PHILADELPHIA -- Garrett Mitchell has bigger goals in 2026 than games played, but it was worth reflecting for a moment about a personal milestone.
When Mitchell stepped to the plate to lead off the Brewers’ series finale against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, he officially played in his 142nd game this season. That’s one more game than he played in his first four Major League seasons combined, the result of a series of fluke injuries that have dogged the 2020 first-round Draft pick.
“Being healthy was the goal, and being available for 140 games,” Mitchell said. “Now, I’ve played in 142 today. So, I feel like each day is a milestone in terms of being healthy. It’s just a cool nugget. I’m thankful for it.
“But that’s not what I’m thinking about at this point of the year.”
Mitchell and the Brewers are thinking about playing deep into October, and he’s a significant part of that plan, with his solid defense in center field and impact at the plate. His 3.6 bWAR ranks third on the team.
The durability challenge for Mitchell is amplified by his Type 1 diabetes, which can be a challenge on a day game following a series of night games. Mitchell has occasionally been scratched from the lineup in those instances when his body doesn’t cooperate, but he has worked with the team’s performance dietician, Adam Auer, who travels with the team and has helped Mitchell strategize his diet to avoid those instances.
“I hadn’t played enough games, hadn’t gone through a whole year where you start to see the times you need to dial things in a little bit more,” Mitchell said. “It’s like everything else in life, you’re going to have ups and downs.
“One thing I’ve prioritized this year is trying to eat more, so my body can deal with the long days. It comes down to fueling your body enough for your muscles to perform at a high level, but at the same time, it’s figuring out how to properly fuel so my blood sugar isn’t all over the place. We’re figuring out what to eat and what not to eat.
“I wouldn’t say it adds difficulty. I would say it’s just another layer. I’ve dealt with it most of my life, and diabetic or not, everybody has their stuff they deal with.”
These are personal health matters, but Mitchell is happy to discuss them publicly because he has become a role model for other young athletes with diabetes, some of whom he’s had the pleasure to meet before games this season.
“It’s great being able to share those stories of the ups and the downs,” he said. “Because as fun as it is to talk about the ups, it’s important to put a light on the challenges. I’m not going to be the last one in this situation. There are a lot of diabetic baseball players on their way to doing the same thing.”