Here’s a comp BA did a couple weeks ago between Mitchell and Zac Veen—HS OFer who Keith Law has going #4 overall.
Hitting: Mitchell’s pure bat-to-ball skills are superior to Veen’s, but Veen’s swing is looser and more fluid than Mitchell’s has ever been. While Veen might have more swing-and-miss in his game, his hitting upside is a tick higher. EDGE: VEEN.
Power: Both Mitchell and Veen have similar raw power, though Veen comes with a still projectable 6-foot-5, 200-pound frame that should add more weight in the future. The bigger separator is that Veen’s swing has plenty of leverage to tap into his power in games right now, while Mitchell has a long track record of struggling to get to his during games, dating back to his time in high school. EDGE: VEEN.
Speed: This category isn’t close. Mitchell is one of the best runners in the entire draft class. He’s a legitimate 80-grade runner now and he was a legitimate 80-grade runner in high school, with terrific ability to get out of the lefthanded batter’s box, steal bases and track down balls in the outfield. Veen is more of an average runner who could slow down as he fills out. EDGE: MITCHELL.
Fielding: Because of Mitchell’s speed, he’s a good bet to stick in center field, where he has plus defensive potential at a premium position and can track fly balls down in the gaps. Veen is an average defender who will move to a corner in pro ball. EDGE: MITCHELL.
Arm: While Veen has a solid arm that has above-average potential, Mitchell’s is a tick better and could allow him to handle right field if necessary. Mitchell’s arm is consistently graded as plus and gives him another weapon to go with his collection of plus raw tools. EDGE: MITCHELL
X Factor: While each player’s tool set is considerably different, their health is also a factor. Mitchell is a Type I diabetic, and while teams don’t seem to have a quantifiable way to measure the exact risk that adds to his profile, every scout knows it will be a factor in his future projection and durability. Mitchell missed only one game in the last two years at UCLA. EDGE: VEEN.
Scout's take on Veen: "I see no reason he shouldn't hit a lot. And no reason he shouldn't drive the ball a lot as he continues to add strength ... Pretty swing, really good leverage, natural loft in the stroke. And you just look at the body and think, 'Geez, he's not there yet.'"
Scout's take on Mitchell: "Might be the best player I've ever scouted. Take away the diabetic aspect and he could be (drafted) 1-1. Stays in center field, plus defender, plus arm, 80 run times on turns ... zero effort."