Casey Mize's spring training could help him completely rewrite Tigers tenure in 2025

Remember when the Detroit Tigers declined their 2025 club option on Casey Mize after an injury-plagued season caused Keider Montero to leapfrog him in the rotation depth chart? Mize does.

The right-hander – who avoided arbitration with Detroit and agreed to a one-year deal worth $2.34 million for 2025 – came into spring training with something to prove this year. Over the past month, he's made it virtually impossible for the Tigers to deny him a spot in their starting rotation.

Mize took the mound for his fourth start in Grapefruit League play on Wednesday and tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings against the Tampa Bay Rays. The right-hander gave up one hit and three walks without allowing a single run, extending his scoreless inning streak to 11 1/3.

During his scoreless run this spring, Mize has struck out 14 batters and pitched to a 0.79 WHIP. His stuff has looked good enough that he might just be primed for a true breakout campaign in 2025.

Casey Mize's spring training could help him completely rewrite Tigers tenure in 2025

The 27-year-old Mize was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, but he's had his ups and downs at the Major League level. A four-year MLB veteran, he has a 9-19 lifetime record with a 4.36 ERA. Mize went 7-9 with a 3.71 ERA across 30 starts as a rookie in 2021, but he is 2-7 with a 4.95 ERA in just 22 starts since his then.

Mize has also dealt with numerous injuries during his Major League career. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2022, which limited him to just two starts that year and sidelined him for the entire 2023 campaign. He returned last year throwing nearly two miles per hour faster on his fastball, but a left hamstring strain limited him to just 20 starts in 2024 as his ERA climbed to 4.49.

Mize's rocky history warrants cautious optimism heading into the 2025 season, but his dominant spring performance is a promising sign for things to come. And with skyrocketing expectations for the Tigers after their run to the American League Division Series in 2024, Mize's timing for a potential breakout season couldn't be better.

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