OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Great Plains League Overall No. 1 draft picks

littleten · 04-24-2020, 03:26 AM

Player: RICH “Turtle” MITCHELL
Born: Refugio, TX
Height/Weight/Position(s): 6-2, 190, Left-handed pitcher
Year Drafted: 2021 by the Hutchinson Zebras from Clemson University
Pre-Drafted notes: In his 2 years at Clemson, 35 starts, 22-4 record, 1.72 ERA, 244 IP, 288 Ks
Year Retired: 2034 at 35-years old
Years played in GPBL: 7
Teams played for in GPBL: 2
—
GPBL CAREER REGULAR-SEASON STATS
Games: 103 (42 starts)
Wins-Losses-Saves: 10-17-0
ERA: 4.45
Innings pitched: 301 2/3
Hits: 309
Walks: 99
Strikeouts: 249
Opponents batting average: .260
Career WAR: 3.3
—
GPBL CAREER POSTSEASON STATS
Games: 2
Wins-Losses: 1-0
ERA: 1.13
—
Times playing on league champion: 0
Times an All-Star selection: 0
Career earnings: $12,535,000 (+6,300,000 signing bonus)
—

Rich Mitchell moved up the professional ladder quickly in the Hutchinson minor league system and was a mid-season call-up in the 2023 season and appeared in 28 games, then 32 games in 2024. However, in his third start in 2025 (Ranked the GPBL No. 3 prospect) after making the big squad out of spring training, Mitchell suffered the first of 16 different injuries that cost him three months or more in a season over the rest of his career.

The hard-throwing lefty returned at the end of the '25 season to go 2-0 in a pair of AAA starts and 2-0 in two starts with the Zebras, including a win over the El Paso Bats (8 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 10 K) in the final game of the regular season to help give his team confidence moving into the playoffs.

In the NLDS against the Pasadena Red Raiders, Mitchell won Game 3 (7 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6K), but Hutchinson lost the series 3 games to 2.

It looked as if he might be back on track.

However, in the 2026 spring training a radial nerve compression began a long list — from a finger blister to a torn flexor tendon and about everything in between — of injuries that cut Mitchell's frustrating career short at just 35-years old.

Besides the solid game against El Paso, Mitchell's top moments were helping clubs to a pair of AAA league championships.

Pitched in 317 AAA games, including 122 starts (53-38, 3.50), 927 innings and 887 strikeouts.

04-24-2020, 03:26 AM	#3
littleten Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Illinois Posts: 20	2021 - Rich Mitchell Player: RICH “Turtle” MITCHELL Born: Refugio, TX Height/Weight/Position(s): 6-2, 190, Left-handed pitcher Year Drafted: 2021 by the Hutchinson Zebras from Clemson University Pre-Drafted notes: In his 2 years at Clemson, 35 starts, 22-4 record, 1.72 ERA, 244 IP, 288 Ks Year Retired: 2034 at 35-years old Years played in GPBL: 7 Teams played for in GPBL: 2 — *GPBL CAREER REGULAR-SEASON STATS* Games: 103 (42 starts) Wins-Losses-Saves: 10-17-0 ERA: 4.45 Innings pitched: 301 2/3 Hits: 309 Walks: 99 Strikeouts: 249 Opponents batting average: .260 Career WAR: 3.3 — *GPBL CAREER POSTSEASON STATS* Games: 2 Wins-Losses: 1-0 ERA: 1.13 — Times playing on league champion: 0 Times an All-Star selection: 0 Career earnings: $12,535,000 (+6,300,000 signing bonus) — Rich Mitchell moved up the professional ladder quickly in the Hutchinson minor league system and was a mid-season call-up in the 2023 season and appeared in 28 games, then 32 games in 2024. However, in his third start in 2025 (Ranked the GPBL No. 3 prospect) after making the big squad out of spring training, Mitchell suffered the first of 16 different injuries that cost him three months or more in a season over the rest of his career. The hard-throwing lefty returned at the end of the '25 season to go 2-0 in a pair of AAA starts and 2-0 in two starts with the Zebras, including a win over the El Paso Bats (8 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 10 K) in the final game of the regular season to help give his team confidence moving into the playoffs. In the NLDS against the Pasadena Red Raiders, Mitchell won Game 3 (7 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6K), but Hutchinson lost the series 3 games to 2. It looked as if he might be back on track. However, in the 2026 spring training a radial nerve compression began a long list — from a finger blister to a torn flexor tendon and about everything in between — of injuries that cut Mitchell's frustrating career short at just 35-years old. Besides the solid game against El Paso, Mitchell's top moments were helping clubs to a pair of AAA league championships. Pitched in 317 AAA games, including 122 starts (53-38, 3.50), 927 innings and 887 strikeouts. Attached Images Last edited by littleten; 04-24-2020 at 03:29 AM.