The San Diego Padres signed free-agent outfielder Cal Mitchell to a minor-league deal on Wednesday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training next year, according to sources. The former second-round pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates went to high school in San Diego and was also committed to the University of San Diego before he was drafted. The 24-year-old left-handed hitter made his big-league debut with Pittsburgh in 2022 and has hit just .222 (48-for-216) with five home runs, 17 RBI and three stolen bases in 71 total games the last two seasons. Mitchell played just two games with the Bucs in 2023 and will provide outfield depth for the Friars going into the 2024 season.
Pittsburgh Pirates outfield prospect Cal Mitchell is starting in right field and is batting second in his second major league game on Wednesday against Colorado Rockies right-hander Ryan Feltner. In his big-league debut on Tuesday, Mitchell went 1-for-4 with an RBI while starting in right field and hitting eighth in the batting order. The 23-year-old will be much more attractive as a low-cost DFS sleeper on Wednesday in the two-hole. In season-long leagues, Mitchell is certainly worth a pickup, as he should have the chance to play regularly over Ben Gamel and Jack Suwinski. In 34 games for Triple-A Indianapolis before his call-up, Mitchell hit .307/.362/.500 with an .862 OPS, five home runs, 26 RBI, 16 runs and six stolen bases.
The Pittsburgh Pirates called up outfield prospect Cal Mitchell from Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, according to a source. Mitchell, the team's No. 25 prospect per MLB Pipeline, was hitting .307/.362/.500 with an .862 OPS, five home runs, nine doubles, 26 RBI, 16 runs scored and six stolen bases in 138 plate appearances over 34 games for Indianapolis to earn the call-up. But the Pirates need all the help they can get on the major league roster, and the 23-year-old could come up to play regularly, making him one to pick up in deep mixed and NL-only leagues right away. Mitchell has a smooth left-handed stroke an plenty of extra-base pop with raw power.
