Often-Traded Giant Leads in Home Runs : Success as Hitter Sneaks Up on Mitchell

NEW YORK —  Overcoming obstacles is nothing new for Kevin Mitchell.

He ran with a tough crowd as a teen-ager in San Diego and was pegged a part-time player by the New York Mets.

But without much notice, Mitchell has become one of the best hitters in baseball.

He leads the major leagues with 14 home runs and 42 runs batted in, and his .317 average is fourth in the National League. He also has a .702 slugging percentage.

‘Hit at Least a Double’

“You expect him to hit at least a double every time up now,” San Francisco Manager Roger Craig said. “And when he’s in a slump, well, then all you can expect are some run-scoring singles.”

In his last seven games, Mitchell is 12 for 23 with three home runs.

The sudden success, however, is no surprise to Mitchell.

“This year, I told myself that I was going to have this kind of season,” Mitchell said. “The fact that Roger lets me hit behind (Will) Clark is a great honor.”

Clark, who bats third in the Giants’ lineup, leads the majors with a .372 average and he credits Mitchell’s hot bat for a few hits.

“I’m a fastball hitter, and with Kevin hitting behind me, I’m getting a lot of great pitches,” Clark said.

As a rookie for the Mets in 1986, Mitchell hit .277 with 12 homers and 43 RBIs in 108 games.

“I always liked his potential,” Mets Manager Davey Johnson said. “It seems like he’s matured as a hitter. He’s gone out of his way to learn the pitchers. He can be sensational at times.”

Sometimes, even unbelievable.

In a game last month at St. Louis, Mitchell caught a fly ball to left field with his bare hand.

Mitchell hit a home run against the Mets on Saturday and went 4 for 5 with another homer on Sunday.

“This season, he’s become such a force you don’t want to pitch to him in any situation,” Johnson said.

Traded by Mets

The Mets traded Mitchell to San Diego, along with four minor leaguers, before the 1987 season for Kevin McReynolds. And the Padres sent him to San Francisco on July 4, 1987, with pitchers Dave Dravecky and Craig Lefferts for infielder Chris Brown and pitchers Mark Davis, Mark Grant and Keith Comstock.

Last season, Mitchell set career highs with 19 homers and 80 RBIs, but wasn’t sure of the Giants’ plans for him. “I had a lot of time to think over the winter,” Mitchell, 27, said. “All I wanted to do was give 180 percent in every game.”

Mitchell’s attitude is not the only thing that has changed his view of things. He is wearing contacts for the first time this year on the advice of his grandmother.

Mitchell finds himself the center of attention, and it will take awhile to get used to it.

“I’ve never had a month and a half like this before,” Mitchell said. “But I’m not going to look back. I’m going to make sure it doesn’t stop. That’s what I keep telling myself. Even if I don’t do something one day, I know I’ll come back and do it the next.”