Casey Arthur Mize (born May 1, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was selected by the Tigers with the first overall pick in the 2018 MLB draft. He played college baseball for the Auburn Tigers.

Casey Mize
Mize with the Lakeland Flying Tigers in 2019
Detroit Tigers – No. 12
Pitcher
Born: (1997-05-01) May 1, 1997 (age 27)
Springville, Alabama, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 19, 2020, for the Detroit Tigers
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record9–19
Earned run average4.36
Strikeouts226
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Amateur career

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Mize attended Springville High School in Springville, Alabama. During his high school career, he went 19–2.[1] He committed to Auburn University to play college baseball.[2]

As a freshman in 2016, he appeared in 16 games with 7 starts and went 2–5 with a 3.52 earned run average (ERA) and 59 strikeouts.[3] After the 2016 season, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[4] As a sophomore in 2017, Mize pitched in 13 games with 12 starts, going 8–2 with a 2.04 ERA with 109 strikeouts and only nine walks.[3][5] After the season, he played for the United States collegiate national team during the summer.[6][7] Mize was named Auburn's opening day starter for the 2018 season.[8] On March 9, 2018, Mize threw a no-hitter against the Northeastern Huskies, the ninth in program history.[9] Mize finished the 2018 season 10-6 with a 3.30 ERA and 156 strikeouts over 17 starts.[10]

Professional career

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Minor leagues

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2018

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The Detroit Tigers selected Mize with the first overall pick in the 2018 MLB draft.[11] On June 25, 2018, Mize signed with the Tigers, featuring a $7.5 million signing bonus.[12] He made his professional debut with the Gulf Coast Tigers of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. After one start, he was promoted to the Lakeland Flying Tigers of the High–A Florida State League. After compiling a combined 0–1 record with a 3.95 ERA in five starts between both teams,[13] Mize was shut down for the rest of the season due to an innings limit.[14]

2019

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In 2019, the Tigers invited Mize to spring training as a non-roster player.[15] He returned to Lakeland to begin the 2019 season, and was its Opening Day starter.[16] After making four starts for Lakeland with an 0.35 ERA, the Tigers promoted Mize to the Erie SeaWolves of the Double–A Eastern League.[17] In his first start for Erie, he tossed a no-hitter, in which he hit a batter, walked another, and struck out seven on 98 pitches, in a 1–0 SeaWolves victory over the Altoona Curve.[18] On June 15, Mize was placed on the 7-day injured list with shoulder inflammation.[19]

Detroit Tigers

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2020

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On August 19, 2020, Mize was promoted to the major leagues by the Tigers and made his MLB debut that evening against the Chicago White Sox.[20][21][22] Mize threw 73 pitches over 4+13 innings in his first start, allowing three earned runs while striking out seven and walking none in a no-decision.[23] On September 11 against the Chicago White Sox, Mize took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, before a double by Yolmer Sánchez ruined the no-hit bid.[24] With the 2020 Detroit Tigers, Mize appeared in seven games, compiling a 0–3 record with 6.99 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 28+13 innings pitched.[25]

2021

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On March 26, 2021, Tigers manager A. J. Hinch announced that Mize would be in the Tigers starting rotation to begin the 2021 season.[26] On April 12, Mize earned his first major league win, throwing seven scoreless innings in the Tigers' 6–2 victory over the Houston Astros.[27] In an August 24 road game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Mize made his major league debut as a batter, and collected an RBI on a bases-loaded walk. He also earned the win with five scoreless innings.[28] Mize made 30 starts in the 2021 season, posting a 7–9 record and 3.71 ERA. He struck out 118 batters in 150+13 innings, while allowing 130 hits and 41 walks for a 1.137 WHIP.

2022

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Mize began the 2022 season as the No. 2 starter in the Tigers rotation. On April 15, the Tigers placed Mize on the 10-day injured list with a right elbow sprain.[29] On June 10, he went on the Tigers' 60-day Injured List. It was revealed that Mize needed Tommy John surgery, which prematurely ended his 2022 season.

2023

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Mize did not pitch in a professional game in 2023 as he continued his recovery from Tommy John surgery.

2024

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Entering the 2024 season, Mize made the Tigers' Opening Day roster as part of their rotation, beating out Matt Manning for one of the final spots. He was named the team's number five starter.[30] Mize made his first 16 starts of the 2024 season before being placed on the 15-day injured list with a left hamstring strain on July 3.[31] He was transferred to the 60–day injured list on July 29.[32] Mize was activated on August 30.[33]

Personal life

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Mize and his wife, Tali, were married in 2019.[34] They reside in Nashville, Tennessee.[35]

References

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  1. ^ Hutchinson, Derick (June 4, 2018). "Detroit Tigers select Auburn pitcher Casey Mize with No. 1 overall pick in MLB draft". ClickOnDetroit.com. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  2. ^ Shearer, Jeff (October 18, 2017). "'Mom, I'm going to play on that field one day' - baseball's Casey Mize". Auburn Tigers. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Feinsand, Mark (June 4, 2018). "How Mize went from undrafted to fave to go No. 1". MLB.com. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  4. ^ "Casey Mize - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  5. ^ Vitale, Josh (January 26, 2018). "Casey Mize returns to mound as Auburn baseball opens spring practice". Opelika-Auburn News. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  6. ^ Green, Tom (April 14, 2017). "Auburn baseball's Casey Mize accepts USA Collegiate National team invite". AL.com. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  7. ^ McCue, Owen (July 3, 2017). "After Breakout Year At Auburn, Casey Mize Impresses With Collegiate National Team". Baseball America. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  8. ^ Stevens, Matthew (January 26, 2018). "All-American RHP Casey Mize to get Auburn's opening day start". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  9. ^ "Casey Mize Tosses No-Hitter as Auburn Defeats Northeastern". Auburn Tigers. March 9, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  10. ^ "Who's That Guy? Casey Mize, Tigers pitching prospect who could be MLB's next great arm". August 19, 2020.
  11. ^ "Tigers draft Auburn right-hander Casey Mize with No. 1 pick". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 5, 2018. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  12. ^ Beck, Jason (June 25, 2018). "Tigers agree to deal with No. 1 pick Mize". MLB.com. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  13. ^ "Casey Mize Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  14. ^ Lara-Cinisomo, Vincent (August 18, 2018). "Tigers shut down top prospect Mize". MiLB.com. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  15. ^ "Tigers invite Mize to Spring Training".
  16. ^ "Tigers' Casey Mize: Starts season strong". April 5, 2019.
  17. ^ "Tigers' Mize promoted to Double-A Erie".
  18. ^ Seidel, Jeff (April 29, 2019). "No-no! Detroit Tigers' Casey Mize throws brilliant no-hitter in Double-A debut". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  19. ^ "Detroit Tigers place Casey Mize on injured list with minor inflammation".
  20. ^ Jason Beck (August 17, 2020). "Tigers call up top prospects Mize, Skubal". MLB.com. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  21. ^ Jason Beck (August 19, 2020). "A-Mize-ing! Casey fans 7, walks 0 in debut". MLB.com. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  22. ^ David Adler (August 19, 2020). "Mize, Dunning make history in debut face off". MLB.com. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  23. ^ Beck, Jason (August 19, 2020). "A-Mize-ing! Casey fans 7, walks 0 in debut". MLB.com. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  24. ^ "White Sox's Yolmer Sanchez ends Casey Mize's bid for no-hitter with double in the 6th". The Detroit News. September 11, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  25. ^ "Casey Mize Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  26. ^ "Detroit Tigers prospect Casey Mize makes MLB starting rotation; Michael Fulmer to bullpen". freep.com. March 26, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  27. ^ Petzold, Evan (April 12, 2021). "Detroit Tigers' Casey Mize impresses for first MLB win in 6-2 victory over Houston Astros". freep.com. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  28. ^ Harris, Joe (August 24, 2021). "Tigers soaking up good vibes in recent run". MLB.com. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  29. ^ Franco, Anthony (April 16, 2022). "Tigers Place Casey Mize On Injured List". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  30. ^ "Detroit Tigers send Matt Manning to Triple-A; Casey Mize, Reese Olson make MLB roster". freep.com. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  31. ^ Petzold, Evan. "Detroit Tigers' Casey Mize on injured list with hamstring strain, Keider Montero called up". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  32. ^ "Tigers' Casey Mize: Shifted to 60-day injured list". cbssports.com. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  33. ^ "Tigers Designate Joey Wentz For Assignment". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  34. ^ "Detroit Tigers' Casey Mize pops question to girlfriend (She said yes!)".
  35. ^ Woodbery, Evan (February 11, 2020). "Tigers top prospect Casey Mize playing long game after being shut down in 2019". mlive. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
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