 Mitchell grew up as the son of a pastor in Lakeland , Florida . He attended Kathleen High School in Lakeland , where he lettered in cross country , baseball , football , and basketball . In baseball , Mitchell was used as a pinch hitter and played outfielder . He played in the Polk County East – West Senior All @-@ Star Game in 1997 for the West squad . He had a .388 batting average , three home runs , and eleven runs batted in ( RBI ) . Mitchell was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 47th round of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft after graduating from Kathleen . He was a guard in basketball , and scored 11 points in the 1997 Class 4A boys ' high school basketball state championship for Kathleen as the Red Devils won their first ever title . Mitchell , who had three steals in the game , was called for a technical foul after he went out @-@ of @-@ bounds and punched a cooler . In football , he contributed as a wide receiver , kick returner , punt returner , holder for kicker Paul Edinger , and defensive back . Mitchell earned The Ledger second @-@ team all @-@ Lakeland area honors as a utility player following the 1995 season . 
