Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

Q&A with Coffeyville commit RHP/OF Jacob Mitchell (Mountain Grove, 2015)

October 17, 2014

Shon Plack
Missouri Scouting Director

Jacob Mitchell (Mountain Grove, 2015) is a strong 6-foot-1, 195-pound right-hand hitting outfielder.  At the Class of 2015 Prospect Games, he posted a home-to-first time of 4.72. Mitchell throws from a high ¾ arm slot, and made mostly accurate throws. He has aggressive actions to the ball, with a position velo of 81 MPH. At the plate, Mitchell has an open setup with a short stride. He has some swagger in his approach and fast bat speed. His swing produces gap-to-gap line drives and has some pull power. Jacob had an exit velo of 91 MPH. In the game, Mitchell collected a hit and 2 RBI.

On the mound, he has a high ¾ delivery and throws with regular effort. He stays in line with the target and finishes in an athletic position. He had a fastball velocity range of 79-86 MPH. His curveball was at 70-71 MPH with 12/6 tilt with late break. Mitchell also displayed a change-up at 74 at near fastball arm speed and sink. 

Recently, Mitchell committed to play college baseball at Coffeyville CC.  Here is a look in how he became a Raven.  

PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? Was it as expected? Easy/Difficult?

Mitchell: It was not as easy as it seems. My first thought of the recruiting process is they will contact me or come watch me play. Turned out I was wrong. I had to get my name out there and get with a summer team that played in front of colleges. It was nerve racking at times but exciting.

PBR: Did location or distance from home play a factor in your decision?

Mitchell: Location and distance played a big factor into my decision. I wanted to go to a college where my family and friends has the chance to come watch me play. I also wanted to be able to come back and visit friends from high school.
 
PBR: Where did Coffeyville first see you? How did your relationship develop with them?

Mitchell: I played in a warm-up tournament there early in the summer. I had a pretty good weekend on the mound and at the plate. The coaching staff and I stayed in touch into the fall where I played a fall tournament against quality opponents. A visit a few weekends later sealed the deal for me.

PBR: Who is the best player you have faced in your state, and why?

Mitchell: Hunter Steinmetz, Parkview HS. Hunter is a five tool player. His speed is eye opening, bat speed lighting quick, cannon from the outfield, and occasionally flash some gap to gap power.

PBR: What were you looking for out of a college program to continue your baseball career at?

Mitchell: I was looking for a program that won. I wanted to be a part of a winning program. I wanted to be able to step in and help the team. Also, I wanted to go to a place where I could develop and become a better overall player. And at Coffeyville they had all the characteristics of a winning program and a place where I could develop.
 
PBR: What part of your game needs the biggest improvement, why, and what will you do to improve it?

Mitchell: I would say consistency overall and velocity on the mound. There will be times where I could hit anything and others where I wouldn’t touch it. Same on the mound. Times where everything was great and others that weren’t so great. I will have to work on my mechanics. And spend a lot of time in the cage and on the mound.

PBR: What advice would you give to young baseball players striving to get where you are?

Mitchell: Advice that I would give to young players would be never stop trying to get better. Always get in the cage or go throw with a friend. Never take anything for what it is. We as players and athletes never know when our last start or at bat will be.
 
PBR: What do you do in the offseason to keep yourself in baseball shape and prepare for the upcoming season?

Mitchell: I use football as a tool to keep myself in shape. As a football player we workout every day. Those workouts include conditioning, weights, and speed work. I also use the indoor facility my high school has to hit and throw a light bullpen.

PBR: What is the most memorable moment in your baseball career to this point?

Mitchell: The most memorable moment of my baseball career would be a three hitter I threw in Los Angles, California at the Under Armour Southwest Championships.

PBR: What do you like most about Coffeyville and what were the key factors in making your decision?

Mitchell: What I like most about Coffeyville is I can go there to get better. They have a winning tradition here recently. I know they are on the up rise in the Jayhawk Conference and making runs to the World Series. It’s also a plus that its only three hours away from home.
 
PBR: What other schools were on your short list before you made your final decision?

Mitchell: Other schools that were involved include: Jefferson County, Johnson County, Crowder, Oklahoma Western, Mineral Area, and Missouri Valley.

PBR: When did the recruiting process really start to heat up for you? Was there a particular game or event that you feel turned the corner for you?

Mitchell: The recruiting process really heated up after I participated in the PBR Top 2015 un-committed players, at the University of Central Missouri. I gained a lot of interest from several schools that attended the event.  

PBR: Preview your high school season for us. How do you feel your team will be? What are your expectations and goals? Name some players that will play a key role for your team in 2015.

Mitchell: I hope well for the upcoming season. I feel like my team will be pretty salty. I hope to win another conference championship, a district championship, and hopefully a state championship. Some players that will be a key for my team are: Alex Moore, Garrett Newberry, Easton Collins, Blaine Halford, and Dj Mcnew. We have everyone returning besides one player.

PBR: Where do you play in the summer? And what has been your most memorable experience with them?

Mitchell: I play for an organization out of Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Mid-West Warducks. My most memorable experience was probably making our final trip this summer to Los Angles, California. We played some great competition and made the final 16 out of a 100 plus teams.

For More Missouri News