KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The Kansas City Royals tonight selected Blake Mitchell, a left-handed hitting catcher from Sinton High School (Texas), with the 8th overall pick in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft.

Mitchell, who turns 19 next month, was named the Gatorade Texas Player of the Year in both 2022 and 2023. This season he hit .474 (49-for-89) with 14 doubles, 6 home runs and 41 RBI. He also reached base in 70% of his plate appearances, recorded a 1.543 OPS, stole 35 bases and drew 51 walks to just 8 strikeouts.

Mitchell participated in the 2022 Under Armour All-America Game hosted at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, where he won the MVP Award after driving in 5 RBI. He was also a member of the USA Baseball 18U National Team that won gold at the WBSC Baseball World Cup in 2022, where he earned the win on the mound with 2.2 scoreless frames against Taiwan.

Mitchell is committed to the 2023 Men’s College World Series champion Louisiana State University baseball program. He graduated high school with a 4.24 GPA and volunteered locally on behalf of the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

He is the second prep player chosen by Kansas City in the 1^st round in the last three years, joining Frank Mozzicato, who Kansas City selected 7^th overall out of East Catholic High School (Conn.) in 2021. He is the first prep position player taken by the Royals in the 1^st round since Bobby Witt Jr., who was taken 2^nd overall in the 2019 Draft out of Colleyville High School (Texas).

The Royals have two picks remaining tonight, including the 44^th overall pick in the 2^nd round and the 66^th overall pick in Competitive Balance Round B.