Former Tiger Righthander D.J. Mitchell Receives Call-Up to the New York Yankees

April 28, 2012

Atlanta, GA –

Former Tiger righthander D.J. Mitchell (Rural Hall, NC) was called up to the New York Yankees on Saturday and is slated to suit up in the Majors for the first time when the Yankees face the Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Mitchell became the fourth former Tiger to make a Major League roster in 2012, joining infielder Jeff Baker (Chicago Cubs), outfielder Tyler Colvin (Colorado Rockies), and lefthander Tony Sipp (Cleveland Indians).

If Mitchell, who was selected by the Yankees in the 10th round of the 2008 draft, pitches in a Major League game, he will become the fourth former Tiger to play in a game with the Yankees. Third-baseman Norm McMillan (1922), lefthander Harold Stowe (1960), and lefthander Jimmy Key (1993-96) donned the Yankee pinstripes after their Clemson careers.

Mitchell played three seasons (2006-08) at Clemson and started in the right field for the Tigers in the 2006 College World Series alongside eventual Major Leaguers Jason Berken (RHP), Colvin (OF), and Daniel Moskos (LHP). He moved to the mound as a sophomore in 2007 and had two solid seasons there for the Tigers.

In 2007, he was 5-0 with a 3.27 ERA in 52.1 innings pitched over 15 appearances (seven starts). Then in 2008, he was a First-Team All-ACC starting pitcher. In 98.2 innings pitched over 20 appearances (14 starts), he was 6-5 with a 3.47 ERA along with 106 strikeouts against 40 walks. The 106 strikeouts are still the most by a Tiger since 1996.

In his two seasons on the mound in a Tiger uniform, he was 11-5 with a 3.40 ERA and 155 strikeouts in 151.0 innings pitched over 35 appearances (21 starts). His 9.24 strikeouts-per-nine-innings-pitched mark is seventh-best in Clemson history.

Mitchell was 2-1 with a 3.13 ERA in four starts with the Yankees’ AAA affiliate, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, in 2012. He also pitched for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2010 and 2011. In his four-year minor league career (2009-12), Mitchell is 40-21 with a 3.28 ERA in 475.1 innings pitched over 83 appearances (77 starts).