy outfielder, hitting .289 as a freshman without appearing on the mound. He started pitching as a sophomore and put his bat away for good after a star turn in the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2007. However, Clemson and Mitchell never clicked in 2008, with the team missing regionals for the first time in 22 years and Mitchell falling to the 10th round of the draft. He did sign for $450,000, the equivalent of a third-round bonus. His small stature makes him somewhat unusual for a Yankees big-money draftee, but his athleticism and arm speed were too much to pass up. Mitchell still needs to learn some nuances of pitching and could struggle initially in pro ball, but his potential is obvious. He can touch 93 mph with his fastball, which sits at 89-91 with natural sink and tailing action. He has the hand speed to produce a solid curveball, though he's new to the pitch after throwing a slider in college. He has made progress with a changeup, a potential plus pitch that could be the key to keeping him a starter long-term. His athleticism, makeup and aptitude are huge assets, while his inexperience is his biggest obstacle. Mitchell will compete for a rotation spot in low Class A but could open 2009 in extended spring training.

• December, 2010 Scouting Report
  Mitchell made the conversion from outfielder to pitcher at Clemson, but pro scouts still liken his thin, wiry frame to that of a position player. While he's long and lean, he has held up well over two pro seasons, throwing 291 innings and finishing last year in the Triple-A rotation. Signed for $450,000 as a 10th-round pick in 2008, Mitchell stands out for his solid command, quick arm and good tempo, all of which help the life on his two-seam fastball play well. He sits at 88-91 mph and touches 93 with his fastball, and he got 2.0 groundouts for every airout last year. As one scout put it, "His fastball moves a ton when he stays on top of it." Mitchell's slider and curveball have occasional bite, but his three-quarters arm slot may not lend itself to a consistent breaker. His sinking changeup might be his best secondary pitch, grading out as average. He's athletic but inexperienced at nuances of pitching such as holding runners and fielding his position. While Mitchell's four-pitch mix helps him profile as a back-end starter, he has more impact potential as a middle reliever for New York. He'll likely be part of a stout Scranton rotation that also should include Hector Noesi, Adam Warren and David Phelps in 2011.