MLB to Announce Casey Mize as All-Star, Tigers 6th of Season

“He’s been incredible. And tonight was not only a well-pitched game, but it was when we needed it the most,” said Tigers manager A.J. Hinch after Mize’s last start. “Casey stepped up and gave us everything we needed.”

A big key to Mize’s success has been harnessing his splitter, the pitch that created all the hype and made him the first overall pick. “I haven’t used (the splitter) as much, to be honest,” Mize told the Athletic early this year. “When I was dealing with my back stuff, it kind of changed the way that I moved. I had some nerve pain that was shooting down my left leg. I couldn’t brace very well.”

Now that he was healthy this year? “I think I need to get back to using it a lot.”

Get back he did. The splitter now gets the second-most usage of his five pitches, throwing it 26.6 percent of the time. It dives away from left-handed hitters, falling far out of the zone for a devastating strikeout pitch. 

Pitching is just like real estate. It is all about location, location, location. Mize had no idea where his splitter was going when he was injured. Whether they lead to walks or home runs, the margins are so slim that pitchers have to have the utmost confidence they can hit the exact spot they want. 

Now that he is healthy, Mize is able to use his full repertoire. He has experience, feels good and is confident. Tigers fans have seen the results all season, now the whole country will.

Join the conversation with us on Facebook and X.