DETROIT -- The Tigers will have a half-dozen All-Star players, tying their highest total ever and breaking a tie with the Dodgers for the most in the bigs this year. Casey Mize became their sixth on Friday, when the right-handed starter was named as a replacement for Boston’s Garrett Crochet.
It marks the fourth time in franchise history that the Tigers have had six All-Star players, reaching the mark set in 2013, 1985 and 1984.
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Although Tarik Skubal has justifiably been the center of attention in the Tigers’ rotation, Mize -- drafted first overall in 2018, the same year as Skubal -- has quietly put together an impressive breakout campaign in his second season back following the Tommy John and back surgeries that cost him the better part of two seasons. The first-time All-Star enters his scheduled start on Saturday against the Mariners with a 9-2 record and 2.63 ERA, including a 2.34 ERA over his last six starts since the beginning of June.
“I’m pretty pumped, obviously super grateful,” Mize said. “Long way to go, but I feel like this is pretty validating through hard times.”
Mize hasn’t given up more than two earned runs in an outing since May 30, and he hasn’t given up more than three runs of any kind since May 1. He has thrown at least six innings in seven of 15 starts this season, including four with one run or fewer. His fastball has a plus-7 Run Value, according to Statcast, ranking him among the top 20 MLB starters.
Manager A.J. Hinch and president of baseball operations Scott Harris broke the news to Mize on Thursday night.
“His reaction was fun to be a part of,” Hinch said. “The pride that I know he has with not only what he’s done, but the journey to get here and then being rewarded with a trip to Atlanta with his friend Tarik Skubal -- his teammates that have watched him have [seen] an incredible season thus far. It’s hard in this sport sometimes to get those moments and get that type of recognition. I know it disrupted his prep going into [Saturday’s start], but it was probably the best way you could possibly do it.”
Mize and Skubal are the first Tigers teammates with nine wins before the All-Star break since Rick Porcello (12) and Max Scherzer (11) in 2014, the last time Detroit earned a postseason berth before last year.
“I’ve seen Casey evolve,” catcher Jake Rogers said after Mize’s seven scoreless innings led the Tigers to a 1-0 win over the Guardians last Saturday in Cleveland. “I first caught him in Double-A in 2019. We’ve been together for a while. I’ve known Casey for a while. We’ve been through ups and downs together, and we had [Tommy John surgery] kind of at the same time in ‘22. We’ve yelled at each other, and we’ve been the best of friends for a long time. He’s truly a great guy, and to see him have this success makes me happy for him.”
Mize’s addition gives the Tigers two All-Star pitchers for the first time since 2013, when Justin Verlander and Scherzer made the squad.
“It just tells you how deep this team is,” Mize said of the All-Star group. “For us to have six guys going, seven with [bat boy/clubhouse assistant] Frankie [Boyd], is pretty special.”
Crochet’s replacement also whittles down the options for the All-Star starting pitcher, an honor that could go to Skubal after he was bypassed for then-Oriole Corbin Burnes last year.