LaTroy Hawkins discusses his career and why he works closely with MLBs Diversity Development Team led by Tony Reagins, Del Matthews and Jerry Manuel, cultivating hundreds of young prospects at the #DreamSeries, #HankAaronInvitational #BreakthroughSeries, thus evening the playing field and giving all kids an opportunity to participate in the sport.
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As MLBbro.com predicted a few months ago, Atlanta Braves MLBbro Money Mike Harris II won the NL Rookie of the Year award. If his victory needed any further statistical support, the Atlanta Braves were 22-24 and 7.5 games behind the New York Mets in the NL East prior to Harris making his MLB debut on May 28. In the 116 games after his arrival, the team went a blazing 79-37 and jetted past the Mets to the division title.
This marks the ninth time a Braves player has been honored. Previous winners were Alvin Dark in 1948, Sam Jethroe in 1950, Earl Williams in 1971, Bob Horner in 1978, David Justice in 1990, Rafael Furcal in 2000, Craig Kimbrel in 2011 and Ronald Acuna Jr. in 2018.
Mike Harris II Is Looking Like Good Money For The NL Rookie of the Year Award
Harris and teammate Spencer Strider were named as finalists for the BBWAA’s Rookie of the Year Award for the National League Monday night. Harris told Bally Sports last week at an Atlanta Hawks game that he knew it would come down to he and his teammate Spencer. It is the fourth time that teammates finished 1-2 in National League Rookie voting and the first time since 2011 when the teammates were also from Atlanta: pitcher Craig Kimbrel, the winner, and first baseman Freddie Freeman, the runner-up. The other years were 1957 with Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jack Sanford and first baseman Ed Bouchee and 1989 with Chicago Cubs outfielders Jerome Walton and Dwight Smith. It has occurred four times in American League Rookie voting.
Money Mike, a product of MLB’s diversity programs (Breakthrough Series), was promoted from Double A in late May and solidified the team’s outfield defense with his play in center field. He surprised a lot of people with his contributions at the plate as well and was one of Atlanta’s most consistent contributors hitting .297/.339/.514 with 19 home runs and a 136 wRC+. He was second on the team in stolen bases with 20 and is 4.8 fWAR total was third behind only Dansby Swanson (6.4) and Austin Riley (5.5).
Harris, the only player named on all the ballots this year, is the ninth NL center fielder honored and the first since Bryce Harper, who played the majority of his games in 2012 at that position. Other winning center fielders were Walton in 1989, Andre Dawson in 1977, Bake McBride in 1974, Bill Virdon in 1955, Wally Moon in 1954, Willie Mays in 1951 and Jethroe in 1950. There have been eight center fielders who won in the AL.
Center fielders won the award in both leagues in the same year for only the second time. The previous year was 2012 with Harper in the NL and Mike Trout in the AL. Harris is now expected to be a huge star from Opening Day in 2023. He’s got an 8-year/$72M contract in tow and is now the face MLB needs to market the game to kids of color in urban areas. And bring Black fans back to Truist Park.
MLBbro.com reporter/editor Charles Nyonga serves up the latest on Pittsburgh Pirates promising rookie Cal Mitchell.
Deion Sanders made some comments this week about why Blacks and baseball don’t seem to mix anymore like they once did. There’s a disconnect. Many of his points were valid, from high costs pricing certain minority families out of the sport to a low number of Black fathers passing the game on. While all of that is certainly true, MLB’s Diversity Team has been making incremental but successful efforts to increase Black participation in baseball at the grassroots and professional levels.
The Hank Aaron Invitational is one of these developmental programs that identify and encourage Black participation up the ladder.
When this story was in its infancy stage, it was supposed to be about the newest MLBbro, Cal Mitchell getting his first chance to play for the Pittsburgh Pirates after being recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis after showing improvement in the Pirates’ minor league system.
With the Pirates struggling so much with depth in the outfield, our MLBbro found himself with a golden opportunity to show what he had over this past weekend in Pittsburgh’s 3-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday.
In his 10th game spanning 37 plate appearances, rookie Cal Mitchell had his first of many “Can’t forget” moments as he hit his first career home run.
Cal Mitchell with his first Major League home run!! pic.twitter.com/iXn5OSGPIk
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) June 5, 2022
This fifth inning launch off Zach Gallen broke a scoreless tie and gave the Pirates a lead that they never relinquished. Mitchell is now one of seven rookies that are currently on a roster that is supplying offensive production that most did not see coming.
Our MLBbro talked about his adjustment period via MLB.com.
“It’s cool. It’s guys that I’ve played with for a long time, like Travis, and guys like I recently met last year, like Jack,” Mitchell said. “We’re all great friends with each other and all have been fighting our way up here as long as we’ve been Pirates. It’s cool to be here together now.”
But our MLBbro’s journey to the professional level might be more interesting than his first career home run over the weekend.
Not every ball player had a mentor that is up for election for the Baseball Hall of Fame such as Black Ace Dave Stewart, who was one of the all-time great right-handed pitchers of his era. His resume shows how lucky Cal Mitchell was to be able to play for Stewart’s Easton A’s from the ages of 11 to 13.
Now 23 years of age and well into his MLB journey, Mitchell says he didn’t realize the kinds of jewels that were being bestowed upon him by the 20-game winner and mound technician known as “Smoke.”
“It’s wild, Mitchell said. “When I was a kid, I didn’t understand the gravity of it until now. Having him in my life helps with everything. How to handle yourself on the field. What the big leagues was going to be like or what the big leagues is like now.”
“He’s a great friend, Mitchell said. “He’s knowledgeable on lots of things about baseball and life, just how to navigate this new thing that I’m doing. It’s invaluable.”
But our MLBbro didn’t just have the advantage of getting an encyclopedia’s worth of baseball knowledge from a MLBbro icon, the 2017 second round pick also is a product of the new MLB Diversity Programs which identifies, develops, supports and cultivates young Black talent, providing them with resources, professional training and educational opportunities that aren’t readily available to them.
Mitchell utilized the MLB Diversity Pipeline and parlayed it into a roster spot on the Pirates.
Mitchell placed 25th on the MLB Pipeline list with 38 hits in 124 plate appearances that included nine doubles, five home runs with 26 RBI. That put him on Pittsburgh’s radar when they ranked him 7th in 2019.
Now he’s ready to secure his place as a mainstay in the MLB mix. Congratulations to Cal Mitchell on his first homer from MLBbro.com.
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