Former Victoria HarbourCats left-handed pitcher Josh Mitchell is trading MLB uniforms — once with the Kansas City Royals, now a member of the Minnesota Twins.
Mitchell, who pitched two seasons for the HarbourCats, 2015 and 2016, and was a West Coast League all-star in 2016, was selected in the annual Rule V draft for minor league players to be snapped up by other organizations. He is the first former HarbourCats player to be selected in the Rule V draft process and will now, as per Rule V draft guidelines, be placed on the Twins active roster.
The Twins lifted the lefty from the Royals with their second round choice, 40th overall.
Mitchell was taken in the 22nd round of the 2017 MLB draft out of the University of Pittsburgh. In 2019, his last season (due to covid), he had 47 strikeouts and 13 walks and a 3.30 ERA, and has posted boosts in his velocity in training since his last game action. The 22-year-old, 6-2/220, really blossomed as a pitcher in his two summers in Victoria. Mitchell was a dominant 7-0 with a 1.86 ERA in 2016, making nine starts and earning Pitcher of the Year honours. Mitchell, Austin Dondanville and Will McAffer formed the top pitching trio in the WCL that season.
Mitchell has thrown 110 innings over 73 games in his pro career, and is 11-2 with four saves.
