GREENSBORO, NC – UNC Greensboro centerfielder Jermaine Mitchell was selected Tuesday by the Oakland Athletics in the fifth round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
Mitchell was selected 158th overall, which is the second highest selection by a Spartan baseball player. Right-hander Chris Mason was tabbed in the second round by Tampa Bay last season.
A native of Daingerfield, TX, Mitchell was a first team All-Southern Conference selection in his only season with UNCG. He led the SoCon with a .397 batting average, while also pacing the league with a .458 batting average in SoCon action. Mitchell led the Spartans in slugging percentage (.568), on-base percentage (.493), hits (93), triples (7), home runs (5), total bases (133), RBIs (41), walks (42) and stolen bases (24).
“I was hysterical when I found out that I was drafted today. It is certainly one of the biggest days of my life,” explained Mitchell from his home in Texas. “I was some what surprised by being selected that early, but I knew I had put together a good season.”
He first heard his name called on the internet radio broadcast. Moments later it was confirmed when he got a phone call from the A’s congratulating him on being selected in the fifth round. A moment of jubilation followed with a mass celebration.
“I was jumping up and down and going crazy,” added Mitchell. Athletics scout Neil Avent, a former UNCG assistant baseball coach, played a vital role in the selection of Mitchell. In fact, Avent was the one on the other end of the phone telling Mitchell the big news.
The Daingerfield HS product finished the season ranked in the Top 10 in the conference in most major offensive categories, including triples, stolen bases, walks, total bases and on-base percentage. Also, his 93 hits this season was the third most in school history.
Prior to his time with UNCG, Mitchell played two years at Texarkana Community College in his home state of Texas.
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