The next chapter

• By RANDY ROSETTA
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Jul 9, 2009 - Page: 1C

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Jared Mitchell’s two-pronged LSU athletic career officially ended Wednesday when he agreed to terms with the Chicago White Sox and was assigned to the franchise’s Class A affiliate, Kannapolis of the South Atlantic League.

Chicago drafted Mitchell with the 23rd pick in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft in June.

The New Iberia native was an outfielder for the Tigers national championship baseball team this spring and was also a wide receiver on the LSU football team for three seasons.

Mitchell and Chad Jones are the only two players in LSU history who have played for national championships in two different team sports.

Trindon Holliday owns a football national championship ring and an individual NCAA title in the 100 meters.

As a junior in baseball this season, Mitchell batted a career-best .327 with 64 runs scored, 14 doubles, a team-high five triples, 11 home runs, 50 RBIs and a team-high 57 walks. Mitchell also stole 36 bases, the second best single-season total in program history.

He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2009 College World Series after hitting .348 (8-for-23) with four runs, a pair of homers and seven RBIs.

“Jared Mitchell has improved a lot in three years and he has chance to continue to improve,” LSU coach Paul Mainieri said. “I think he’ll be a better pro than he was a college player because he’ll be able to dedicate himself to one sport.

“I think this kid was the most electric player in college baseball this season. He’s a great athlete who knows how to play baseball, and he’s got the attitude where he’s going to work as hard as he can to reach his potential.”

Contract terms were not disclosed, and Mitchell did not return a message left on his cell phone.
He was introduced to the media in Chicago on Tuesday.

“I’m trying to get out there as soon as possible and get back into the swing of things,” Mitchell said in a story on the Chicago Sun-Times Web site. “Being around here brings that feeling back. It makes you want to get back out there.”

The White Sox drafted former Georgia star Gordon Beckham in the first round last year, and he debuted on the South Side of Chicago earlier this season.

Mitchell said he would like to duplicate Beckham’s rise.