Garrett Mitchell Bio
Garrett Antony-Charles Mitchell (born September 4, 1998) is an American professional baseball center fielder for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). Mitchell was selected 20th overall by the Brewers in the 2020 MLB draft. He wears jersey No. 5 and is regarded as a long-term fixture in the middle of the Brewers’ outfield.
A former standout at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Mitchell has built his reputation on speed, defense, and a patient approach at the plate. Since reaching the majors in August 2022, he has split his time between promising stretches of offense and notable injury setbacks, yet he remains a key part of Milwaukee’s plans.
Early Life and Background
Garrett Antony-Charles Mitchell grew up in Orange, California, where he attended Lutheran High School of Orange County. He was a four-year member of the varsity baseball team and quickly established himself as one of the top young players in the region, playing in events such as the 2016 Perfect Game All-America Baseball Game and the Under Armour All-America Baseball Game.
As a teenager, Mitchell was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of nine, a condition he continues to manage with an insulin pump. The diagnosis did not slow his athletic development. During his senior year, the Oakland Athletics selected him in the 14th round of the 2017 MLB draft, but Mitchell chose to honor his college commitment.
After graduating, Mitchell played summer collegiate baseball for the Walla Walla Sweets of the West Coast League, batting .462 with one home run and four runs batted in (RBIs) in 13 at-bats. That summer performance helped cement his status as a top collegiate prospect before he arrived at UCLA.
Path to Baseball
Regarded as a top collegiate prospect, Mitchell committed to UCLA during his sophomore year of high school. He became the Bruins’ starting right fielder as a true freshman and was named Preseason Freshman of the Year by Baseball America, batting .280 with 31 RBIs over 44 games despite missing time with health issues.
During his sophomore year in 2019, Mitchell batted .349 with 14 doubles, 12 triples, six home runs, 57 runs scored, and 41 RBIs. He set a UCLA single-season record with 12 triples and earned first-team All-Pac-12 Conference honors, along with third-team All-American recognition from the NCBWA and ABCA. He also played for the United States collegiate national baseball team that summer.
Mitchell entered his junior year on the Golden Spikes Award watch list and as a top prospect for the 2020 MLB draft. He batted .355 with nine RBIs and 18 runs before the season was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic, ultimately leading the Milwaukee Brewers to select him 20th overall.
Garrett Mitchell Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
The Milwaukee Brewers selected Mitchell with the 20th overall pick in the 2020 MLB draft, and he signed on July 7, receiving a $3.2 million bonus. He did not appear in a game during 2020 after the minor league season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, Mitchell was named to Milwaukee’s spring training roster as a non-roster invitee and batted .367 with one home run and six RBI in 22 games. He began the regular season with the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, where he slashed .359/.504/.620 with five home runs, 33 runs scored, 20 RBI, and 12 stolen bases across 28 games before earning a promotion to the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers in early July. A leg injury limited his time in Double-A, where he batted .186 with three home runs and 10 RBI in 35 games.
MLB Debut and Rookie Season (2022)
Mitchell returned to Biloxi to start the 2022 season and batted .277 with four home runs and 25 RBI in 44 games before a promotion to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds. On August 27, 2022, the Brewers selected his contract from Nashville, promoting him to the major leagues. Mitchell famously missed the initial phone call informing him of his promotion because he was eating a chocolate chip cookie.
He made his MLB debut later that day in center field and picked up his first major league hit the next afternoon, a two-RBI double into center field that gave Milwaukee the lead. Two days later, on August 29, 2022, Mitchell hit his first career home run off Wil Crowe of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the bottom of the eighth inning. He finished the 2022 season batting .311/.373/.459 with 19 hits, two home runs, and nine RBI across 28 games.
Brewers Tenure and Injury Challenges (2023–2025)
Mitchell made the Brewers’ opening day roster in 2023 and started in center field, hitting his first career triple on April 2 and his first two-homer game on April 4 against the New York Mets. A left shoulder injury requiring surgery in early May ended the bulk of his season, and he finished with three home runs and seven RBI in 19 games.
In 2024, a broken left hand suffered in spring training delayed his start, and he did not return from the injured list until July 1. Mitchell produced one of the most memorable moments of his career on October 2, 2024, when his two-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning lifted Milwaukee to a 5-3 victory over the New York Mets in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series.
The 2025 season brought further setbacks. Mitchell played in 25 games, hitting .206 with three RBI and three stolen bases, before a left oblique strain in late April sent him to the injured list. During a rehabilitation stint with Triple-A Nashville, he suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery announced on June 28, 2025, and the Brewers confirmed on July 1 that he would likely miss the remainder of the season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although best known as a defender in center field, Mitchell is recognized for his plus speed, plate discipline, and ability to draw walks. His power-speed combination was on full display in 2022, and he continues to refine his approach against breaking balls. Mitchell’s energy in the outfield and on the base paths remains a defining part of his game when healthy.
Notable Events and Milestones
Mitchell’s October 2, 2024 walk-off two-run homer against the New York Mets stands as the signature moment of his young career. He also reached several firsts during his debut week in 2022, including his first hit, first home run, and first multi-RBI game, all within a span of three days at the major league level.
Garrett Mitchell Career Wins
As an outfielder whose value rests on defense, on-base skills, and situational hitting, Garrett Mitchell’s win totals in the traditional sense are not the centerpiece of his resume. His contributions are better measured in extra-base hits, stolen bases, and defensive runs saved across the Brewers’ system and at the major league level.
MLB Highlights
Mitchell has accumulated a growing list of firsts at the MLB level, from his 2022 debut week heroics to his 2024 Wild Card Series homer. He has flashed power in short bursts, including his first career two-homer game against the New York Mets on April 4, 2023, and has shown speed on the base paths throughout his Brewers tenure.
Other Wins & Performances
During his time in the Brewers’ minor league system, Mitchell earned Midwest League recognition for his 2021 start with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and put together strong showings in the West Coast League and Northwoods League summers. His 2024 Wild Card Series homer served as his biggest postseason highlight to date.
Garrett Mitchell Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Garrett Antony-Charles Mitchell was raised in Orange, California, by a family that supported his baseball development from a young age. He attended Lutheran High School of Orange County, where he became a four-year varsity player and caught the attention of national scouting outlets before his college commitment to UCLA.
Personal Life
In 2021, Mitchell married professional softball player Haley Cruse, a relationship that has remained part of his public profile. He was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of nine and continues to manage the condition with an insulin pump, an experience he has spoken about publicly as part of his outreach to young athletes.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season proved to be a difficult campaign for Garrett Antony-Charles Mitchell, as a left oblique strain in late April sent him to the injured list and cut short an encouraging start. Before the injury, he had played in 25 games for the Brewers, hitting .206 with three RBI and three stolen bases while continuing to provide center-field defense.
A subsequent shoulder injury suffered during a rehabilitation stint with Triple-A Nashville forced Mitchell onto the shelf again. On June 28, 2025, the Brewers announced that he would undergo surgery to repair the shoulder, and on July 1 the team indicated that he would likely miss the remainder of the season as a result of the procedure.
Looking ahead, Mitchell’s focus shifts to recovery and a return to the Milwaukee Brewers’ lineup in 2025 and beyond. The organization has remained publicly committed to him as its everyday center fielder once healthy, and his blend of speed, defense, and on-base skills continues to align with the Brewers’ long-term plan.
