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Chicago Cubs draft pick Kevonte Mitchell offers youth baseball lessons in Kennett
Kevonte Mitchell (left) eyes a swing by Gideon's Landon Weaver during a baseball lesson at Ultimates Sports in Kennett Monday night.
Kennett native Kevonte Mitchell isn’t passing up an opportunity to share his baseball knowledge this summer.
Gideon's Larson Weaver attends a baseball lesson at Ultimate Sports in Kennett Monday night.
Mitchell, who was drafted by the Chicago Cubs shortly after graduating high school in 2013, has been offering youth baseball lessons at Ultimate Sports in Kennett since he returned from the spring training facility in Mesa, Arizona, in March.
“This is a state-of-the-art facility,” Mitchell said. “I started working with 10 to 12 guys about four weeks ago. I’ve been working with them strictly on hitting. The most important thing at their age is to see the ball and hit it.”
Mitchell says he has been offering lessons on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to baseball players between the ages of nine and 14. Each lesson is an individual session that lasts about one our.
“They can sign up for as many sessions as they want,” he said. “If they feel like they are good to go after a month that’s perfectly fine. I’m just trying to get guys better and build their confidence up.”
Mitchell believes one of the most important things to teach a young hitter is how to use their legs properly.
“It’s important to get into your legs,” he said. “I didn’t realize how to use my legs properly until I started playing professional baseball. You have to understand the swing starts from the ground up. I’m trying to get them to understand that at a young age.”
Landon Weaver, who is a 12-year-old from nearby Gideon, attended his fourth session with Mitchell Monday evening.
“We hit off the tee, do front toss, and he throws to me,” Weaver said. “My timing has really improved since I started.”
Mitchell remains unsure if teaching baseball lessons is the first step toward a coaching career.
“I cannot even speak on that right now,” he said with a smile. “Right now everything is day-to-day.”
Anyone interested in attending a session can contact Mitchell on his Facebook Page.
“I’m always on Facebook so hit me up on there,” he said.