Mitch Garver has carved out a reputation as one of the most dynamic catchers and designated hitters in modern baseball. Since bursting onto the Major League scene in 2017, he’s combined power at the plate with an unorthodox catching stance that immediately drew attention.
Fans know him for towering home runs and a laid-back, approachable personality off the field. As he enters the 2025 season with the Seattle Mariners, Garver’s journey-from a dual-sport high school star in Albuquerque to a Silver Slugger Award winner and World Series champion-offers both inspiration and entertainment.
Mitch Garver’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Mitchell Lynn Garver |
| Date of Birth | January 15, 1991 |
| Age | 34 years |
| Education | La Cueva High School; University of New Mexico |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
| Weight | 220 lb (99 kg) |
| Turned Pro | Drafted in 2013 (9th round by Minnesota Twins) |
| MLB Debut | August 19, 2017 |
| Net Worth | $10 million |
| Salary | $11.5 million (base), $12.5 million total |
| Career Earnings | $33.6 million |
| Wife | Dr. Sarah Garver |
| @mgarver | |
| @MitchGarver |
Early Career
Mitch Garver’s journey to the big leagues began in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he grew up as a standout two‐sport athlete at La Cueva High School. From the moment he picked up a baseball glove, Garver showed an uncanny feel for the bat, and by his junior year he was leading his team to state championships both on the mound and in the outfield.
At the same time, he anchored his school’s soccer team as a center back, helping secure a second straight state title with his steady defensive play. Coaches and scouts alike took notice of Garver’s athleticism and competitive drive, but despite an offer to pursue soccer in England, he chose to focus on baseball-a decision driven by childhood dreams of one day playing in the majors.
Garver accepted a scholarship to the University of New Mexico, where he immediately made an impact for the Lobos. He split time between catcher and first base, but it was his left‐handed swing that drew most of the attention.
Over three collegiate seasons, he refined his approach at the plate, learning to work counts, drive the ball to all fields and pull the trigger on fastballs in the zone. Each summer he further tested his skills in wood‐bat competition, most notably with the Hyannis Harbor Hawks of the Cape Cod Baseball League.
There, he polished his power stroke against some of the nation’s top pitching prospects, earned league all‐star honors and was even named MVP-credentials that put him firmly on the radar of Major League scouts.
The Minnesota Twins selected Garver in the ninth round of the MLB Draft. He signed with a modest bonus and reported to the Elizabethton Twins in rookie ball, where he wasted no time flashing the raw power that would become his trademark.
Even as a newcomer to professional pitching, he displayed above‐average plate discipline, drawing walks and barreling balls deep into the outfield gaps. Coaches in Elizabethton worked with him on framing and blocking, laying the groundwork for his eventual transformation into one of the game’s most intriguing receiver prospects.
Professional Career
Since his Major League debut in August 2017, Mitch Garver steadily evolved from a late‐season call‐up into one of baseball’s premier power‐hitting backstops. The Twins promoted him on August 18, 2017, and he made his first appearance the next day, finishing his rookie showing with a .196 average and three RBIs across 23 games.
Garver broke camp as Minnesota’s primary backup catcher and hit his first career homer on April 5. Over 103 games he slashed .268/.335/.414 with seven home runs and cemented himself as a formidable right‐handed bat while sharing duties behind the plate.
Garver’s offensive breakout. Despite missing six weeks after spraining his left ankle in a May home‐plate collision with Shohei Ohtani, he returned to club a total of 31 homers in just 311 at‐bats, adding 67 RBIs and earning the American League Silver Slugger Award for catchers.
His blend of patient plate discipline and raw power made him one of the game’s most dangerous hitters against fastballs, and his prowess contributed to the Twins setting a new single‐season home run record that year.
Garver’s momentum was stalled by injuries in the pandemic‐shortened 2020 campaign. He appeared in only 23 games due to a right intercostal strain, batting .167/.247/.264 before the season ended early.
He rebounded posting a .256 average with 13 home runs in 68 games even as he dealt with a groin contusion, back tightness and the birth of his first child. On July 27, 2021, he etched his name in the history books by hitting a grand slam the same day opposing catcher Eric Haase did, marking the first time two catchers on opposing teams each hit slams in one game.
Wife
Mitch Garver is married to his high-school sweetheart, Dr. Sarah Garver, whom he met in their sophomore year at La Cueva High School in Albuquerque.
Sarah earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Oregon State University in 2018 and practices small-animal medicine. They wed on December 19, 2015, and have two children together: their daughter Gamble Lynn, born July 22, 2021, and a second child born in late 2023.
The Garvers share two dogs-Chupi and Rip-and in 2021 established an endowed scholarship at Oregon State’s veterinary college in memory of their late boxer, Benny. Sarah maintains a private Instagram account under the handle @jogster while balancing her veterinary career with family life.
Mitch Garver’s Net Worth Details
Mitch Garver’s net worth is estimated to be $10 million as of 2025.
Contract
Mitch Garver signed a two-year, $24 million guaranteed contract with the Seattle Mariners on December 28, 2023. The agreement carries a $2 million signing bonus and stipulates base salaries of $10.5 million in 2024 and $11.5 million in 2025, resulting in $11.5 million total cash each season after proration. Additionally, the deal includes a mutual option for the 2026 season worth $12 million, with a $1 million buyout if the option is not exercised.
Salary
Mitch Garver’s 2025 salary pays him a base of $11.5 million, plus a $1 million prorated signing bonus for a total payroll value of $12.5 million. That compensation ranks him as the fifth–highest–paid catcher in Major League Baseball for the season.
Career Earnings
| Year | Earnings |
|---|---|
| 2013 | $40,000 |
| 2017 | $131,535 |
| 2018 | $547,500 |
| 2019 | $575,000 |
| 2020 | $229,630 |
| 2021 | $1,875,000 |
| 2022 | $3,335,000 |
| 2023 | $3,900,000 |
| 2024 | $11,500,000 |
| 2025 | $11,500,000 |
| Total | $33,633,665 |
Endorsements
Mitch Garver’s approachable personality and family-first image have led to several regional and national endorsement partnerships. He remains tied to OMNI Brewing through his “Garv Sauce” branded lager, a nod to his swing that first launched during his Twins years.
Garver also collaborates with a leading glove manufacturer on a signature catcher’s mitt line and appears in MLB’s youth baseball clinic campaigns, helping coach kids on fundamentals.
Off the diamond, he’s teamed up with a pet-care brand-reflecting his and his wife’s veterinary background-to promote responsible pet ownership.
MLB Career Stats
| Statistic | Total |
|---|---|
| Games Played (GP) | 579 |
| At Bats (AB) | 1,827 |
| Runs (R) | 258 |
| Hits (H) | 430 |
| Doubles (2B) | 87 |
| Triples (3B) | 6 |
| Home Runs (HR) | 97 |
| Runs Batted In (RBI) | 281 |
| Walks (BB) | 241 |
| Hit by Pitch (HBP) | 24 |
| Strikeouts (SO) | 564 |
| Stolen Bases (SB) | 3 |
| Caught Stealing (CS) | 2 |
| Batting Average (AVG) | .235 |
| On-Base Percentage (OBP) | .330 |
| Slugging Percentage (SLG) | .449 |
| On-Base Plus Slugging (OPS) | .779 |
FAQs
1. What is Mitch Garver’s birthplace and early athletic background?
Mitch Garver was born on January 15, 1991, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He attended La Cueva High School, where he excelled as both a catcher on the baseball team and a center back in soccer. Despite a coach’s suggestion to pursue soccer in England, Garver chose to focus on baseball and helped his high school teams win state championships in both sports as a junior.
2. Which college did Mitch Garver attend, and what records did he set there?
Garver played college baseball at the University of New Mexico, where he became the program’s all-time Iron Man by starting 181 consecutive games. In his senior season, he hit .390 with six home runs and 68 RBIs, recorded a 26-game hitting streak, and earned Mountain West Co-Player of the Year honors and two consecutive Johnny Bench Award finalist nods.
3. How did Mitch Garver begin his professional MLB career?
Garver progressed through the Twins’ minor league system. He made his major league debut on August 19, 2017, as a pinch hitter and recorded his first hit the following day. He soon became the Twins’ primary catcher and finished his rookie year with a .268 batting average over 103 games.
4. Which MLB teams has Mitch Garver played for to date?
Garver spent the first six seasons of his career with the Minnesota Twins (2017–2022), then signed with the Texas Rangers for the 2023 season, contributing to their World Series title. In December 2023, he joined the Seattle Mariners, where he serves as a catcher and designated hitter, wearing jersey number 18.
5. What are Mitch Garver’s career batting statistics through early 2025?
Garver has compiled a career batting average of .235, hit 97 home runs, and driven in 283 runs. He bats and throws right-handed, stands 6 feet 1 inch tall, and weighs 220 pounds. His career on-base plus slugging percentage sits near .782, reflecting his power and plate discipline.
6. What made Mitch Garver’s 2019 season a breakout year?
Garver hit a career-high 31 home runs and drove in 67 runs over 311 at-bats, earning him the American League Silver Slugger Award for catchers. His power display placed him among the league leaders for home runs by a catcher, and his performance solidified his reputation as one of the game’s premier offensive backstops.
7. What significant injuries has Mitch Garver faced, and how did they affect him?
Garver has battled several injuries, including a left high-ankle sprain sustained in May 2019 that sidelined him for weeks, a right intercostal strain in the shortened 2020 season, and groin and lower-back issues in 2021. These setbacks limited his playing time and production in affected seasons but did not derail his overall career trajectory.
8. Which awards and honors has Mitch Garver earned throughout his baseball career?
Garver’s accolades include multiple minor-league honors-MiLB.com Organization All-Star and Arizona Fall League All-Prospect Team-and the Twins’ Charles O. Johnson Most Improved Award in 2019. At the major-league level, he won the American League Silver Slugger for catchers in 2019 and became a World Series champion with the Texas Rangers in 2023.
9. What contract details define Mitch Garver’s tenure with the Seattle Mariners?
Garver signed a two-year, $24 million contract with the Seattle Mariners in December 2023, covering the 2024 and 2025 seasons, with a mutual option for 2026. His 2024 salary was in excess of $10 million, reflecting his established track record as a power-hitting catcher.
10. What is known about Mitch Garver’s personal life off the field?
He and his partner welcomed their first child in 2021. Off the field, he maintains an active presence on social media, sharing insights into family life and community involvement. He has also been recognized for academic achievements, earning Academic All-Mountain West honors four times during college.
