Detroit Tigers top ten prospects for 2020
By David Hill
1. Casey Mize
Minors (A+, AA): 8-3 record, 109.1 innings, 2.55 ERA, 0.942 WHiP, 23 walks, 106 strikeouts
The top overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, Casey Mize has been everything the Detroit Tigers could have hoped for.
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After one appearance in rookie ball last year, Mize was aggressively promoted to the Florida State League, where he had his struggles at times in his four starts. Back in Lakeland to start 2019, Mize quickly proved to be up to the challenge. He was then promoted to AA, spending the rest of the year in Erie.
Mize has the hallmarks of a future ace for the Tigers. Armed with a fastball that can reach 97 MPH that also has great movement, his best pitch may actually be his splitter. Thrown in the upper 80s, his split dives at the plate and lives at the bottom of the strike zone. His slider is also a potential plus pitch, and is an offering that Mize turns into a cutter on occasion.
The question with Mize is whether or not he can stay healthy. He missed time in 2017 with a tired arm and a flexor strain. Mize had a platelet-rich plasma injection in his pitching elbow before the 2018 draft. Then, he missed time with a shoulder injury last year.
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If he can stay healthy, Casey Mize is the future ace the Detroit Tigers need. However, that is the question – can he?