Mitch Garver
Mitch Garver | |
---|---|
Designated Hitter | |
Born: Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. | January 15, 1991|
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
MLB debut | |
August 19, 2017, for the Minnesota Twins | |
MLB statistics (through June 14, 2024) | |
Batting average | .243 |
Home runs | 90 |
Runs batted in | 253 |
Teams | |
| |
Career highlights and awards | |
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Mitchell Lynn Garver (born January 15, 1991) is an American professional baseball catcher and designated hitter for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers.
Early life
Garver was born on January 15, 1991, in
College career
Garver attended the University of New Mexico and played college baseball for the New Mexico Lobos. While at New Mexico, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks of the Cape Cod Baseball League in 2012, and was named a league all-star.[5]
Professional career
Draft and minor leagues
The
Minnesota Twins
In 2017, the Twins promoted Garver to the major leagues. Garver debuted on August 19, 2017. He got his first major league hit the next day, and played in 23 games that year, batting .196 (9-for-46) with 3 RBIs. In 2018, Garver hit his first home run on April 5, and became the Twins’ primary catcher by May. He hit seven home runs and batted .268.
In the midst of Garver having a career year, on May 14, 2019, he suffered a left high ankle sprain after a collision at home plate with
Due to injury, Garver was limited to 23 games in the shortened 2020 season. He batted .167/.247/.264 during the season. On July 27, 2021, Garver became a part of major league history when both he and Detroit Tigers catcher Eric Haase hit grand slam home runs. It was the first time in MLB history that opposing catchers hit grand slams in the same game.[14]
Texas Rangers
On March 12, 2022, the Twins traded Garver to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Ronny Henríquez.[15] Garver underwent surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon in his right forearm in July 2022 and missed the remainder of that season.[16] Over 54 games for Texas in 2022, he hit just .207/.298/.404/.702 with 10 home runs and 24 RBI.[17] Garver won the World Series with the Rangers in 2023.
Seattle Mariners
On December 28, 2023, Garver signed a two-year, $24 million contract with the Seattle Mariners, that also included a mutual option for a third year.[18]
Player profile
Garver is known for his unique catching stance, in which he keeps one knee on the ground at all times, in a manner similar to that of Tony Peña.[19] In the early part of his major league career, Garver struggled with pitch framing, particularly in catching low strikes, and he worked with Bill Evers and Tanner Swanson after the 2018 season to find a stance that would improve his catching with lower pitches.[20]
Personal life
Garver met his wife Sarah during their sophomore year of high school. She received her veterinary medicine degree from Oregon State University shortly after Garver began playing in MLB.[21] Their first child, a son, was born in July 2021.[22]
References
- ^ "Mitch Garver". University of New Mexico Lobos Athletics. July 2, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
- Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
- ^ Scoggins, Chip (October 3, 2019). "Mitch Garver's gamble: Changes in swing, defense revitalize Twins catcher's career". Star Tribune. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
- ^ "Prep Awards for Garver, Bean, Walla". Albuquerque Journal. May 20, 2009. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
- ^ "#10 Mitchell Garver - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
- ^ Writer, Kevin Hendricks | Journal Staff. "Ex-Lobo Garver is embracing his role in Twins' system". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Kernels catcher Garver working on his defense - The Gazette". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
- ^ Writer, Kevin Hendricks | Journal Staff. "Garver is on the Twins' radar". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Mitch Garver Stats, Highlights, Bio | MiLB.com Stats | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Milb.com. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
- ^ Sports, Fox. "Minnesota Twins assign six players to Arizona Fall League". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
- ^ "Ex-Lookouts On The Move As Twins Make Roster Changes". November 18, 2016. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
- ^ "Garver shines in Twins' win but exits with injury". ESPN. May 15, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
- ^ "Twins' Garver hits IL after collision; Sano back up". ESPN. May 15, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
- ^ Beck, Jason (July 28, 2021). "Game-tying slam, milestone key comeback". MLB.com. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ "Rangers sending Kiner-Falefa to Twins". ESPN.com. March 12, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ^ Landry, Kennedi (July 8, 2022). "Garver to have season-ending forearm surgery". MLB.com. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
- ^ Postins, Matthew (October 22, 2022). "Rangers 40-Man Roster Wraps: Mitch Garver". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
- ^ "Garver agrees to 2-year deal with Mariners". MLB.com. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
- ^ Sawchik, Travis (September 24, 2019). "Mitch Garver Wasn't Catching Strikes. So He Changed His Catching Stance". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
- ^ Hayes, Dan (May 15, 2019). "The rise of Mitch Garver: How he turned into a player the Twins can't do without". The Athletic. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
- ^ Sickenger, Ken (September 12, 2017). "Ex-Lobo Garver relishes his major league promotion". Albuquerque News-Journal. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
- ^ Helfand, Betsy (July 18, 2021). "Mitch Garver's return to the Twins 'imminent'". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- New Mexico Lobos bio