Tag: Casey Mize

Casey Mize earns first win since 2021 season on Sunday

The former Auburn ace tossed six scoreless innings in Detroit’s 6-1 victory over Minnesota on Sunday.

Since making his Major League debut in September 2020, former Auburn pitcher and No. 1 overall pick of the 2018 MLB draft [autotag]Casey Mize[/autotag] has experienced his share of injury setbacks.

However, it seems as if Mize is starting to get back into the groove of pitching against the top talent in the world. On Sunday, Mize tossed six shutout innings while allowing five hits and striking out four batters in Detroit’s 6-1 win over Minnesota. Mize earned the win, his first since 2021.

Mize missed nearly two full years of action due to Tommy John and back surgeries and is off to a great start in 2024. In four starts, Mize has struck out 16 batters while walking just six and allowing seven earned runs in 21.1 innings while maintaining a 2.95 ERA. His six-inning performance on Sunday matched his season-high.

“Pitcher wins are here or there, but it feels good. It’s been a long time, but the bigger thing is the series win and the team win. I think we’re all happy about that. Good day for us,” Mize said postgame. “I always want the guys to think that we can win when I pitch. I think that’s the goal of every starter. I’m glad I’ve been able to keep us in it, but the team scoring early really allowed me to have confidence in them and try to shove the ball in the strike zone. I always want us to win my starts.”

Mize’s four starts this season is the most since 2021 when he logged 30 starts for the Detroit Tigers in his official rookie season. That season, he finished with a 7-9 record, recording 118 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.71. Mize is in line to pitch again Saturday against the Kansas City Royals.

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Watch: Edouard Julien hits first big league bomb

The former Auburn slugger accomplished the feat in just his second MLB game.

Auburn baseball alumni [autotag]Edouard Julien[/autotag] accomplished the important milestone of hitting his first major league home run. Julien made his MLB debut Wednesday for the Minnesota Twins and hit his first home run against the New York Yankees in his second game at the Major League level.

Additionally, Julien’s first hit at the Major League level came earlier in the inning.

The infielder hit .266/.393/.501 and had 27 home runs and 126 RBIs during his time on the Plains. Julien is the 58th former Tiger to appear on the big league scene and the seventh Auburn alumn to be called up since 2020. The others include [autotag]Casey Mize[/autotag], [autotag]Ben Braymer[/autotag], [autotag]Josh Palacios[/autotag], [autotag]Keegan Thompson[/autotag], [autotag]Gabe Klobosits[/autotag], and [autotag]Davis Daniel[/autotag].

Per OptsStats, Julien is the fourth player since 1974 to get their first big league hit and home run in the same inning.

Julien’s bat is expected to be a big part of the Twins’ lineup for years to come.

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Auburn pitcher gets the call to join the Los Angeles Angels

Daniel joins Keegan Thompson and Casey Mize as a member of Auburn’s 2017 starting rotation to get called up to the majors.

A key piece to Auburn’s stout pitching rotations in 2017 and 2018 is getting his chance to shine in the Major Leagues.

[autotag]Davis Daniel[/autotag], who was a starting pitcher for the Tigers from 2017-19, has been called up by the Los Angeles Angels and will be a part of the active roster for Saturday night’s game against the New York Mets in Anaheim, California.

Daniel, who is celebrating his 25th birthday on Saturday, says that he got the call from the manager of the Angels’ triple-A affiliate, Lou Marson, at 1 a.m. MDT, and was on a flight from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles at 8 a.m. MDT, according to Sam Blum of The Athletic.

In nine starts on the mound for the triple-A Salt Lake Bees, Daniel posted a  3-1 record with a 3.64 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 47.0 innings. It is unclear at the time of this post if Daniel will join the Angels rotation, or will be used as a bullpen arm.

Daniel was very instrumental during a significant era of Auburn pitching. In 2017, he was used as the Sunday starter in a weekend rotation that featured current Cubs starter [autotag]Keegan Thompson[/autotag] and Tigers starter [autotag]Casey Mize[/autotag]. Then, in 2018, he returned to the rotation with Mize as they added [autotag]Tanner Burns[/autotag] to the mix, who was later drafted by the Cleveland Indians with the No. 36 overall selection in 2020.

Prior to being taken in the 7th round by the Angels in 2019, Daniel made 37 career appearances and 27 starts for Auburn, where he posted a 7-7 record and 5.37 ERA to go along with 135 strikeouts in 139.0 innings.

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Former Auburn pitcher to have Tommy John surgery

He only has made two starts this year.

A former Auburn pitcher will have to wait to get back on the MLB diamond.

Detroit Tigers pitcher [autotag]Casey Mize[/autotag], who was the first overall pick in the 2018 MLB draft, will have to undergo Tommy John surgery according to Detroit manager A.J. Hinch. Mize had only pitched in two games in 2022, posting an 0-1 record with a 5.40 ERA and four strikeouts.

Mize was a star at Auburn, finishing his career in The Plains with a 2.96 ERA, 324 strikeouts and a 20-13 record. His best season in Detroit came in 2021, when he posted a 3.71 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 30 appearances. Aside from that season, though, he’s only played nine games in the other two years. Mize has been out of commission since April due to ongoing elbow issues.

Tommy John surgery, which is done on the elbow, usually requires at least a year of recovery for pitchers. Hinch confirmed that although the ligament is not torn, it has lost its elasticity and will require surgery. It will be some time before Mize can get back on the diamond, but Tigers fans in both the MLB and in The Plains will be eagerly awaiting his return.

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Update on former Auburn Tigers in MLB through May 26

A look at how Josh Donaldson and the quartet of former Tigers are doing in MLB this season.

The Auburn Tigers baseball squad is waiting to find out where they will play in the NCAA Regionals. It has been a good season for the team, including for newcomer Sonny DiChiara who won SEC co-player of the year.

They aren’t the only Tigers having success this year. Four former Tigers on Major League Baseball rosters are doing their part as well. Prior to the season, Josh Donaldson was dealt from Minnesota to the New York Yankees and he made an impact immediately.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Casey Mize hasn’t had the season he was expecting, mostly due to injuries that he is dealing with. He has made just two starts for the team.

We look at the former players through the first two months of the MLB season.

Garrett Cooper, First Baseman: Miami Marlins

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Stats through May 26

Games PA AB BA OBP HIts HRs RBIs
39 155 133 .263 .348 35 2 15

Josh Donaldson, Third Baseman: New York Yankees

Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Stats through May 26

Games PA AB BA OBP Hits HRs RBIs
37 152 130 .238 .349 31 5 15

Next, a look at the pitchers

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Former Auburn players set to open up the 2022 MLB season

MLB season is almost upon us, a look at which former Auburn Tigers are preparing for the 2022 season.

The NCAA has crowned its new men’s basketball team and college baseball is in full swing with conference play. That means it is baseball time in America when it comes to Major League Baseball.

There are plenty of former Auburn Tigers looking to take to the diamond in hopes of leading their team to the pennant and a shot at a World Series championship. One such player is former Auburn slugger [autotag]Josh Donaldson[/autotag]. He was recently dealt from the Minnesota Twins to the New York Yankees. Perhaps he can get a rin with the Bronx Bombers.

There are a total of seven former Tigers projected to be on opening day rosters as the season opens on Thursday.

Auburn Wire breaks down the group of Tigers in the pros.

Casey Mize earns first MLB win with seven-inning gem

Casey Mize earned his first MLB win on Monday night by fanning five and allowing just four hits and two walks over seven scoreless innings.

Casey Mize showed the Houston Astros how good he can be on the mound on Monday night.

The former Auburn star and No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 MLB draft struck out five and allowed just four hits and two walks in seven scoreless frames, picking up his first MLB win in a 6-2 Detroit Tigers’ victory.

It took Mize just 89 pitches — 62 of which were strikes — to get through the seven innings as the Tigers gave him more than enough run support with two runs apiece in the second, third and fifth innings.

The right-hander got into trouble early in the first two innings but worked himself out of it. In the first, Mize walked Jose Altuve to start the game and then put Alex Bregman on first with another walk before inducing a line-out from Yordan Alvarez and fanning Alex Correa.

Mize retired 10 out of the final 11 batters he faced, striking out Martin Maldonado to finish his night.

WATCH: Casey Mize strikes out side in season debut for Detroit Tigers

Casey Mize struck out the side in the first inning in his season debut with the Detroit Tigers.

It was an eventful day for former Auburn star Casey Mize.

Making his season debut for the Detroit Tigers after being named to the starting rotation for the first time out of spring training in his career, Mize opened up the first frame by fanning three straight Minnesota Twins.

The start also graduated Mize from prospect status where he began the season as MLB.com’s No. 11 overall prospect.

Mize finished the day by allowing one run and fanning four through four innings.

Casey Mize named No. 11 prospect by MLB.com for 2021

Casey Mize is the No. 11 overall prospect going into the 2021 season by MLB.com.

Casey Mize remains one of the top prospects in all of baseball heading into the 2021 season.

The former Auburn standout and current Detroit Tigers right-hander is ranked the No. 11 overall prospect by MLB.com and the second-ranked prospect in the Tigers organization.

Getting a taste of the Majors in 2020 with seven starts, Mize posted a 6.99 ERA with 26 strikeouts over 28 1/3 innings. That followed a season in the Minor Leagues in which he quickly moved from Class A Advanced Lakeland to Double A Erie, where he threw a no-hitter in his debut for the Seawolves.

The first overall pick in the 2018 MLB draft, Mize enjoyed his best season on the Plains as a junior in 2017 when he went 8-2 with a 2.04 ERA and 109 strikeouts in 83 2/3 innings. As a senior the following year, he fanned 156 batters over 114 2/3 frames while posting a 3.30 ERA in 17 starts.

Watch: Auburn coach Butch Thompson wishes Casey Mize luck in MLB debut

Casey Mize will make his MLB debut on Wednesday night for the Detroit Tigers.

Casey Mize will take the bump tonight for the Detroit Tigers against the Chicago White Sox as he makes his MLB debut.

The former Auburn standout and No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft has already received well wishes from some Auburn legends in Frank Thomas and Tim Hudson, but his former coach wanted to send his best regards as well.

Thompson took over the Auburn program in 2015 and has led its rejuvenation including a trip to the 2019 College World Series.