Why UK signee Jase Mitchell could be a rare prospect

Mitchell has the chance to be the first prep player taken in the top 10 rounds of MLB draft from Delaware since 2012, according to the Baseball America draft database.

Photo courtesy of Jase Mitchell.

Kentucky signee Jase Mitchell’s draft stock has steadily climbed over the past year, and he could now be in rare territory for prep baseball players from Delaware. Mitchell, a catcher who played at Cape Henlopen High School, has a shot to be the first high schooler from the state selected in the top ten rounds of the MLB draft since 2012, according to Baseball America’s draft database.

“It’s just a blessing and an absolute privilege to have that opportunity,” Mitchell told Bat Cats Central. “I feel like Delaware baseball has gotten a lot better recently. As far as my high school, Cape Henlopen, in the 2018 season they had eight of their nine starters who were D1 guys and four of those guys that were on that team are now in pro ball…Cape Henlopen has been a complete powerhouse the last 10 years. I give a lot of credit to coach (Ben) Evick. He took me in and I’ve learned so much from that program. They really coach it the right way there as well. That’s what I attribute a lot of my success to.

“I feel like Delaware is definitely on the trend upward talent wise. We had a lot of talent on our team this year and we were able to win the state championship. I feel like just being able to have this opportunity to kinda get Delaware baseball out there and promote it as much as possible is such a blessing. It’s gonna be awesome to see what happens.”

Mitchell committed to Kentucky in August 2023 and has continued to develop into one of the top players in the northeast. His team won a state championship in his senior season, and Mitchell was named Prep Baseball Report’s Player of the Year in Delaware and Gatorade Player of the Year after hitting .521 with a 1.641 OPS, seven home runs, and 35 runs batted in. Mitchell competed in the Area Code games last fall and also played in the 2024 Perfect Game WWBA World Championship with the Richmond Braves. Following his standout senior season, Mitchell earned an invite to the MLB Draft Combine, where he joined fellow class of 2025 signees Owen Jenkins, Conor Essenburg and Josh Flores.