Summary
Mitchell Lynn Garver (born January 15, 1991) is an American professional baseball catcher for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers.
| Mitch Garver | |
|---|---|
 Garver with the Minnesota Twins in 2019 | |
| Seattle Mariners – No. 18 | |
| Catcher/Designated Hitter | |
| Born: January 15, 1991 Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 19, 2017, for the Minnesota Twins | |
| MLB statistics (through April 17, 2024) | |
| Batting average | .249 |
| Home runs | 83 |
| Runs batted in | 232 |
| Teams | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Early life edit
Garver was born on January 15, 1991, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Gail and Jerry Garver.[1] He attended La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, catching for the school baseball team.[2] Garver was also known for his skill as a center back for the school soccer team, and his coach suggested that Garver move to the United Kingdom to further pursue his soccer career at a European academy. Garver, who preferred baseball, was "terrified" at the prospect and turned down the offer.[3] As a junior in 2008, he helped the soccer and baseball team win a state championship. When he graduated in 2009, Garver was named the Albuquerque Public Schools' Male Athlete of the Year. He batted .521 as a senior, including 10 home runs.[4]
College career edit
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 edit
Draft and minor leagues edit
The Minnesota Twins selected Garver in the ninth round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft. He spent his first professional season with the Elizabethton Twins where he batted .243 in 56 games. He spent 2014 with the Cedar Rapids Kernels where he posted a .245 average with 16 home runs and 79 RBI, and 2015 with the Fort Myers Miracle where he batted .329 in 22 games.[6][7][8] After the 2015 season he played in the Arizona Fall League. Garver spent 2016 with both the Chattanooga Lookouts and the Rochester Red Wings, where he posted a combined .270 batting average with 11 home runs and 66 RBI.[9] He played in the Arizona Fall League after the season for the second consecutive year.[10] The Twins added him to their 40-man roster after the season.[11]
Minnesota Twins edit
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 Angels DH Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani was tagged out at home, keeping the Twins 4–3 lead. Garver exited the game[12] and was put on the 10-day IL, and teammate Miguel Sano was called up to make his 2019 debut.[13] Garver enjoyed a breakout season despite only playing in 93 games for the Twins. In 311 at bats, he hit 31 home runs while driving in 67. Garver also won the Silver Slugger Award for catchers in the American League.
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 edit
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 edit
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 edit
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 edit
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 edit
- ^ "Mitch Garver". University of New Mexico Lobos Athletics. July 2, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
- ^ Webber, Will (July 25, 2020). "Mental approach separates haves from have-nots". 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.
- ^ https://www.mlb.com/news/mitch-garver-mariners-contract
- ^ 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 edit
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- New Mexico Lobos bio