As Newmarket pitcher Mitchell Bratt stepped onto the green at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas July 16, he said it was a surreal experience.
Years of effort led the 18-year-old Bratt to that moment. He was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the fifth round, 134th overall in the Major League Baseball draft July 12. He travelled to the state this week to get introduced to the club.
The young pitcher — just graduated out of Newmarket High School — will now try to carve a place in professional baseball.
“It’s a great feeling,” Bratt said about being drafted. “It’s definitely something I’ve worked really hard toward, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds with the Texas Rangers organization.”
Bratt has played baseball since he was five, starting with the Newmarket Baseball Association. He also played with the Toronto Blue Jays Scout team, Toronto Mets. At age 15, he earned a spot at Baseball Canada’s junior national team spring training camp.
But he said he only saw this professional route as a possibility for about two years.
“I just thought going to school and playing baseball would be the option, and then I started to improve,” Bratt said. “I started to broaden my horizons and think of bigger and better options.”
His father, Brian Bratt, said he worked his tail off to get this far.
“You have to have God-given talent to begin with, but if you don’t work hard, that talent is wasted,” the elder Bratt said. “And a willingness to be coached. Not every player can be coached.”
The young pitcher decided to play in the United States this year leading into the draft, with COVID-19 restrictions halting Canadian leagues and cross-border scouting. He played for the Georgia Premier Academy Sox while finishing up his high school career online.
“That experience of playing in Georgia was pretty cool,” Bratt said. “Playing with a bunch of guys from all over the world.”
The venture meant he was separated from his family for months on end.
“He had to do what he had to do,” his father said. “We would not be having this conversation if he didn’t go stateside. Did we miss him? Sure, but with social media and with texting and FaceTime, we were able to stay in contact.”
The move eventually paid off. He joined the MLB Draft League, a six-team league that started in 2021 for draft-eligible prospects to showcase their skills. He played for the West Virginia Black Bears, where he would impress with a 2.57 ERA. He also had 44 strikeouts, second in the league.
“I pitched really well there, and saw my stock rise in the draft rankings,” Bratt said. “A week later, I heard my name called.”
He credited his parents for helping him travel to play the game.
“They would spend long hours, especially my dad, would drive very long distances just to get me to the diamond and back. Seeing that steady progression every year, always helping me out,” Bratt said.
Bratt committed to Florida State University but is opting toward the pro route. He will play at the Arizona Complex League, rookie-level Minor League Baseball.
The elder Bratt said it will take time, but his son is capable of climbing the ranks.
“I would project the big leagues are probably five years away,” he said, “As long as he stays healthy, I can project him being promoted up the ladder.”
“I would say my chances to make it to the big league one day are pretty high. I feel pretty confident,” the young pitcher said. “If I continue to work hard and show the team I can continue to pitch well, hopefully, someday I will be able to play with the Texas Rangers.”
