Indiana University Athletics
Mitchell’s Baseball Arrival a Potential ‘Big Deal’
2/29/2024 5:00:00 PM | Baseball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The sample size is small, although that's changing. Nick Mitchell is, at last, in Indiana's baseball lineup and the potential is intriguing.
"To this point," coach Jeff Mercer says, "he's been everything we'd hoped for and more."
Mitchell is a 5-10 outfielder who rated among the nation's top-30 national college transfer prospects last spring.
A hand injury sidelined him for the first six games, but in six at bats over the last two games, he's hitting .333 with four runs scored and one run batted in.
More is coming, starting with this weekend's Frisco Classic in Frisco, Texas.
"I'm looking forward to the competition," Mitchell says. "I like playing the best of the best every day. Competing with my guys here. It's been great. Amazing. These guys push me more than anyone I've ever played with. It's great playing with guys who have the same goals and aspirations as me."
Beyond a standout two-year run at Western Illinois in which he hit .348 with 70 runs scored, 38 stolen bases and 22 doubles, Mitchell also thrived in a pair of prestigious summer leagues -- Northwoods League and Cape Cod League.
"When he played so well at Western Illinois, the numbers were eye-opening," Mercer says. "Then, he played great in summer ball. He had such a great track record of success. That's a big deal."
Mitchell was a state of Indiana all-star at Carmel High School near Indianapolis. He rated as the state's No. 60 overall prospect in the class of 2021 after a senior season in which he hit .418 with four home runs, 35 runs scored and 17 runs batted in.
As it did for so many players, COVID-19 hurt Mitchell's recruiting.
"He went through the recruiting process during the COVID-19 shutdown," Mercer says, "so nobody really saw him. He played at a great high school program, with a lot of good players around him, but you didn't see him."
College coaches had seen plenty of him when Mitchell entered the transfer portal last spring, leaving him with multiple transfer options.
Why did he choose IU? It starts with the program's 15-year run of success, which includes three Big Ten tourney titles, one College World series appearance and eight NCAA tourneys, including last season.
"It was everything I could ask for," Mitchell say. It's a (nationally) competitive team. I wanted to be part of something special. It's close to home. My family is happy."
Beyond that, Mitchell says Mercer, "let me know the plan for me and the team. I trusted the coaches. I knew the squad would be something nice."
Mercer sees Mitchell as the ideal replacement for Phillip Glasser, a standout shortstop and leadoff hitter for the previous couple of seasons now in the Washington Nationals organization.
"Phillip would use the whole field," Mercer says. "He didn't chase and he didn't whiff (a team-low 30 strikeouts in a team-high 266 at bats).
"That's what Nick did. He had one of the lowest whiff-and-chase rates in the country, collegiately and in the summer. He has the ability to use the whole file. That's a huge benefit."
Mitchell's hitting stroke suggests quick success at the major college level.
"He has good posture and a tight (swing) path," Mercer says. "You won't consistently beat (Mitchell and Glasser) in or out. There's not a hole to go to consistently. He will either make hard contact or make you work to get him out. To replace Glasser with someone of similar skills is incredibly valuable. It's a tough role."
Mercer's recruiting evaluation was thorough and detailed.
"Is he athletic? Does he move right? Do the numbers and the metrics match up?
"He played well against the Power 5 schools he played against. We watched the video, the way his hips move, the way he rotates, the acceleration. All of his metrics fit. You realize this is a real player. He's physically capable, and statistically he's been outstanding."
There was also the team culture. IU returned plenty of players from last year's NCAA tourney team. Mercer wanted a good fit, chemistry wise. He made a lot of calls, including to his Carmel coaches.
"Does he fit socially?" Mercer says. "We already have an older and established team. He was one of the best if not the best outfielder in the portal. If you're going to go after this guy, he has to fit in culturally."
Devin Taylor, IU's standout outfielder, was all in.
"I knew him before he came here," Taylor says. "I got information on how goofy he is, how good a hitter he is. He's come a long way. We wanted to make him family. I hope he feels like family."
Mitchell does.
"It was like a family right away," he says. "They've made me feel at home."
Mitchell played right field in Tuesday's 9-6 loss to Purdue Fort Wayne and was the designated hitter in last Sunday's 15-5 win at Baylor.
Mercer says he doesn't want to push Mitchell too hard too fast.
"The worst thing you can do is run guys out there too quickly and you prolong an injury."
As far as IU (6-2), a strong start earned it a No. 20 national ranking. However, momentum from a six-game winning streak and a road sweep of Baylor was blunted by the loss to PFW, which entered with a 1-6 record.
In the aftermath, Mercer praised PFW's strong play and said, for the Hoosiers, it was just one of those bad days.
There's little time to dwell on it. IU will face No. 16 Alabama, No. 25 Dallas Baptist and Arizona in this weekend's Frisco Classic.
Strong leadership and chemistry could deliver a solid post-defeat response.
"Everybody does everything the right way here," Mitchell says. "You don't have to tell anyone to do things like show up early. Everybody does things the right way."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The sample size is small, although that's changing. Nick Mitchell is, at last, in Indiana's baseball lineup and the potential is intriguing.
"To this point," coach Jeff Mercer says, "he's been everything we'd hoped for and more."
Mitchell is a 5-10 outfielder who rated among the nation's top-30 national college transfer prospects last spring.
A hand injury sidelined him for the first six games, but in six at bats over the last two games, he's hitting .333 with four runs scored and one run batted in.
More is coming, starting with this weekend's Frisco Classic in Frisco, Texas.
"I'm looking forward to the competition," Mitchell says. "I like playing the best of the best every day. Competing with my guys here. It's been great. Amazing. These guys push me more than anyone I've ever played with. It's great playing with guys who have the same goals and aspirations as me."
Beyond a standout two-year run at Western Illinois in which he hit .348 with 70 runs scored, 38 stolen bases and 22 doubles, Mitchell also thrived in a pair of prestigious summer leagues -- Northwoods League and Cape Cod League.
"When he played so well at Western Illinois, the numbers were eye-opening," Mercer says. "Then, he played great in summer ball. He had such a great track record of success. That's a big deal."
Mitchell was a state of Indiana all-star at Carmel High School near Indianapolis. He rated as the state's No. 60 overall prospect in the class of 2021 after a senior season in which he hit .418 with four home runs, 35 runs scored and 17 runs batted in.
As it did for so many players, COVID-19 hurt Mitchell's recruiting.
"He went through the recruiting process during the COVID-19 shutdown," Mercer says, "so nobody really saw him. He played at a great high school program, with a lot of good players around him, but you didn't see him."
College coaches had seen plenty of him when Mitchell entered the transfer portal last spring, leaving him with multiple transfer options.
Why did he choose IU? It starts with the program's 15-year run of success, which includes three Big Ten tourney titles, one College World series appearance and eight NCAA tourneys, including last season.
"It was everything I could ask for," Mitchell say. It's a (nationally) competitive team. I wanted to be part of something special. It's close to home. My family is happy."
Beyond that, Mitchell says Mercer, "let me know the plan for me and the team. I trusted the coaches. I knew the squad would be something nice."
Mercer sees Mitchell as the ideal replacement for Phillip Glasser, a standout shortstop and leadoff hitter for the previous couple of seasons now in the Washington Nationals organization.
"Phillip would use the whole field," Mercer says. "He didn't chase and he didn't whiff (a team-low 30 strikeouts in a team-high 266 at bats).
"That's what Nick did. He had one of the lowest whiff-and-chase rates in the country, collegiately and in the summer. He has the ability to use the whole file. That's a huge benefit."
Mitchell's hitting stroke suggests quick success at the major college level.
"He has good posture and a tight (swing) path," Mercer says. "You won't consistently beat (Mitchell and Glasser) in or out. There's not a hole to go to consistently. He will either make hard contact or make you work to get him out. To replace Glasser with someone of similar skills is incredibly valuable. It's a tough role."
Mercer's recruiting evaluation was thorough and detailed.
"Is he athletic? Does he move right? Do the numbers and the metrics match up?
"He played well against the Power 5 schools he played against. We watched the video, the way his hips move, the way he rotates, the acceleration. All of his metrics fit. You realize this is a real player. He's physically capable, and statistically he's been outstanding."
There was also the team culture. IU returned plenty of players from last year's NCAA tourney team. Mercer wanted a good fit, chemistry wise. He made a lot of calls, including to his Carmel coaches.
"Does he fit socially?" Mercer says. "We already have an older and established team. He was one of the best if not the best outfielder in the portal. If you're going to go after this guy, he has to fit in culturally."
Devin Taylor, IU's standout outfielder, was all in.
"I knew him before he came here," Taylor says. "I got information on how goofy he is, how good a hitter he is. He's come a long way. We wanted to make him family. I hope he feels like family."
Mitchell does.
"It was like a family right away," he says. "They've made me feel at home."
Mitchell played right field in Tuesday's 9-6 loss to Purdue Fort Wayne and was the designated hitter in last Sunday's 15-5 win at Baylor.
Mercer says he doesn't want to push Mitchell too hard too fast.
"The worst thing you can do is run guys out there too quickly and you prolong an injury."
As far as IU (6-2), a strong start earned it a No. 20 national ranking. However, momentum from a six-game winning streak and a road sweep of Baylor was blunted by the loss to PFW, which entered with a 1-6 record.
In the aftermath, Mercer praised PFW's strong play and said, for the Hoosiers, it was just one of those bad days.
There's little time to dwell on it. IU will face No. 16 Alabama, No. 25 Dallas Baptist and Arizona in this weekend's Frisco Classic.
Strong leadership and chemistry could deliver a solid post-defeat response.
"Everybody does everything the right way here," Mitchell says. "You don't have to tell anyone to do things like show up early. Everybody does things the right way."
Players Mentioned
Sunday, February 22
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Friday, February 20
Wednesday, May 21