| Mitch Harris | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Harris atPearl Harbor in 2015 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1985-11-07)November 7, 1985 (age 40) Ocala, Florida, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 25, 2015, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 30, 2015, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 2–1 |
| Earned run average | 3.67 |
| Strikeouts | 15 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Mitch Harris | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1985-11-07)November 7, 1985 (age 40) |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Branch |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 2008–2013 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant |
Mitchell Andrew Harris (born November 7, 1985) is an American former professionalbaseballpitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theSt. Louis Cardinals in 2015. A native ofFlorida who grew up inNorth Carolina, Harris attended theUnited States Naval Academy. After serving as aLieutenant in theNavy, Harris became the first Naval Academy graduate to appear in the major leagues since 1921, and just the second ever to do so.
Mitch Harris was born inOcala, Florida, the son of Cy and Cindy Harris, and grew up inMount Holly, North Carolina. He attendedSouth Point High School inBelmont, North Carolina, where he playedtrombone and lettered in baseball and was all-conference and all-state in 2003 and 2004.[1]
At first, very fewscouts watched Harris pitch in high school. Having weighed 175 pounds (79 kg) at one point, he was much less imposing than his weight of 240 pounds (110 kg) on hisMajor League Baseball (MLB) debut. However, the more he pitched, the more he drew notice. After attracting more scouts over time, they eventually rated him as one of the top collegiate pitching prospects.[2]
Harris attended college at theUnited States Naval Academy, majoring in generalengineering, and playingcollege baseball as apitcher andinfielder for theMidshipmen. Having ended up at the Academy by chance, aNavyfootballrecruiter named Buddy Green watched him pitch abullpen session in high school. Green found out that Harris was not interested in football, but was open to attending the Naval Academy, so he made phone calls on his behalf.[2] In spite of the path that led to his entrance into Navy, Harris spent his freshman year as a corner infielder andutility player.[3]
However, when incomingcoachPaul Kostacopoulos watched Harris throw during a practice session after his freshman season, he asked him to pitch in the bullpen, where he reached 91 miles per hour (146 km/h). Impressed with the tryout, Kostacopoulos expanded Harris' role to pitching.[3] As a sophomore, he claimed thePatriot League pitching triple crown with a 10–3 record, 1.74earned run average (ERA) and 113strikeouts (SO) in 13games started. He also hit onehome run with 27runs batted in (RBI) and a .333batting average.[1]
The next season, as a junior, Harris went 8–5 with a 2.14 ERA and a Patriot League-record 119 strikeouts. He also emerged as a force on offense, with a league-leading eight home runs, 47 RBI and a .293 average. He also led Navy in runs batted in,doubles (10),triples (four) andslugging percentage (.534).Baseball America named Harris a third-teamAll-American.[1] One of his teammates at Navy,Oliver Drake, also a pitcher, was a selection in the sameamateur draft, and made his major league debut for theBaltimore Orioles the month following Harris.[4] Harris' college pitching career totals included a record of 20–13 with a 2.51 ERA and 291 strikeouts over222+1⁄3 innings. At the plate, he batted .295 with 105runs scored, 16 home runs and 112 RBI.[5]
In 2007, he playedcollegiate summer baseball in theCape Cod Baseball League for theBourne Braves.[6] When he graduated, he was one of the highest-rated pitching prospects for the amateur draft, with afastball that could reach 95 miles per hour (153 km/h) and acutter with the ability to break bats.[7]
Following graduation in 2008 from the Naval Academy, Harris served in theUnited States Navy for four years, eight months and eight days, attaining the rank ofLieutenant (LT).[8] He was based inNorfolk, Virginia, and deployed a total of three times.[9] One was to thePersian Gulf on theUSSPonce, a 577 feet (176 m)amphibious transport dock, where he served as aweapons officer.[3] LT Harris then contributed to adiplomatic mission toRussia on the USSCarr, anOliver Hazard Perry-classfrigate, and toSouth America for anti-drug operations. He also went to theBaltic states and served as acombatinformation officer and a training officer.[9] In his time in the military, he visited more than 30 countries.[3] In 2007, he playedcollegiate summer baseball in theCape Cod Baseball League for theBourne Braves.
While aboard ship, Harris played catch whenever he could to keep his pitching skills as well-tuned as possible. He always took his glove, and his father sent bags of balls to him, as they often skipped overboard. His throwing partner was acook from theDominican Republic.[9]
Both of Harris' grandfathers served in theUnited States military duringWorld War II. Also a member of the Navy, Louin Harris fought in theBattle of Midway. Serving in theArmy, James Chamberlain fought in theBattle of the Bulge.[10]
TheAtlanta Braves selected Harris in the 24th round of the2007 Major League Baseball Draft, but he did not sign.[11] He was then drafted by theSt. Louis Cardinals in the 13th round of the2008 MLB Draft. He signed with the Cardinals but was unable to play until 2013 due to his commitment to the Navy.[12][13][14][15] He twice petitioned for early release from active duty Navy to thereserves to commence hisprofessional baseball career,[16] in the manner ofNBA legendDavid Robinson. However, the Navy denied Harris' request both times, citing the contemporaneouswar in Afghanistan as the reason.[7] John Abbamondi, a formerNaval flight officer and the Cardinals' assistantgeneral manager while Harris was in the Navy, wrote letters on his behalf for the early release.[2]
After his five years in service ended in 2013, Harris started his professional baseball career in the Cardinals'minor league system, making his debut with theState College Spikes of theNew York–Penn League.[17] After his absence from competition, Harris' fastball velocity had dipped to the low 80smiles per hour. However, the velocity eventually returned to the level of his college playing time. He played for State College exclusively in 2013, appearing in 20 games and going 4–1 with a 0.81 ERA and 29 SO in33+1⁄3 IP.[9]
Harris started 2014 with thePalm Beach Cardinals of the High-AFlorida State League. After eight games, St. Louis promoted him to the Double-ASpringfield Cardinals.[18] Harris made his final regular season appearance with theTriple-AMemphis Redbirds.[3] Overall, he had a 3.92 ERA in57+1⁄3 innings. After the season, he competed withPeoria Javelinas in theArizona Fall League, an off-season showcase of major league prospects, where he was the oldest player by three years.[7]
Reassigned to Memphis to start the2015 season, the Cardinals called Harris up on April 21.[19] He became the first Naval Academyalumnus inMajor League Baseball sinceNemo Gaines in 1921, and just the second ever.[20] Harris made his big-league pitching debut atMiller Park inMilwaukee against theBrewers on Saturday, April 25, in relief of starterAdam Wainwright, who had injured himself as he ran to first base on a pop out while batting.[21] Harris entered the game in the bottom of the fifth inning, and struck out the first batter he faced,Adam Lind. Harris pitched1+1⁄3 innings, allowing no runs in the Cardinals' 5–3 win.[22][23]
On May 5, Harris recorded his first MLB win after pitching a scoreless sixth inning in the Cardinals' 7–4 victory over theChicago Cubs.[24] Through his first seven appearances and7+2⁄3 innings pitched, he did not allow a run, until May 10 against thePittsburgh Pirates.[25] On June 19, after appearing in 16 games with a 1–1 record and a 3.63 ERA, the Cardinals optioned him back to Memphis.[26] Harris appeared in five more games and5+1⁄3 IP at Memphis, allowing three runs on seven hits, before a July 4 recall to the major league club.[27] One week later, the Cardinals placed him on the 15-dayDL with agroinstrain.[28] He appeared in 26 games, all in relief, finished with a 2–1 record, 3.67 ERA and 13 walks while striking out 15 in 27 innings. After the season, he received theTony Conigliaro Award, accorded to a player who "has overcome adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination and courage that were trademarks ofTony C.," per formerBoston Red SoxhistorianDick Bresciani.[29]
An arm soreness delaying Harris' spring training preparation, the Cardinals placed him on the disabled list prior to the start of the2016 season due tonerve compression syndrome.[30] He underwentsurgery in June and missed the remainder of the season.[31]Harris sought second and third opinions and instead of the expected "Tommy John surgery", he had “primary repair,” or “UCL repair with internal brace construction,” which may have a shorter recovery time and hoped to pitch in 2017.[32] He was released on May 9, 2017.[33]
St. Louis Cardinals all-time roster
· Baseball Almanac
