The Kansas City Royals select Sinton's Blake Mitchell at No. 8 in first round of MLB draft

SINTON, Texas — Just a few weeks off the heels of an appearance in the 4A UIL Baseball State Tournament, Sinton's Blake Mitchell now has a decision to make on the next steps of his career.

“I told my parents right away, so that was the first thing I was worried about," Mitchell said. "It means the world. You know, it’s been my dream since as long as I can remember. I’ve dreamed of this moment. For it to finally come true it means so much.”

Mitchell — the top ranked high school catcher in the nation — was selected at the No. 8 spot in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

"I've done this a long time and I haven't seen a high school catcher like this before," Danny Ontiveros, Royals Director of Scouting, said. "I think he's going to be an impact player, a middle order bat and his leadership it fits everything else. For me it was tough to pass up and I thought he was the best player on the board and I feel really good about that pick."

In November, Mitchell inked his national letter of intent to play baseball at Louisiana State University.

However, Blake's mother Jennifer Mitchell confirmed he will forgo attending LSU in order to go pro in the Royals farm system. Mitchell's family celebrated officially becoming a Royal in Kansas City on Saturday, July 15, when he inked his signing bonus for $4,900,000.

“Through this whole process about a year ago we started having home visits where these Major League teams and scouts come into our home and visit with us, Jennifer Mitchell said. "Honestly we had an instant connection with the Royals and it was really a dream come true.”

With the 8th pick in the #MLBDraft the @Royals select @SHS_PirateBball’s @mitchellblake25. Congratulations! Highest high school selection from the Coastal Bend since @CHawkins10 at 13 in 2012. #KRIS6Sports pic.twitter.com/YPg7zqw0GH

— Larissa Liska (@LarissaLiska) July 10, 2023

The two-time Gatorade Texas Baseball Player of the Year was a projected first-round pick at the beginning of the season as one of the top 25 high school prospects in the country.

“I just want to go play ball. You know I haven’t played in about a month, so it feels like forever," Mitchell said. "I’m happy to get back on the field and prove the Royals right that they made the right decision.”

During the season he continued to climb as high as the nation's fifth best prospect in 2023 by the Prep Baseball Report.

He was the MVP for the 2022 Under Armour All-America game, a Rawlings/Perfect Game Preseason First Team All-American, a MaxPreps All-American and he was part of the gold medal winning WBSC Baseball World Cup team in 2022.

“That’s time that we’ll never get back right, so I mean I spend as much time with Blake as I possibly can," Kevin Mitchell, Blake's father, said. "If he says hey I want to go hit at 2 o’clock in the morning then we go hit, so I never have told him no.”

Mitchell and the Sinton Pirates went to three straight UIL state tournaments and the squad won one 4A state championship in 2022.

“My job as his coach was just trying to answer all the questions for the scouts and all the GM’s that kind of come through and try to sell that product, which we all know what Blake was capable of doing," Adrian Alaniz, Sinton head coach, said. "You know, he showcased that so much on the field for the four years he was here with us.”

He finished out his final season batting .457 with 15 doubles, 42 RBIs and six home runs. He stole stole 41 bases, scored 48 runs and was able to take 61 walks.

Mitchell is the fourth ever Sinton baseball player drafted within the first 10 rounds.

“It was great. You know, having all of these people here I love every single one of them," Mitchell said. "I’m just happy they’re here for me and my family.”

He is the first person in the Coastal Bend drafted in the first round out of high school since Carroll High School's Courtney Hawkins in 2012, who was selected at 13 by the Chicago White Sox.

Mitchell is the latest player drafted from the Coastal Bend since three others in 2021.

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