Mitchell turns blue
June 30th, 2007, 12:06 am · Post a Comment · posted by barstowsports
There’s been a lot of excitement about Matt Mitchell in Barstow during the last few months, and rightfully so. Mitchell was drafted by the Royals in June and made his first professional pitching appearance June 23 for the Arizona League Royals. He earned two strikeouts in 2.2 innings pitched.
Mitchell’s family and several others visited him in Arizona recently. All reports say he’s adjusting well to life in Arizona. He’s living in a hotel and without a car. The Royals bus the players back and forth between the training complex. They often get to the stadium at 5 a.m. to begin working out. Games generally start at 10:30 a.m.
Although he’s pitched just 2.2 innings a few weeks into the season, he’s receiving pitching instruction from former Cy Young winner Mark Davis. Mitchell is on a 45-50 pitch limit for now. He will make his second appearance June 30.
“He’s made some changes in his delivery and is listening to what they have to say,” said Curt Mitchell, Matt’s dad.
Terri Peralta, a family friend of the Mitchell’s, saw Mitchell and said he still looked level-headed and calm despite the pressures of professional baseball. Curt, said his son pitched well for his first performance and his change up was working particularly well that day.
“He felt OK,” Curt said. “He was glad to get his first appearance over with. He said was nervous but he enjoyed it.”
Peralta snapped a ton of pictures during the trip and even some video. Here’s what she shared with the Desert Dispatch.
- Matthew Peters and David Heldreth
