Mitch Harris

After serving as a Lieutenant in the Navy, Harris became the first Naval Academy graduate to appear in the major leagues since 1921, and just the second ever to do so.

Mitch Harris was born in Ocala, Florida, the son of Cy and Cindy Harris, and grew up in Mount Holly, North Carolina.

Mitchell Andrew Harris (born November 7, 1985) is an American former professional baseball pitcher.

He attended South Point High School in Belmont, North Carolina, where he played trombone and lettered in baseball and was all-conference and all-state in 2003 and 2004.

At first, very few scouts watched Harris pitch in high school.

Having weighed 175 lb at one point, he was much less imposing than his weight of 240 lb on his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut.

However, the more he pitched, the more he drew notice.

After attracting more scouts over time, they eventually rated him as one of the top collegiate pitching prospects.

Harris attended college at the United States Naval Academy, majoring in general engineering, and playing college baseball as a pitcher and infielder for the Midshipmen.

Having ended up at the Academy by chance, a Navy football recruiter named Buddy Green watched him pitch a bullpen session in high school.

Green found out that Harris was not interested in football, but was open to attending the Naval Academy, so he made phone calls on his behalf.

In spite of the path that led to his entrance into Navy, Harris spent his freshman year as a corner infielder and utility player.

However, when incoming coach Paul Kostacopoulos watched Harris throw during a practice session after his freshman season, he asked him to pitch in the bullpen, where he reached 91 mph.

Impressed with the tryout, Kostacopoulos expanded Harris' role to pitching.

As a sophomore, he claimed The Patriot League pitching triple crown with a 10–3 record, 1.74 earned run average (ERA) and 113 strikeouts (SO) in 13 games started.

He also hit one home run with 27 runs batted in (RBI) and a .333 batting average.

The next season, as a junior, Harris went 8–5 with a 2.14 ERA and a Patriot League-record 119 strikeouts.

He also emerged as a force on offense, with a league-leading eight home runs, 47 RBI and a .293 average.

He also led Navy in runs batted in, doubles (10), triples (four) and slugging percentage (.534).

Baseball America named Harris a third-team All-American.

One of his teammates at Navy, Oliver Drake, also a pitcher, was a selection in the same amateur draft, and made his major league debut for the Baltimore Orioles the month following Harris.

Harris' college pitching career totals included a record of 20–13 with a 2.51 ERA and 291 strikeouts over 222 1⁄3 innings.

At the plate, he batted .295 with 105 runs scored, 16 home runs and 112 RBI.

In 2007, he played collegiate summer baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Bourne Braves.

When he graduated, he was one of the highest-rated pitching prospects for the amateur draft, with a fastball that could reach 95 mph and a cutter with the ability to break bats.

In 2007, he played collegiate summer baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Bourne Braves.

While aboard ship, Harris played catch whenever he could to keep his pitching skills as well-tuned as possible.

He always took his glove, and his father sent bags of balls to him, as they often skipped overboard.

His throwing partner was a cook from the Dominican Republic.

Both of Harris' grandfathers served in the United States military during World War II.

Also a member of the Navy, Louin Harris fought in the Battle of Midway.

Serving in the Army, James Chamberlain fought in the Battle of the Bulge.

Following graduation in 2008 from the Naval Academy, Harris served in the United States Navy for four years, eight months and eight days, attaining the rank of Lieutenant (LT).

He was based in Norfolk, Virginia, and deployed a total of three times.

One was to the Persian Gulf on the USS Ponce, a 577 ft amphibious transport dock, where he served as a weapons officer.

LT Harris then contributed to a diplomatic mission to Russia on the USS Carr, an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate, and to South America for anti-drug operations.

He also went to the Baltic states and served as a combat information officer and a training officer.

In his time in the military, he visited more than 30 countries.

He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2015.

A native of Florida who grew up in North Carolina, Harris attended the United States Naval Academy.