GERMANTOWN, Tenn. (WMC) -Sunday night, a lifetime of work for Ryan Mitchell coalesced into a moment every young baseball player dreams of, when the St. Louis Cardinals selected the Germantown native with the 55th pick in the MLB Draft.
“I was excited man,” says Mitchell of the moment he heard his named called. “Just hugged my mom and dad, just the people that have always been there for me, just thanking them for just sacrificing time and all that good stuff.
“Then I like got up and just looked, and just in shock, like ‘That’s me, that’s me on the TV!’”
A few days later, the shell shock has worn off a bit, but things have still been a blur for the former Houston High star.
“Man it’s been hard to like capture all the moments, just because you’ve got a lot going on,” Mitchell says. “But I’m just really thankful for everything that I’ve done. Like a lot of things you don’t see in the background, work, sacrificing fall break, spring break not being able to do it.
“But I’m just excited, the city is behind me and I’m ready to go do my thing.”
Mitchell lands with an organization with plenty of ties to Memphis. The Cardinals are almost certainly the most popular Major League team in the greater Memphis area, and also have their AAA affiliate in the 901 in the Redbirds.
It’s also a franchise with some of the richest history in baseball.
“It’s a great organization man when it comes to just devleoping players, getting them to the big leagues, success, resume,” Mitchell says. “And a blue-collar town man. It reminds you of Memphis, everyone is supportive of their team, the only team in St. Louis that’s really supported like that.
“So I feel like it’s good, and I’’m just ready to get out there.”
Mitchell, who was committed to his mother’s alma mater, Georgia Tech, will put college to the side for now, instead opting to go pro at 18.
He’s reporting to the Cardinals facility in Jupiter, Florida this week.
“I’m just excited man, being 18 and a lot to grow and get better at,” says Mitchell on the decision to go pro right away. “So the main thing is I’m getting my foot in the door at 18, and I’m trying to get there as fast as possible. You have three years on the college guys to get there already, so you’re in the door.”
Mitchell, a shortstop in high school, will transition to center field in the Cardinals organization.
When asked what’s going to keep him motivated now, he has his eyes on every player at both positions taken ahead of him.
“Man a lot of things,” says Mitchell on what’s fueling him. “I would just say first of all, just seeing players that you feel like you’re better than getting drafted before you. So I feel like that’s the main motivation.
“Wearing #18, there were 18 shortstops and and center fielders drafted in front of me. So I feel like that’s the motivation. It’s a race to the bigs, so we’re all in the door, so now it’s time, let’s get it.
“So, that’s the main thing and always just enjoying the game. I’ve always been loving the game ever since I’ve been playing it.”
Click here to watch our full interview with Mitchell.
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