Kevin Mitchell
Outfielder · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1984-1998)
Kevin Mitchell was an outfielder who played in Major League Baseball from 1984 to 1998 for 8 teams, including the New York Mets, a span of 15 seasons. In 1,223 career games, he hit .284 with 1,173 hits, 234 home runs, and 760 RBI. Kevin Mitchell was a 2-time All-Star, an MVP, and a Silver Slugger. His career PIV — Baseball Data Hub's era-adjusted measure of offensive impact — is 17,577.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
- Position
- Outfielder
- Bats / Throws
- R / R
- Height / Weight
- 5'10" / 186 lb
- MLB Debut
- 1984-09-04
- Last Game
- 1998-08-03
- Awards
- 2× All-Star · MVP · Silver Slugger
Full name: Kevin Darnell Mitchell
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,223 | 4,134 | 630 | 1,173 | 224 | 25 | 234 | 760 | 30 | 491 | 719 | .284 | .360 | .520 | .880 | 17,577 |
Career AVG .284 vs. league average .261 across their career seasons — +8.6% above league average.
Career OBP .360 vs. league average .329 across their career seasons — +9.6% above league average.
Career SLG .520 vs. league average .399 across their career seasons — +30.2% above league average.
Career OPS .880 vs. league average .728 across their career seasons — +20.9% above league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | NYN | NL | 7 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .214 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1986 | NYN | NL | 108 | 328 | 51 | 91 | 22 | 2 | 12 | 43 | 3 | 33 | 61 | .277 | .257 (+8%) | .325 (+6%) | .395 (+18%) | .720 (+12%) | 751.0 |
| 1987 | SDN | NL | 62 | 196 | 19 | 48 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 26 | 0 | 20 | 38 | .245 | .262 (-7%) | .331 (-5%) | .415 (-4%) | .746 (-5%) | -154.1 |
| 1987 | SFN | NL | 69 | 268 | 49 | 82 | 13 | 1 | 15 | 44 | 9 | 28 | 50 | .306 | .262 (+16%) | .331 (+14%) | .415 (+28%) | .746 (+21%) | -154.1 |
| 1988 | SFN | NL | 148 | 505 | 60 | 127 | 25 | 7 | 19 | 80 | 5 | 48 | 85 | .251 | .254 (-1%) | .317 (avg) | .377 (+17%) | .695 (+9%) | 789.1 |
| 1989 | SFN | NL | 154 | 543 | 100 | 158 | 34 | 6 | 47 | 125 | 3 | 87 | 115 | .291 | .254 (+15%) | .319 (+21%) | .375 (+69%) | .694 (+47%) | 5034.4 |
| 1990 | SFN | NL | 140 | 524 | 90 | 152 | 24 | 2 | 35 | 93 | 4 | 58 | 87 | .290 | .257 (+12%) | .324 (+11%) | .385 (+41%) | .710 (+27%) | 2743.5 |
| 1991 | SFN | NL | 113 | 371 | 52 | 95 | 13 | 1 | 27 | 69 | 2 | 43 | 57 | .256 | .255 (avg) | .323 (+5%) | .384 (+34%) | .708 (+20%) | 1395.8 |
| 1992 | SEA | AL | 99 | 360 | 48 | 103 | 24 | 0 | 9 | 67 | 0 | 35 | 46 | .286 | .255 (+12%) | .322 (+9%) | .377 (+13%) | .699 (+11%) | 749.7 |
| 1993 | CIN | NL | 93 | 323 | 56 | 110 | 21 | 3 | 19 | 64 | 1 | 25 | 48 | .341 | .265 (+28%) | .332 (+16%) | .403 (+49%) | .735 (+34%) | 1965.7 |
| 1994 | CIN | NL | 95 | 310 | 57 | 101 | 18 | 1 | 30 | 77 | 2 | 59 | 62 | .326 | .269 (+21%) | .338 (+27%) | .424 (+60%) | .763 (+45%) | 2854.4 |
| 1996 | BOS | AL | 27 | 92 | 9 | 28 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 14 | .304 | .269 (+13%) | .340 (+13%) | .426 (-3%) | .767 (+4%) | 105.2 |
| 1996 | CIN | NL | 37 | 114 | 18 | 37 | 11 | 0 | 6 | 26 | 0 | 26 | 16 | .325 | .269 (+20%) | .340 (+31%) | .426 (+36%) | .767 (+34%) | 105.2 |
| 1997 | CLE | AL | 20 | 59 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 9 | 11 | .153 | .266 (-43%) | .336 (-18%) | .419 (-11%) | .756 (-14%) | -138.0 |
| 1998 | OAK | AL | 51 | 127 | 14 | 29 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 21 | 0 | 9 | 26 | .228 | .266 (-14%) | .335 (-17%) | .420 (-18%) | .755 (-17%) | -374.4 |
| Career · 15 seasons | 1,223 | 4,134 | 630 | 1,173 | 224 | 25 | 234 | 760 | 30 | 491 | 719 | .284 | — | — | — | — | 15,674 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (1223 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 630 | 2107 | 338 | 621 | 110 | 408 | .295 |
| Away | 593 | 2027 | 292 | 552 | 124 | 352 | .272 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-08-03 | OAK | NYY | L | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1998-08-02 | OAK | CLE | W | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1998-07-30 | OAK | BOS | W | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998-07-29 | OAK | BOS | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998-07-28 | OAK | BOS | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1998-07-25 | OAK | TBR | L | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998-07-24 | OAK | TBR | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998-07-22 | OAK | BAL | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1998-07-19 | OAK | MIN | W | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1998-07-18 | OAK | MIN | L | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 9 | 6 | 46 | 4 | 2 | 7 |
| 3B | 235 | 218 | 142 | 457 | 33 | 39 |
| OF | 807 | 778 | 1457 | 48 | 45 | 9 |
| SS | 25 | 20 | 31 | 57 | 6 | 7 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | NYN | 3B | 5 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| 1986 | NYN | 1B | 2 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 1986 | NYN | 3B | 7 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| 1986 | NYN | OF | 68 | 53 | 114 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 1986 | NYN | SS | 24 | 20 | 31 | 56 | 6 | 7 |
| 1987 | SDN | 3B | 51 | 50 | 29 | 108 | 8 | 9 |
| 1987 | SDN | OF | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | SFN | 3B | 68 | 65 | 44 | 131 | 7 | 10 |
| 1987 | SFN | OF | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | SFN | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | SFN | 3B | 102 | 97 | 61 | 203 | 16 | 18 |
| 1988 | SFN | OF | 40 | 38 | 57 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| 1989 | SFN | 3B | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1989 | SFN | OF | 147 | 147 | 305 | 8 | 7 | 0 |
| 1990 | SFN | OF | 138 | 138 | 295 | 9 | 9 | 3 |
| 1991 | SFN | 1B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991 | SFN | OF | 100 | 99 | 188 | 6 | 6 | 1 |
| 1992 | SEA | OF | 69 | 67 | 130 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993 | CIN | OF | 87 | 87 | 149 | 7 | 7 | 2 |
| 1994 | CIN | 1B | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 | CIN | OF | 89 | 89 | 132 | 9 | 4 | 2 |
| 1996 | BOS | OF | 21 | 20 | 29 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1996 | CIN | 1B | 3 | 3 | 28 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 1996 | CIN | OF | 31 | 30 | 45 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 | CLE | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 | OAK | 1B | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1998 | OAK | OF | 10 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 9 |
| Third Base | 235 |
| Shortstop | 25 |
| Left Field | 756 |
| Center Field | 6 |
| Right Field | 53 |
| Designated Hitter | 69 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Player of the Week | Week of 1996-08-31 |
| 1994 | Player of the Week | Week of 1994-06-04 |
| 1993 | Player of the Week | Week of 1993-05-15 |
| 1989 | Most Valuable Player | |
| 1989 | Player of the Week | Week of 1989-04-15 |
| 1989 | Silver Slugger | OF |
| 1989 | TSN All-Star | OF |
| 1989 | TSN Major League Player of the Year | |
| 1989 | TSN Player of the Year |
Salary History
Kevin Mitchell's recorded salaries total $19,975,500 over 12 seasons, 1986 to 1998. This total is partial: the salary data covers 1985 to 2016, and Mitchell's career ran from 1984 to 1998. His seasons before 1985 are not included.
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | OAK | AL | $225,000 |
| 1997 | CLE | AL | $500,000 |
| 1996 | BOS | AL | $1,135,000 |
| 1994 | CIN | NL | $3,750,000 |
| 1993 | CIN | NL | $3,750,000 |
| 1992 | SEA | AL | $3,750,000 |
| 1991 | SFN | NL | $3,750,000 |
| 1990 | SFN | NL | $2,083,000 |
| 1989 | SFN | NL | $610,000 |
| 1988 | SFN | NL | $237,500 |
| 1987 | SDN | NL | $125,000 |
| 1986 | NYN | NL | $60,000 |
| Total recorded salary (partial) | $19,975,500 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 9th | 86.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1990 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 11th | 20.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1989 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 1st | 314.0 | 336 | 20 |
| 1986 | Rookie of the Year | NL | 3rd | 22.0 | 120 | 1 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Kevin Mitchell (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Compare Kevin Mitchell
Kevin Mitchell: the record in brief
Kevin Mitchell played a first major league game on September 4, 1984 and a last one on August 3, 1998. The team column moves through the New York Mets (1984 to 1986), the San Diego Padres (1987), the San Francisco Giants (1987 through 1991), the Seattle Mariners (1992), the Cincinnati Reds (1993 through 1996), the Boston Red Sox (1996), the Cleveland Indians (1997), and the Oakland Athletics (1998). At 5'10" and 186 pounds, Mitchell is listed as an outfielder. Mitchell threw and hit right-handed, per the bio block. The recorded birth is January 13, 1962, in San Diego, CA, USA. Kevin Mitchell was the playing name; the full given name is Kevin Darnell.
Mitchell's career batting table shows 1,223 games, 4,134 at bats and 1,173 hits, a .284 average, plus 234 home runs, 760 runs batted in, and 30 stolen bases. Mitchell's career OPS of .880 combines a .360 on-base mark with .520 slugging.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kevin Mitchell
- What years did Kevin Mitchell play?
- Kevin Mitchell played in Major League Baseball from 1984 to 1998.
- Was Kevin Mitchell a pitcher?
- No. Kevin Mitchell was a position player (Outfielder).
- How many home runs did Kevin Mitchell hit?
- Kevin Mitchell hit 234 career home runs with 1,173 hits.
- What teams did Kevin Mitchell play for?
- Kevin Mitchell played for 8 teams: the New York Mets (1984, 1986), the San Diego Padres (1987), the San Francisco Giants (1987–1991), the Seattle Mariners (1992), the Cincinnati Reds (1993–1994, 1996), the Boston Red Sox (1996), the Cleveland Indians (1997), and the Oakland Athletics (1998).
- How many MVP awards did Kevin Mitchell win?
- Kevin Mitchell won 1 MVP award, in 1989.
- What awards did Kevin Mitchell win?
- Kevin Mitchell won the MVP award (1989) and the Silver Slugger award (1989). He was selected to 2 All-Star Games.
- What were Kevin Mitchell's career stats?
- In 1,223 games, Kevin Mitchell had 1,173 hits, 234 home runs, 760 RBI, 630 runs, and 30 stolen bases, with a .284 batting average.
- How much did Kevin Mitchell earn in his career?
- Kevin Mitchell's recorded salaries total $19,975,500 over 12 seasons, 1986 to 1998. This total is partial: the salary data covers 1985 to 2016, and Mitchell's career ran from 1984 to 1998. His seasons before 1985 are not included.
- What was Kevin Mitchell's salary?
- Kevin Mitchell's last recorded salary was $225,000, in 1998. His highest recorded salary was $3,750,000, in 1991, and his lowest was $60,000, in 1986. The Salary History table lists each season from 1986 to 1998.
- What position did Kevin Mitchell play?
- Kevin Mitchell played primarily as an outfielder, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Kevin Mitchell and how much did he weigh?
- Kevin Mitchell was listed at 5 feet 10 inches and 186 pounds.
- How many home runs did Kevin Mitchell hit each season?
- Kevin Mitchell's home runs by season: 0 in 1984, 12 in 1986, 22 in 1987, 19 in 1988, 47 in 1989, 35 in 1990, 27 in 1991, 9 in 1992, 19 in 1993, 30 in 1994, 8 in 1996, 4 in 1997, and 2 in 1998. His most in one season was 47, in 1989.
- What was Kevin Mitchell's career batting average?
- Kevin Mitchell batted .284 over his career, with 1,173 hits in 4,134 at bats.
- How many RBI did Kevin Mitchell have?
- Kevin Mitchell drove in 760 runs in his career.