Are You Ready to Dream on Garrett Mitchell One More Time?

[Jake McKibbin]

Image courtesy of © Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Garrett Mitchell is the epitome of a tantalising baseball player. With incredible athleticism, a feel for the big moments, and raw power to all fields, there is very little he couldn't achieve on the baseball field. To answer some under-the-hood concerns with his swing path (centered around conquering the high fastball), Mitchell made some changes in the 2024-25 offseason, with the goal of a more rounded, consistent profile and the ability to make better contact across the strike zone.

I covered some of the changes he needed to make here in November 2024—soon after which we saw a video of Mitchell from Driveline. There, he worked on creating a flatter plane to the ball, staying tight and working behind the ball. It seems he didn't lose any of his pop in doing so:

How Did He Handle The High Fastball In 2025?
It's important to remember this is a very small sample—just a month's at-bats—but there were some notable changes in his whiff rates from 2024 compared to the 2025 season, especially in the upper third of the strike zone:

Let's restrict our focus to four-seam fastballs only, and include just the middle and upper portions of the strike zone, to see how Mitchell fared. Again, this is a small sample due to Mitchell's season-derailing injuries, but the changes are significant.

Mitchell's quality and quantity of contact against four-seam fastballs soared in this small sample of 25 qualified offerings, with an improved attack angle in his swing bearing proof of a changing process. His exit velocities were up, his whiff rates were way down, and his expected batting average and slugging metrics showcased his output well. If we limit this sample to just the top of the strike zone (again, an even smaller size), Mitchell's whiff rate dropped from 48% to 33%, with an average exit velocity of 95.0 mph.

If we include sinkers and cutters in these locations to increase the sample size, the same story repeats itself: Mitchell is whiffing less and finding better launch angles, thanks to improved attack angles in his swing.

With Mitchell's keen eye at the plate, he doesn't need to do damage on pitches in the upper third of the zone; he just needs to be able to make contact and stay in an at-bat. He made real strides here in 2025, and it should hold him in good stead for 2026, if he can maintain that new swing path after another shoulder surgery last summer.

The Timing Trade-Off
This was a large change to Mitchell's swing—the type of change that's been the downfall of many others with swing-and-miss concerns (see: Joey Wiemer). While working in cages and at Driveline was beneficial to bed in his adjusted swing path, it's likely that his focus on breaking and off-speed pitches took a back seat.

Mitchell was still adjusting to his timing on non-fastballs as spring training rolled around and continued in season, which reduced some of the damage we've become accustomed to. While Mitchell did struggle with high fastballs in 2024, you threw breaking pitches inside the strike zone at your peril. Thankfully, nobody warned Phil Maton about that:

Interestingly, this is where Mitchell took a step back. With the majority of his off-season work centered around the high fastball, Mitchell struggled to time up anything off-speed. Only three of his 13 batted balls against breaking pitches inside the strike zone had a launch angle between 0° and 30°, and not one was between 5° and 25°. He was late getting to pitches, but this appears more of a timing issue than a mechanical one.

His attack angle was largely similar to his production in 2024, and his hard-hit rate was still quite productive; he just wasn't catching these offerings out in front of him with the same regularity. Mitchell's timing should have improved with playing time, a boon painfully removed from his 2025 season in May, but all the indicators are there for Mitchell, if he can just stay on the field, to break out in a big way during 2026.

His bat speed was higher. He was making contact with high fastballs, and punishing those that missed over the heart of the plate. We saw those under-the-hood developments from Mitchell that we've been itching for, even though the surface results didn't quite match up to those indices. If he can stay on the field, Mitchell's ceiling is still as high as anyone on this team.

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[yoshii8]

Not really. I have no expectations anything he gives us a cherry on top.

[CheezWizHed]

In my mind, I've been comparing him to Byron Buxton, but even the oft-injured Bux averages 81 games and 310 ABs per year.  Whereas Mitchell is closer to 35 games and 111 ABs. 

Hopes may be high, but expectations are low. 

[eddiemathews]

If I can dream that the Brewers will win the World Series, it's pretty easy to dream that Mitchell will slash .300/.375/.500

[Underachiever]

No.

[Snoebird]

Mitchell is an ignitor when he plays, and so will Jett Williams be when Mitchell doesn't play. Fixing center field was important, and it looks to be a productive position this year.

[long ball]

I hope Mitchell is healthy both for his own sake and for the Brewers. He’s been good when healthy and I think he’s our preferred option in CF when healthy. 
 

isaac Collins essentially filled in for Mitchell last year once he got hurt with Chourio playing CF. I wonder what the contingency plan is for CF in 2026 if Mitchell is out for an extended period of time. More Bauers in the OF with Chourio in CF is intriguing. Lockridge could potentially be that “late bloomer” or flash in the pan minor league veteran who contributes more than expects. The beauty of Jett Williams coming back in the Freddy trade is that he could be the contingency plan for SS or the OF in case we need it. Probably the most likely and maybe boring outcome is just more Blake Perkins in CF. (FWIW I’d be fine with Perkins being the primary starter in CF if we can get some more offense out of SS and the rest of the offense performs as well as last year)

[Joseph Zarr]

I am ready for Garrett to aim for a healthy full season of baseball. This likely means a PT spot gig in a rotation and possibly beginning the year in a prove it capacity at Nashville. Let's be real here: He has been injured in various capacities his entire pro career. Let's see if he can stay healthy for the first time as a small investment of wishful thinking.

[Jason Wang]

personally i believe in mr. mitchell

also joey wiemer mentioned

[CheezWizHed]

2 hours ago, long ball said:

I hope Mitchell is healthy both for his own sake and for the Brewers. He’s been good when healthy and I think he’s our preferred option in CF when healthy. 
 

isaac Collins essentially filled in for Mitchell last year once he got hurt with Chourio playing CF. I wonder what the contingency plan is for CF in 2026 if Mitchell is out for an extended period of time. More Bauers in the OF with Chourio in CF is intriguing. Lockridge could potentially be that “late bloomer” or flash in the pan minor league veteran who contributes more than expects. The beauty of Jett Williams coming back in the Freddy trade is that he could be the contingency plan for SS or the OF in case we need it. Probably the most likely and maybe boring outcome is just more Blake Perkins in CF. (FWIW I’d be fine with Perkins being the primary starter in CF if we can get some more offense out of SS and the rest of the offense performs as well as last year)

I would imagine we will see Mitchell and Perkins in a soft platoon or late inning replacement situation to limit Garrett's load.  If he gets hurt again, I'd imagine that Chourio or Jett is the most probable long-term solution.

[Lathund]

I'm still a big believer in Mitchell's abilities. The kind of athleticism that gives a higher ceiling than most. He just has never been healthy long enough to ever settle in, to get enough exposure at this level to see whether he can adapt to the pitching, or if they will adapt to him. He might never be healthy, but I do hold out hope. And with how cheap he still is, the potential payoff, the presence of minor league options, there is no reason not to be patient. 

[CA John]

4 hours ago, yoshii8 said:

Not really. I have no expectations anything he gives us a cherry on top.

Mitchell was once the Brewers top hitting prospect and one of the top hitters in D1.

“Garrett Mitchell does nothing but rake.”

Nothing has changed except for 3 rando injuries that kept him off field. If he plays a full season (and there’s no reason to think he won’t), Garrett Mitchell will be an all-star for the Brewers.

[Trax]

I hope he's healthy and has a big spring.   At some point soon I hope he's worth something real in a trade.

 

So I guess no would be my answer, not long term anyway. 

[Jim French Stepstool]

12 hours ago, Lathund said:

I'm still a big believer in Mitchell's abilities. The kind of athleticism that gives a higher ceiling than most. He just has never been healthy long enough to ever settle in, to get enough exposure at this level to see whether he can adapt to the pitching, or if they will adapt to him. He might never be healthy, but I do hold out hope. And with how cheap he still is, the potential payoff, the presence of minor league options, there is no reason not to be patient. 

Ditto. I'm ready to once again dream, because the potential upside looks to be quite tasty. At the same time you can't mentally pencil him in for 400-500 ABs---and there are enough options that you don't need to do that anyway. Fingers crossed.

[Turning2]

Can’t blame a guy whose body betrays him. Regardless, I don’t really even consider Mitchell when looking ahead to the season. I expect CF to look much like last year with Chourio being the only established power bat anywhere in the entire OF.. My (pipe) “dream” is now resigned to Williams putting up ROY power numbers. The best I can apply to Mitchell is hoping he stays healthy and provides some bonus power. 

IF.. he stays healthy and fulfills his power potential and IF Jett is a real deal short king with power, then MIL would finally have a lethal OF offense. That's a lot to hope for... too much actually. But that's what we are stuck with. 

[rafa79]

18 hours ago, CA John said:

Mitchell was once the Brewers top hitting prospect and one of the top hitters in D1.

“Garrett Mitchell does nothing but rake.”

Nothing has changed except for 3 rando injuries that kept him off field. If he plays a full season (and there’s no reason to think he won’t), Garrett Mitchell will be an all-star for the Brewers.

I like Mitchell a lot.  That being said, whatever we get from him is a bonus, I'm not counting on him and why would I or anyone else?

Sorry, why would you say there's "no reason to think he won't" play a full season when the most he has ever played is 69 games in 2024?  In addition, if you add his 2025 and 2023 games played he had a combined 44 games.  

Mitchell is worth bringing back.  You hope he can be a solid platoon player given his injury history but don't COUNT on him to be a regular. 

[Outlander]

Yes, will continue to dream. If the Brewers have any chance at a World Series the next couple of year he will be a big reason why. I also understand it is far more likely he will put on the 60 day IL in May but I can dream.

[CA John]

7 hours ago, Turning2 said:

Can’t blame a guy whose body betrays him. Regardless, I don’t really even consider Mitchell when looking ahead to the season. I expect CF to look much like last year with Chourio being the only established power bat anywhere in the entire OF.. My (pipe) “dream” is now resigned to Williams putting up ROY power numbers. The best I can apply to Mitchell is hoping he stays healthy and provides some bonus power. 

IF.. he stays healthy and fulfills his power potential and IF Jett is a real deal short king with power, then MIL would finally have a lethal OF offense. That's a lot to hope for... too much actually. But that's what we are stuck with. 

Mitxhell’s body didn’t betray him. He jammed his shoulder sliding into a base and broke a finger during BP.. It could happen to anyone. Just bad luck. His Type 1 Diabetes, which is why he fell out of Top 5 in draft, has been a non issue.

Yelich, on the other hand has had his back betray him. He’s still a good hitter w elite knowledge of strike zone, but he’ll never be what he was in 2018/2019.

[SF70]

Mitchell is just 1 reason the team has upside off-the-charts for the ‘26 season and beyond. 

Never before has the team had depth like they enjoy today and thanks to that depth their floor has never been higher. They don’t need Mitchell to stay healthy and breakout, but if they get that then this team’s ceiling just got closer to the Dodgers.

[mudbutt]

On 2/5/2026 at 2:45 PM, CA John said:

Mitxhell’s body didn’t betray him. He jammed his shoulder sliding into a base and broke a finger during BP.. It could happen to anyone. Just bad luck. His Type 1 Diabetes, which is why he fell out of Top 5 in draft, has been a non issue.

Yelich, on the other hand has had his back betray him. He’s still a good hitter w elite knowledge of strike zone, but he’ll never be what he was in 2018/2019.

He’s had injury issues every single year as a professional:

• 2021: Missed nearly two months with a left knee injury.
• 2022: Sidelined by an oblique injury.
• 2023: Suffered a torn labrum in his left shoulder sliding into third base; underwent surgery.
• 2024: Fractured his left index finger during Spring Training, delaying his season debut until July 1.
• 2025: Suffered a left oblique strain in April, followed by a season-ending left shoulder injury in June requiring his second surgery in three years.