Mychal Givens
A versatile American reliever with a deceptive sidearm delivery who became a durable bullpen pillar for the Baltimore Orioles.
Born 1990 (age 36)·American baseball player·Birthday: May 13·Millennials
Biography
Mychal Givens carved out a long and valuable MLB career through adaptation. Originally drafted as a shortstop by the Baltimore Orioles in 2009, his powerful arm prompted a conversion to pitching in the minors. He developed a distinctive, low three-quarters delivery that made him uniquely tough on right-handed hitters. Givens debuted with the Orioles in 2015 and quickly became a trusted setup man, known for his calm demeanor and ability to handle high-leverage innings. For several years, he was a constant in a fluctuating Baltimore bullpen, logging over 60 appearances in multiple seasons. His reliability made him a sought-after trade deadline piece later in his career, leading to stints with contenders like the Reds and Mets. Givens's journey from infield prospect to established major league pitcher is a story of self-reinvention and mastering a craft that wasn't his first calling.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Mychal was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Mychal Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Mychal's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Pitched in over 60 games in a season four times during his tenure with the Baltimore Orioles.
- Recorded a career-best 1.79 ERA across 66.1 innings pitched during the 2019 season.
- Was part of the trade that sent All-Star shortstop Trevor Story from the Colorado Rockies to the Boston Red Sox in 2021.
- Made his MLB debut as a pitcher in 2015, just six years after being drafted as a position player.
Did You Know?
He was originally drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the second round of the 2009 MLB draft as a shortstop.
He played for Team USA in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
He is a cousin of former NFL running back Willis McGahee.
He attended H.B. Plant High School in Tampa, Florida, the same school that produced MLB players like Dwight Gooden and Gary Sheffield.
“I had to reinvent myself to find my place in the game.”
