The White Sox have signed outfielder Cal Mitchell to a minor league contract, as first reported by Just Baseball’s Aram Leighton. The deal also includes an invite to Major League camp in Spring Training.
Mitchell, 25, spent all of this past season with San Diego’s Triple-A affiliate. In 469 plate appearances over 122 games, he slashed .277/.359/.512 with a 114 wRC+, 22 homers, 70 RBI, and 12 stolen bases. His career-best power surge topped his previous home run total of 15 back in 2019.
Cal Mitchell ties the game for the @epchihuahuas with his 22nd home run of the season! pic.twitter.com/wIX60y8RhJ
— Diego Garcia (Stat Nerd Baseball) (@StatNerd_Base) September 22, 2024
Originally drafted by the Pirates in the second round of the 2017 MLB Draft, Mitchell made the jump to professional baseball straight out of high school. He spent his first summer playing Rookie ball in the Gulf Coast League, then moved on to Low-A in 2018 and High-A in 2019. After COVID washed out the 2020 minor league season, Mitchell continued to climb the ladder and earned his first promotion to the majors in 2022.
Pittsburgh’s former seventh-ranked prospect only went on to appear in 71 big-league games between 2022 and 2023. In that span, Mitchell hit .222/.284/.343 with five home runs and 17 RBI while putting up -4 defensive runs saved in right field. As he did with the Padres, Mitchell will compete again for an Opening Day roster spot in Spring Training and could be presented with better playing opportunities if he can put up strong numbers.
Looking at the outfield situation next season, Andrew Benintendi is pretty much a lock for left field and Luis Robert Jr. will be in center barring an offseason trade. That leaves the team with right field to figure out, though part of the equation was solved with the signing Austin Slater a few weeks back. Slater likely sees time in a platoon role, especially against left-handed pitching who he’s mashed in the past. Mitchell will join players like Dominic Fletcher, Corey Julks, and Zach DeLoach in competing for playing time in the corner outfield spot, with those who miss out serving as depth in Triple-A Charlotte.
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Featured Photo: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
