Mitchell Parker Stats & Scouting Report

IP	126.2
ERA	4.26
WHIP	1.26
BB/9	2.42
SO/9	7.74

Full name Mitchell James Parker
Born 09/27/1999 in Albuquerque, NM
Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 224 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School San Jacinto JC
Drafted in the 5th round (153rd overall) by the Washington Nationals in 2020 (signed for $100,000).

View Draft Report

As a team, San Jacinto (Texas) JC averaged 13 strikeouts per nine innings, so high strikeout numbers are commonplace for the Gators. But even on a team that collected strikeouts in bunches, Parker stood out. He had 64 strikeouts and 18 walks in 30.1 innings, good for 19 strikeouts per nine innings, to lead all of NJCAA D-I in strikeouts. Parker has a strong lower half and has always had some funkiness to his delivery that makes it hard for hitters to get comfortable swings. Parker sits 89-93 mph with some armside run to his above-average fastball. His fastball has an above-average spin rate—he primarily throws a two-seamer. His big-breaking, slow mid-70s downer curveball plays well with his fastball. He struggles to locate it at times, but when it’s on, it’s a plus pitch. He’s messed with a slider, but it hasn’t really developed. His split functions as his changeup and shows above-average potential with some late fade. Parker is a Kentucky signee.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade: 40/Very High

Track Record: Parker signed with the Nationals as a fifth-round pick in 2020. He broke out in 2022, posting a 2.88 ERA and a near 27% strikeout rate at High-A Wilmington. Parker did not create the same amount of buzz in his first taste of the upper minors in 2023. He spent most of the season with Double-A Harrisburg, where he pitched to a 4.20 ERA. He joined the Triple-A Rochester for three starts at the end of the year and gave up 12 runs in 10.1 innings.

Scouting Report: Parker has intriguing fastball characteristics. The lefthander throws a 92-93 mph four-seam fastball from a high slot that has roughly 20 inches of induced vertical break and cutting action. He pairs it with two distinct breaking balls. His downer low-80s curveball is his best secondary and was a major focus last offseason. He also throws a tight low-80s slider that batters missed roughly a third of the time. Parker has searched for a consistent feel on both a changeup and slider. He misses a lot of bats but also needs to tighten his control after he walked 11% of batters in Double-A.

The Future: The organization still believes Parker has the upside of a No. 5 starter. However, if he is unable to rein in his walk rate, a move to the bullpen is likely.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Splitter: 50 | Control: 40
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Parker was selected in the 2018 and 2019 drafts bud did not sign before the Nationals signed him as a fifth-round pick in 2020. Some of his stats did not reflect how truly productive his 2021 debut season was with Low-A Fredericksburg and High-A Wilmington. He took off in 2022 with Wilmington, where he posted a 2.88 ERA and near 27% strikeout rate, though he also walked batters at a 15% clip.

Scouting Report: Scouts describe Parker as a powerful, high-slot lefthander whose average fastball plays up with good carry at the top of the zone. While the fastball sits in the 90-94 mph range, it has elite carry and more than 21 inches of induced vertical break that helped it wrack up more whiffs than any of his other pitches. Mitchell throws a low-80s curveball as his most-used secondary, which is also his biggest emphasis during the offseason. He throws a mid-80s changeup and a low-80s splitter, the former with plus sinking life and the latter with some cutting life. Mitchell has a solid arsenal of pitches but needs to find a way to throw them for more strikes.

The Future: Parker could have performed at the Double-A level in 2022 if given the chance, so expect to see him start there in 2023. If he continues to improve, he has a chance to stick as a starter despite lacking a legitimate plus pitch. He could move to a bullpen role if he's unable to improve his control and get ahead in counts more frequently.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 Curveball: 50 Splitter: 55 Changeup: 45 Control: 40
Track Record: A $100,000 signing as a fifth-round pick in 2020, Parker was productive out of the gate in his debut season in 2021. He had a 4.08 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 57.1 innings in Low-A before earning a promotion to High-A, where his 5.89 ERA doesn’t fully reflect how effective he was.

Scouting Report: Parker has a varied repertoire that could help him stick as a starter, even without plus stuff across the board. With a delivery that could use some refinement, his fastball typically sits in the low 90s with elite carry, and he maintains that velocity well into his starts. He also features a low-80s splitter that one rival evaluator described as having crazy movement similar to that of a cutter, a changeup with plus sink and a mid-70s curveball with good depth that is better against left-handed hitters than right-handed hitters. None of those pitches are elite, but all have average or better potential. Parker has also proven to be a good competitor in his starts.

The Future: As long as Parker performs like he did in 2021, expect him to move. Without any setbacks, Double-A in 2022 should be in his sights.

Draft Prospects

As a team, San Jacinto (Texas) JC averaged 13 strikeouts per nine innings, so high strikeout numbers are commonplace for the Gators. But even on a team that collected strikeouts in bunches, Parker stood out. He had 64 strikeouts and 18 walks in 30.1 innings, good for 19 strikeouts per nine innings, to lead all of NJCAA D-I in strikeouts. Parker has a strong lower half and has always had some funkiness to his delivery that makes it hard for hitters to get comfortable swings. Parker sits 89-93 mph with some armside run to his above-average fastball. His fastball has an above-average spin rate—he primarily throws a two-seamer. His big-breaking, slow mid-70s downer curveball plays well with his fastball. He struggles to locate it at times, but when it’s on, it’s a plus pitch. He’s messed with a slider, but it hasn’t really developed. His split functions as his changeup and shows above-average potential with some late fade. Parker is a Kentucky signee.
Parker was a 27th-round pick of the Cubs last year. He has a chance to go better in this year's draft after an excellent season as a starter at San Jacinto (Texas) JC. Parker struck out 15.5 batters per nine innings while posting a 1.54 ERA. He sits 89-93 mph and has improved his splitter and curveball this year. He has always shown the ability to spin a breaking ball, but he now locates it better. Parker's delivery does raise some concerns. He has a long arm action with a plunge, leading to control issues (6.3 walks per nine).
Despite an inconsistent spring in 2018, scouts agree that Parker's size and lefthandedness will have the New Mexico prep product going off the board somewhere in the top 10 rounds. Parker certainly intrigued scouts during last fall's WWBA World Championships in Jupiter, Fla., when he struck out 15 batters in five innings. Parker gets swings and misses on an 86-92 mph fastball and he should be able to add velocity as he matures, although his command of the pitch has been inconsistent. His 12-to-6 curveball has good shape and spin to it, but the 73-74 mph pitch could be more effective at a higher velocity. Both his breaking ball and changeup were graded as below-average pitches this spring. Parker uses a rough but deceptive delivery with a stab in the back and an inconsistent release point. Parker will be a project for whichever team drafts him and won't be a fast mover. He is committed to Tennessee.

Scouting Reports

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Parker was selected in the 2018 and 2019 drafts bud did not sign before the Nationals signed him as a fifth-round pick in 2020. Some of his stats did not reflect how truly productive his 2021 debut season was with Low-A Fredericksburg and High-A Wilmington. He took off in 2022 with Wilmington, where he posted a 2.88 ERA and near 27% strikeout rate, though he also walked batters at a 15% clip.

Scouting Report: Scouts describe Parker as a powerful, high-slot lefthander whose average fastball plays up with good carry at the top of the zone. While the fastball sits in the 90-94 mph range, it has elite carry and more than 21 inches of induced vertical break that helped it wrack up more whiffs than any of his other pitches. Mitchell throws a low-80s curveball as his most-used secondary, which is also his biggest emphasis during the offseason. He throws a mid-80s changeup and a low-80s splitter, the former with plus sinking life and the latter with some cutting life. Mitchell has a solid arsenal of pitches but needs to find a way to throw them for more strikes.

The Future: Parker could have performed at the Double-A level in 2022 if given the chance, so expect to see him start there in 2023. If he continues to improve, he has a chance to stick as a starter despite lacking a legitimate plus pitch. He could move to a bullpen role if he's unable to improve his control and get ahead in counts more frequently.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 Curveball: 50 Splitter: 55 Changeup: 45 Control: 40
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Parker was selected in the 2018 and 2019 drafts bud did not sign before the Nationals signed him as a fifth-round pick in 2020. Some of his stats did not reflect how truly productive his 2021 debut season was with Low-A Fredericksburg and High-A Wilmington. He took off in 2022 with Wilmington, where he posted a 2.88 ERA and near 27% strikeout rate, though he also walked batters at a 15% clip.

Scouting Report: Scouts describe Parker as a powerful, high-slot lefthander whose average fastball plays up with good carry at the top of the zone. While the fastball sits in the 90-94 mph range, it has elite carry and more than 21 inches of induced vertical break that helped it wrack up more whiffs than any of his other pitches. Mitchell throws a low-80s curveball as his most-used secondary, which is also his biggest emphasis during the offseason. He throws a mid-80s changeup and a low-80s splitter, the former with plus sinking life and the latter with some cutting life. Mitchell has a solid arsenal of pitches but needs to find a way to throw them for more strikes.

The Future: Parker could have performed at the Double-A level in 2022 if given the chance, so expect to see him start there in 2023. If he continues to improve, he has a chance to stick as a starter despite lacking a legitimate plus pitch. He could move to a bullpen role if he's unable to improve his control and get ahead in counts more frequently.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 Curveball: 50 Splitter: 55 Changeup: 45 Control: 40
BA Grade: 45/Extreme

Track Record: A $100,000 signing as a fifth-round pick in 2020, Parker was productive out of the gate in his debut season in 2021. He had a 4.08 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 57.1 innings in Low-A before earning a promotion to High-A, where his 5.89 ERA doesn&#39t fully reflect how effective he was.

Scouting Report: Parker has a varied repertoire that could help him stick as a starter, even without plus stuff across the board. With a delivery that could use some refinement, his fastball typically sits in the low 90s with elite carry, and he maintains that velocity well into his starts. He also features a low-80s splitter that one rival evaluator described as having “crazy” movement similar to that of a cutter, a changeup with plus sink and a mid-70s curveball with good depth that is better against left-handed hitters than right-handed hitters. None of those pitches are elite, but all have average or better potential. Parker has also proven to be a good competitor in his starts.

The Future: As long as Parker performs like he did in 2021, expect him to move. Without any setbacks, Double-A in 2022 should be in his sights.
Track Record: A $100,000 signing as a fifth-round pick in 2020, Parker was productive out of the gate in his debut season in 2021. He had a 4.08 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 57.1 innings in Low-A before earning a promotion to High-A, where his 5.89 ERA doesn’t fully reflect how effective he was.

Scouting Report: Parker has a varied repertoire that could help him stick as a starter, even without plus stuff across the board. With a delivery that could use some refinement, his fastball typically sits in the low 90s with elite carry, and he maintains that velocity well into his starts. He also features a low-80s splitter that one rival evaluator described as having crazy movement similar to that of a cutter, a changeup with plus sink and a mid-70s curveball with good depth that is better against left-handed hitters than right-handed hitters. None of those pitches are elite, but all have average or better potential. Parker has also proven to be a good competitor in his starts.

The Future: As long as Parker performs like he did in 2021, expect him to move. Without any setbacks, Double-A in 2022 should be in his sights.
Parker was a 27th-round pick of the Cubs last year. He has a chance to go better in this year's draft after an excellent season as a starter at San Jacinto (Texas) JC. Parker struck out 15.5 batters per nine innings while posting a 1.54 ERA. He sits 89-93 mph and has improved his splitter and curveball this year. He has always shown the ability to spin a breaking ball, but he now locates it better. Parker's delivery does raise some concerns. He has a long arm action with a plunge, leading to control issues (6.3 walks per nine).