Tigers' Casey Mize comments hint at roster drama after 60-day IL designation

As part of a flurry of roster moves Monday, the Detroit Tigers transferred right-handed pitcher Casey Mize from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL. The move freed up a spot on the 40-man roster for left-handed pitcher Bryan Sammons, who was called up from Triple-A Toledo.

Mize, for his part, appeared less than thrilled with the move, and understandably so, considering he had thrown a successful bullpen session just two days earlier as part of his continued rehab from a left hamstring injury. Now, he won't be eligible to rejoin the Tigers until at least early September.

"I want to play," he said (via The Athletic's Cody Stavenhagen). "I feel like I'll be ready prior to that, to be honest. That missed time is definitely frustrating for a team that I feel like needs me."

Mize had returned to action this season after not pitching since April 2022 while recovering from Tommy John surgery and a subsequent back surgery. He has pitched 78 innings over 16 starts this season and is 2-6 with a 4.23 ERA and 58 strikeouts.

Expect more bullpen games as the Tigers figure out starting rotation with Jack Flaherty trade looming

Mize's point about the team needing him is a valid one, especially in light of right-hander Jack Flaherty being scratched from his scheduled start Monday against the Cleveland Guardians. With Flaherty likely to be traded at any moment and right-hander Reese Olson on the IL with a shoulder injury, the Tigers can use all the pitching depth they can get.

In the meantime, the Tigers will see what they have in Sammons, as the 29-year-old is expected to make his MLB debut out of the bullpen in Monday's game. Sammons was an eighth-round draft pick by the Minnesota Twins in 2017 and worked his way up to Triple-A St. Paul in 2021 before being released by the Twins in September 2022. The Houston Astros signed him to a minor league contract in January 2023 but released him two months later.

Sammons spent part of last season with the Gastonia Honey Hunters of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball before being assigned to Detroit on June 4, 2023. He then spent time between Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo, pitching exclusively with the latter in 2024.

Sammons has made 17 Triple-A starts this year with 84 innings pitched. During that span, he has a 4.18 ERA, 21.8% strikeout rate, 9.5% walk rate and 36.4% ground ball rate, which is probably direct evidence why Mize was vocal about this roster decision by the Tigers.

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