Named after the great Maine and Waikiki outfielder, the Mitchell Award rewards the player who is the top hitter in the league.

This year's award goes to....

Nick Johnson, Newark

If you thought the McDonald Award was a close call, you ain't seen nothing yet. Seven different batters received first place votes, and no single batter was named on all seven ballots! The closest (receiving votes on six ballots) also ended up winning the award. Newark's Nick Johnson stayed on the disabled list a lot this season (46 games), but he earned the Mitch by leading the league in batting (.360), on base percentage (.444), and OPS (1.079). Johnson was a key member of one of the most powerful offenses in DMBL history, driving in 96 runs and scoring 109. He also led the league in runs created/27 (11.8) and total average (1.201).

Newark's interest in Johnson began way back in 2000 when he was drafted in the 14th round. Newark soon released Johnson, but once again drafted him 13th in the 2001 draft. Johnson was slowly moving up the draft order, but released him again in mid-summer. Like clockwork, Newark once again selected Johnson in 2002 with a 5th round pick they had acquired from Tijuana. Would Johnson stick this time? Sadly no, Johnson was released exactly one year and one day after he was released the previous year by the Sugar Bears. Newark was starting to give up on the first baseman. Johnson had injury problems that had plagued his progress in the minors. In 2003 things changed for Johnson. Almost the entire draft had passed before Philadelphia tried to take a chance on Johnson in the 14th round. Johnson's stock had fallen tremendously and he was released in spring training, only to be claimed by the Mighty Men of Stanhope. The Mighty Men scouting team had been impressed with the limited action that Johnson had seen during his injury-plagued minor league career and decided to see what they could do. Johnson knew this might be his last chance, vowing to show Sugar Bear GM Butch Garretson what a mistake he had made. Johnson's patience paid off and he finally got a chance to play in the Show in 2004. Johnson impressed the scouts, including the Sugar Bear scouts, by staying healthy all year and playing in 162 games. Though he had a solid season in 2004, the Mighty Men decided not to protect Johnson and he once again fell into the draft. Johnson vowed to hang up the spikes if he wasn't selected in the draft. Luckily for him the Sugar Bears once again came calling and, in the seventh round selected Johnson with the 98th overall pick. Garretson noted that Johnson proved that he could stay healthy and was worth taking a chance on again. Garretson would soon eat his words as Johnson hit the DL in May through June and only played in 44 games, though in those 44 games Johnson hit .377. Garretson decided it was worth holding onto Johnson and he was protected and ended up being the Mitchell Award winner in 2006! It should be noted that Johnson was still up to his old tricks again in 2006, going on the DL twice, and only playing in 116 games.

Coming in second in the voting was Marietta's record setting third baseman Morgan Ensberg, followed by two Vancouver players: Michael Young and J.D. Drew. Also receiving first-place votes were Alex Rodriguez of Hillsborough, Vancouver's David Ortiz and Listach Award winner Ryan Howard of Hillsborough.

Points are scored as follows: 10 points for a first place vote, 7 for second, 5 for third, 3 for fourth, 2 for fifth and 1 for sixth.

The all-time winners of the Mitchell Award: