| Mitch Atkins | |
|---|---|
 Atkins with the Baltimore Orioles | |
| Free agent | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1985-10-01)October 1, 1985 (age 39) Browns Summit, North Carolina, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| Professional debut | |
| MLB: July 29, 2009, for the Chicago Cubs | |
| CPBL: May 26, 2015, for the Lamigo Monkeys | |
| MLB statistics (through 2011 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 0–0 |
| Earned run average | 6.75 |
| Strikeouts | 17 |
| CPBL statistics (through 2015 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 8-7 |
| Earned run average | 4.53 |
| Strikeouts | 88 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Mitchell Shane Atkins (born October 1, 1985) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theChicago Cubs andBaltimore Orioles, and in theChinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for theLamigo Monkeys.
Atkins played high school baseball atNortheast Guilford High School inMcLeansville, North Carolina. He originally committed toElon University, but was drafted by the Cubs as the 216th overall pick in the seventh round of the2004 MLB Draft.
Atkins was drafted by theChicago Cubs in the 7th round, 216th overall, of the2004 Major League Baseball draft. After signing, Atkins made his professional debut for theAZL Cubs. In 2005, he played for the Low-ABoise Hawks, recording a 3–6 record and 5.03 ERA in 15 appearances. He spent the 2006 season with the Single-APeoria Chiefs, registering a 13–4 record and 2.41 ERA with 127 strikeouts in 25 games. He split the 2007 season between the Double-ATennessee Smokies and the High-ADaytona Cubs, accumulating a 9–8 record and 3.57 ERA in 141.0 innings of work. In 2008, Atkins split the year between Tennessee and the Triple-AIowa Cubs, pitching to a 17–7 record and 4.00 ERA with 132 strikeouts in 28 games. He began the 2009 season in Iowa.[1]
In his minor league career, Atkins was twice named thePacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week and also was aSouthern League All-Star (2008), Florida State League All-Star (2007), and a Midwest League All-Star (2006). He was believed to be the first MLB player from Guilford County NC schools since 1964.[2]
He made his Major League debut on July 29, 2009, against theHouston Astros. Atkins pitched two games during late July 2009, allowing no runs, but would not see a big league mound again until July 9, 2010, when he pitched a 1.1 innings inLos Angeles. On September 21, 2010, Atkins was designated for assignment by the Cubs after recording a 6.30 ERA in 5 games.[3] On November 6, 2010, Atkins elected free agency.
On November 15, 2010, Atkins signed a minor league contract with theBaltimore Orioles organization.[4] On July 5, 2011, Atkins was selected to the active roster and made his first major league start in a loss against theTexas Rangers. After struggling to an 8.44 ERA in 3 games, on August 31, 2011, Atkins was outrighted off of the 40-man roster and was assigned to the Triple-ANorfolk Tides.[5]
He signed a minor league contract with theWashington Nationals on February 9, 2012.[6] He spent the season with the Triple-ASyracuse Chiefs, recording a 6–9 record and 4.87 ERA. He elected free agency on November 2.
After a short stint with theSomerset Patriots of theAtlantic League of Professional Baseball, on June 3, 2013, theAtlanta Braves signed Atkins to a minor league deal.[7] He spent the rest of the season with the Double–AMississippi Braves.
On December 31, 2014, he signed a minor league contract with theTexas Rangers.[8] He was released on March 31, 2015.[9]
Atkins signed to pitch for theSomerset Patriots of theAtlantic League of Professional Baseball but a few days before the season started he left the team and signed with theLamigo Monkeys of theChinese Professional Baseball League instead.[10][11] Atkins won theTaiwan Series with the Monkeys in 2015, pitching to a 8–7 record and 4.53 ERA in the regular season.
On February 22, 2016, he signed a minor league contract with theBoston Red Sox, and played for their affiliate teamsPawtucket Red Sox,Portland Sea Dogs andLowell Spinners.[12] He led theEastern League in strikeouts, with 145, and elected free agency on November 7, 2016.[13]
On March 28, 2017, Atkins signed a 1-year contract with theSomerset Patriots of theAtlantic League of Professional Baseball.
On June 22, 2017, Atkins signed a minor league deal with theNew York Mets organization.[14] He made 14 starts for the Triple–ALas Vegas 51s, posting a 4–8 record and 5.65 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 78.0 innings pitched. Atkins elected free agency following the season on November 6.[15]
On April 11, 2018, Atkins signed with theYork Revolution of theAtlantic League of Professional Baseball. He registered a 12–7 record and 4.17 ERA in 25 games for York in 2018. Atkins re-signed with the team for the 2019 season.[16] He pitched to an 11–6 record and 2.81 ERA for York in 2019 and became a free agent following the season.
Atkins played for theSultanes de Monterrey of theMexican Pacific League for the 2019-20 winter season. He later signed with their counterpart team in theMexican Baseball League (LMB) for the 2020 season. Atkins did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Mexican League season because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[17]
On May 6, 2021, Atkins signed with theHigh Point Rockers of theAtlantic League of Professional Baseball.[18]
On June 18, 2021, Atkins's contract was purchased by theSultanes de Monterrey of theMexican League.[19] He was released on July 11, 2021.[20]
On August 1, 2021, Atkins re-signed with theHigh Point Rockers of theAtlantic League of Professional Baseball.[21] He made 8 total starts for the team, registering a 4.37 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 35.0 innings pitched. He became a free agent following the season.
On August 11, 2022, Atkins re-signed with theHigh Point Rockers. In 6 starts for the team, he logged a 3–0 record and 4.91 ERA with 18 strikeouts across25+2⁄3 innings of work. Atkins became a free agent again following the season.
On July 14, 2023, Atkins once more re–signed with the Rockers.[22] In 7 games (6 starts), he struggled to a 1–4 record and 8.13 ERA with 23 strikeouts across27+2⁄3 innings pitched.
On April 15, 2024, Atkins re–signed with High Point for a fourth consecutive year.[23] However, he was released by the team prior to the season on April 23.[24]