Mychal Givens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mychal Givens |
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Givens with the Mets in 2022
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| Free agent | ||||||||||||||
| Pitcher | ||||||||||||||
| Born: May 13, 1990 Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
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| debut | ||||||||||||||
| June 24, 2015, for the Baltimore Orioles | ||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics (through 2023 season) |
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| Win–loss record | 32–24 | |||||||||||||
| Earned run average | 3.47 | |||||||||||||
| Strikeouts | 539 | |||||||||||||
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Medals
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Mychal Antonio Givens (born May 13, 1990) is an American professional baseball pitcher. He is currently a free agent, meaning he can sign with any team. Mychal has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams. These include the Baltimore Orioles, Colorado Rockies, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, and New York Mets.
Contents
Mychal Givens' Baseball Journey
Starting Out: Amateur Career
Mychal Givens grew up in Tampa, Florida. He went to Henry B. Plant High School. There, he was a star player on the school's baseball team. He played as both a pitcher and an infielder.
In his junior and senior years, Mychal was named "All-State." This means he was one of the best players in the entire state. In 2007, he was chosen to play for the United States 18-and-under national baseball team.
Mychal was also picked for the 2008 Aflac All-American High School Baseball Game. This special game was played at Dodger Stadium. He showed off his skills by both pitching and playing shortstop. At a special dinner, Mychal won the Jackie Robinson Award. This award recognized him as the top high school baseball player in the country.
In his final year of high school, Mychal was a great pitcher. He had 8 wins and 4 losses. His earned run average (ERA) was 1.71, which is very good. He also struck out 113 batters. As a hitter, he had a .374 batting average. He hit four home runs and had 31 runs batted in. Mychal also played on his high school's basketball team.
Becoming a Pro: Draft and Minor Leagues
The Baltimore Orioles chose Mychal in the second round of the 2009 MLB draft. This meant they wanted him to play for their team. He signed with the Orioles and got a signing bonus of $800,000. This was a lot of money for a young player! He decided to play pro baseball instead of going to college at Oklahoma State University.
The Orioles first tried to develop Mychal as a shortstop. He played for the Delmarva Shorebirds in 2010. He hurt his thumb and needed surgery. In 2011, he returned to Delmarva but struggled a bit with his hitting. He also played in Australia for the Perth Heat.
Before the 2013 season, the Orioles asked Mychal to try being a pitcher instead. This was a big change! He started pitching for the Delmarva Shorebirds. He showed promise, striking out many batters. In 2014, he continued to improve as a pitcher. By 2015, he was playing for the Bowie Baysox. He had a great start to the season, with a 1.60 ERA and 12 saves.
Making it to the MLB: Baltimore Orioles (First Time)
Mychal Givens was called up to the major leagues on June 20, 2015. This was a huge moment for him! He made his first MLB appearance on June 24. He pitched one inning and didn't allow any runs. He also struck out one batter.
Later that season, he earned his first Major League win. He finished 2015 with a 2–0 record and a very good 1.80 ERA. He pitched 30 innings and struck out 38 batters. He walked only six batters, which shows great control.
In 2016, Mychal made the Orioles' team for Opening Day. He became an important relief pitcher for them. A relief pitcher comes into the game after the starting pitcher. Mychal had a strong year, winning 8 games and losing 2. He struck out 96 batters in 74 innings. His ERA was 3.13.
Mychal also played in his first postseason game in 2016. It was against the Toronto Blue Jays. He pitched well, striking out three batters in over two innings.
Winning Gold: World Baseball Classic
Mychal Givens was chosen to play for Team USA in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. This is a big international tournament where countries compete in baseball. Mychal helped Team USA win the gold medal! He pitched in three games during the tournament.
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In the 2017 season, Mychal continued to be a key pitcher for the Orioles. He had a 2.75 ERA in 69 games. He struck out 88 batters in almost 79 innings. In 2018, he became the team's "setup man." This means he often pitched in the late innings before the closer. He also had 9 saves that year. A save is when a pitcher finishes a close game without letting the other team score.
In 2019, Mychal started the season as the Orioles' closer. He saved 11 games. He continued to strike out many batters. In the short 2020 season, he had a very low 1.38 ERA in 12 games.
Playing for Other Teams
On August 30, 2020, the Orioles traded Mychal to the Colorado Rockies. He finished the 2020 season with them. In 2021, he pitched well for the Rockies, with a 2.73 ERA.
Later in 2021, the Rockies traded Mychal to the Cincinnati Reds. He played for the Reds for a short time.
In 2022, Mychal signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs. He pitched for them for part of the season. On August 2, 2022, he was traded again, this time to the New York Mets. He finished the 2022 season with the Mets. After the season, he became a free agent.
Back to Baltimore and Beyond
On December 21, 2022, Mychal Givens signed a new contract with the Baltimore Orioles. This was his second time playing for the team! He started the 2023 season on the injured list because of a knee problem. He made his first appearance on May 21. However, he soon went back on the injured list with a shoulder injury. He was later released by the Orioles.
In March 2024, Mychal signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins. He played for their Triple-A team, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. After a short time, he decided to become a free agent again.
Mychal's Life Off the Field
Mychal Givens was raised by his great-grandmother, Liduvina Padilla, and her late husband, Pedro Padilla.
He married his longtime girlfriend, Tiffani, in 2014. They have two daughters together.
In 2020, Mychal started the Givens Back Foundation. This is a charity that helps kids in need. The foundation works to give children access to sports. It also teaches them important life lessons. The Givens Back Foundation hosts many events. These include giving out Thanksgiving turkeys and holding Christmas events for families. They also have a fun "Blitzball" tournament each year.
