TCU pitcher Andrew Mitchell is a 45-year-old trapped in a 19-year-old body.
According to Horned Frogs coach Jim Schlossnagle and Mitchell's teammates, the right-hander possesses a maturity beyond his years.Mitchell, a sophomore, will start No. 11 TCU's season opener at 6:30 tonight against No. 22 Ole Miss at Lupton Stadium. He earned the Frogs' ace role after a dynamite freshman season when he proved over 10 starts and other appearances that he was more than up to the challenge."He's one of those kids that has the 'it' factor that most kids have to develop over time in college," Schlossnagle said. "He's always had it together. If he hasn't had it all together he's certainly been able to fake it."That comes from the poise Mitchell, and fellow sophomore and Saturday's starter Stefan Crichton, showed early and often last season.And the Frogs needed the pair to step up in the worst way after frontline starters Matt Purke, Kyle Winkler and Steven Maxwell all dealt with injuries at various points during the 2011 season."After the debacle of the way our season ended on the mound with all the injuries, I cringe to think where we'd have been without them," Schlossnagle said. "By the end of the season Mitchell was by far our most consistent starting pitcher."The departure of that trio to the pros and graduation left big holes to fill. And the Frogs will again need multiple young pitchers, such as Sunday starter Brandon Finnegan, a freshman from Fort Worth Southwest, to have the kinds of seasons Mitchell and Crichton did in 2011.Schlossnagle said the left-handed Finnegan earned the No. 3 slot last fall. Finnegan, who was drafted by the Texas Rangers in June, shut down professional hitters during an exhibition in the Dominican Republic in November. And he's continued to progress this winter."In an incredibly short time, he has really made some adjustments," Schlossnagle said. "He has been our most consistent starting pitcher since he walked on campus."Mitchell hopes he and Crichton can help shepherd the less experienced members of the staff, as the veteran trio did them last season."When you have three guys who were undefeated until late in the season you really trust that they know what they're talking about," said Mitchell, who was 6-1 with a 2.84 ERA in 76 innings. "We took what they said to heart."Crichton (6-3, with a 1.98 ERA in 50 innings) acknowledged the added pressure on him and Mitchell as staff leaders."We had three older guys putting us under their wing and showing us around," he said. "Granted, now we're much more confident in our abilities."Mitchell knows he has to earn the Friday starter role each week, but he's not fazed, showing a glimpse of that understated maturity Schlossnagle and pitching coach Randy Mazey covet in players, not just pitchers."I'm just playing catch with [catcher] Josh [Elander] back there," he said.Stefan Stevenson817-390-7760Twitter: @FollowtheFrogsMississippi vs. TCU
at Lupton Stadium
Gm 1: 6:30 tonight
Gm 2: 2 p.m. Saturday
Gm 3: 1 p.m. Sunday
Radio: KTCU 88.7 FM
Five key series/games
Feb. 21 and March 6 vs. Baylor: The future Big 12 rivals meet twice home and away. TCU swept the Bears last year, receiving a marvelous performance by Andrew Mitchell in Waco in his first career start, and then later winning with a dramatic comeback in Fort Worth.
Feb. 24-26 at Cal State Fullerton: TCU lost two of three at home to the No. 16 Titans early last year in frustrating fashion. After the Frogs won Game 1, Fullerton came from behind to win the last two in the ninth inning.
May 1 and 15 vs. Oklahoma: The No. 15 Sooners have beaten TCU eight consecutive times dating to '07, including twice last season. The Frogs committed four errors in each game, allowing a combined seven unearned runs.
April 24 vs. Texas A&M: The No. 6 Aggies invade Lupton Stadium. Last year, the Frogs won 4-2 in College Station with freshman pitchers starter Andrew Mitchell and closer Stefan Crichton coming up huge.
May 18-20 vs. San Diego State: The Frogs close their final season in the Mountain West against the Aztecs with potentially their seventh consecutive title on the line.
RHP Andrew Mitchell
Sophomore
|
2011 stats |
|
|
W-L |
6-1 |
|
ERA |
2.84 |
|
Innings |
76 |
RHP Stefan Crichton
Sophomore
|
2011 stats |
|
|
W-L |
6-3 |
|
ERA |
1.98 |
|
Innings |
50 |
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