Daly returns home to play for Trash Pandas

MADISON – Since birth, Mitch Daly has always been on the move as his father, Ed, is a four-star general in the U.S. Army causing him to pack up his wife, Cathy, and their three children on constant moves including to two foreign countries. Now, at age 24, Daly has made his own move – back home.

The Los Angeles Angels made recent roster moves including putting Daly in the lineup with the Rocket City Trash Pandas, thus making Daly the first player from a local high school to suit up for the Double-A team.
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound shortstop/utility infielder, who just celebrated his birthday a week ago, received his late birthday gift by arriving in Madison after stints with teams Single-A Inland Empire and Triple-A Salt Lake City.

“It’s really cool to have one of our former players playing minor league baseball in Madison,” said Jared Smith, head baseball coach at Bob Jones High and Daly’s former coach. “It is a great opportunity for Mitchell to play in front of people he knows and in a familiar town. Minor League Baseball can be a grind so I think a rare opportunity like this makes it a little easier to relax and play baseball.”

Daly was a two-time All-State player and four-year starter for Bob Jones graduating in 2020 where he was rated the No. 1 shortstop in Alabama by Perfect Game. With offers from several colleges such as Duke and Clemson, he chose to sign with his heart and state of birth the Texas Longhorns.

“I was born just outside Austin and always felt Texas was in my roots as I fell in love with the university and the opportunity came that I couldn’t pass up,” said Daly, upon his signing his college scholarship in 2020.
He began his college career at the University of Texas earning freshman All-American honors and contributing to his team’s College World Series appearance. He later transferred to Kentucky where he posted a .300 batting average with seven home runs and 45 RBIs along with two stolen bases. The utility talent has started games at second and third base and shortstop.

Arriving in Madison while in middle school, Daly played for the Discovery Panthers and was always the best in his class and the future in baseball was always a high priority. He said upon his signing to play college baseball, “I talked about playing for Texas and one day becoming a professional baseball player.”
He was signed by the Angels as an undrafted free agent out of Kentucky in July 2024.

Daly immediately joined the Trash Pandas’ roster May 20. The former Patriots is expected to be with the team before the hometown crowd upon their return to Toyota Field May 27.

“Mitchell had a great career at Bob Jones as he was a part of the 2019 Class 7A runner-up team and played for the varsity all four years of his stay at Bob Jones,” added Smith of his former player. “We are looking forward to continue following Mitchell’s career in the future.”