Casey Mize reveals long road to All-Star Game (and thinks one Tiger got snubbed)

The six-man squad the Tigers sent to the All-Star Game is shocking on many fronts: the Tigers are the team with the most All-Stars in all of baseball; Javy Báez is an All-Star; Zach McKinstry is an All-Star; and Casey Mize is an All-Star.

All three had been written off by Tigers fans years ago, but there was a certain, unique weight that had been placed on Mize. Báez had one of Detroit's most lucrative contracts ever to justify, but Mize was the first overall draft selection in 2018. He, along with 2020 first overall pick Spencer Torkelson, have notoriously struggled to make the Tigers look like good decision makers when it comes to the draft.

But Mize was named an American League replacement for the ASG, stepping in for the Red Sox's Garrett Crochet, and found that fans were not only fine with that but actively rooting for it. Per FanSided's Adam Weinrib, he said, "Did doubts and thoughts come into my mind that I would never get [to the All-Star Game]? 100%, yes. But I feel like I did a pretty good job of trying to flush that pretty quickly because I knew that I had so much career left ahead of me."

When asked if there was anyone who was still left out from the Tigers' squad after the additions of Mize, McKinstry, and Tarik Skubal, Mize didn't hesitate in naming fellow former first-rounder Torkelson.

Casey Mize thinks fellow resurgent Tiger Spencer Torkelson was snubbed from All-Star Game

"He's just had such a resurgent year, such an important part of our lineup and our team," Mize said, "I feel for Tork, I feel like we've had some similarities in our career trajectories, so I know what he's been through, and I know how hard he's fought to be one of our best players, and he is."

Mize said the quiet part out loud by acknowledging he and Torkelson shared twin paths this year. Torkelson was notably demoted last season and Mize has struggled with injuries, but both had been written off by fans in previous years. During the offseason, there seemed to be some serious consideration as to whether or not the Tigers should part with both.

American League All-Star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was always going to be tough, if not impossible, to beat, but Torkelson's unlikely ascent had Tigers fans trying to sneak him into the Midsummer festivities. The Tigers can only hope that the sentiment sticks, and that he gets another shot next season.