Mitch Garver - 2013 Male Athlete of the Year

Mitch Garver – 2013 Male Athlete of the Year Courtesy: New Mexico Athletics  
Release:   11/25/2014

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Mitch Garver

In 2012 Mitch Garver had a breakout season for the Lobo baseball program that was so good it would be nearly impossible to match, let alone beat, in 2013. Well, the Albuquerque native and La Cueva grad might have pulled it off. He was named Mountain West Co-Player of the Year, again. He was one of three national finalists for the Johnny Bench Award, again. He was an All-American, again, but this time his play earned him first team honors.

No one in the history of the UNM baseball program was more durable, dependable and reliable than he was. He started the final 181 games of his career over his last three seasons to set a new school record for consecutive starts. Despite playing the most physically demanding position on the diamond, catcher, he finished his career ranked in the Top 10 at UNM, and first among backstops, in career games, at bats, runs, hits, doubles, RBI and total bases. He also had a 26-game hitting streak in 2013, the sixth longest in school history.

As a senior he hit a career-best .390 with 21 doubles, six home runs, and 68 RBI to help the Lobos set numerous conference records on their way to winning the Mountain West regular-season title. Garver helped UNM end a 48-year postseason drought in 2010 and proceeded to lead them to an NCAA Regional in each of his four years on campus. He was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the ninth round of the MLB Draft last June.

Garver was just as skilled in the classroom as he was on the field as he was a four-time Academic All-Mountain West honoree. He graduated with a degree in physical therapy and had a GPA above 3.5.