Tigers' Casey Mize: Nearing normal offseason program
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Mize (elbow) threw a bullpen session Tuesday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
Mize is scheduled to throw another bullpen session Friday and will then move along to a normal offseason program, assuming all continues to go well. The 26-year-old right-hander missed the entire 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he could be a consideration for the Tigers' Opening Day rotation in 2024 if his health cooperates.
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Tigers' Casey Mize: Bullpen session on tap
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Mize (elbow) will throw a bullpen session Saturday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Mize was pulled off his throwing program Aug. 30 due to elbow fatigue. He's now scheduled to resume throwing off a mound and could face hitters again shortly afterward. However, there is still no guarantee Mize makes it back to Detroit's pitching staff before the end of the season.
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Tigers' Casey Mize: Could throw again next week
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Mize (elbow/shoulder) is aiming to resume his throwing program early next week, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
Mize experienced some shoulder fatigue while tossing live batting practice Wednesday, but it shouldn't be too much of a setback in his recovery from Tommy John surgery. That said, the 26-year-old right-hander could run out of time to make it back to the majors before the conclusion of the 2023 regular season.
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Tigers' Casey Mize: Faces hitters again Wednesday
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Mize (elbow) threw his second round of live batting practice Wednesday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Mize appears to be close to beginning a minor-league rehab assignment and should be able to make a few appearances for the Tigers in the closing weeks of the 2023 season, whether in a starting or relief role. The 26-year-old right-hander required both Tommy John and back surgery last summer.
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Tigers' Casey Mize: Checks out fine after live session
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Mize (elbow) reported no issues after throwing a 20-pitch live batting practice session Saturday, MLB.com reports. "It's good to have a hitter in the box again," said Mize, who will look to throw more pitches in his next session in a few days.
The 26-year-old faced hitters for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery and back surgery last summer. According to manager A.J. Hinch, Mize looked "exceptional" during the session, with the right-hander sporting a fastball that hovered around the mid-90s and also mixing in sharp-breaking curveballs. Mize could need at least a couple more live sessions before getting cleared to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment. He could have a chance to pitch in the big leagues before the season ends Oct. 1, but if that comes to fruition, the Tigers may deploy him as a reliever or as an opening pitcher rather than a traditional starter.
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Tigers' Casey Mize: Set to face live hitters
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Mize (elbow) is set to throw live batting practice Saturday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
It will be his first time facing live hitters since he underwent both Tommy John and back surgery last summer. Mize is hoping to make a few appearances for the Tigers before the conclusion of the 2023 campaign, though the clock is obviously ticking.
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Tigers' Casey Mize: Scheduled for bullpen session
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Mize (elbow) is scheduled to throw his next bullpen session Wednesday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Mize continues to keep a potential 2023 return in his sights as he continues to build his arm strength back up. The starting pitcher will remain relatively constrained during the bullpen sessions for the time being as he tries to finish his recovery from June 2022 Tommy John surgery.
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Tigers' Casey Mize: Throws another bullpen session
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Mize (elbow) is scheduled to throw his next bullpen session Saturday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Mize threw is first bullpen session July 28 after undergoing Tommy John surgery last June. He only threw fastballs in that session, and it remains to be seen what he will throw in his next one. It is still a possibility that Mize returns before the end of the season, but he is running out time to get fully stretched out in 2023.
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Tigers' Casey Mize: Throwing off slope of mound
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Mize (elbow) will throw off the slope of the mound Wednesday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
It will be the first time Mize has thrown off of any kind of incline since he underwent Tommy John surgery last June. The right-hander had a bit of a hiccup when he had to be shut down a while with back soreness, but he's back on track now. A late-season return remains possible.
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Tigers' Casey Mize: Playing catch regularly
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The Tigers announced Friday that Mize (elbow) has resumed playing catch four times per week, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Mize, who is working his way back from June 2022 Tommy John surgery as well as back surgery, had his rehab program shut down about three weeks ago after experiencing back discomfort. Fortunately, the setback wasn't a major one, as Mize resumed throwing a week later. He'll likely to gradually increase the distance of his throwing sessions before potentially advancing to mound work by the end of June. An August or September return from the 60-day injured list remains realistic for Mize, though it's unclear if he'll have sufficient time to build back up for a starting role.
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Tigers' Casey Mize: Resumes throwing
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Mize (elbow/back) has resumed a throwing program, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
Mize had to be shut down for a bit due to a back issue cropping up, which was concerning since he's coming off back surgery (as well as Tommy John surgery). The right-hander has a shot to make it back late this season, but that probably won't happen if he has more setbacks.
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Tigers' Casey Mize: Shut down with back trouble
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Mize (elbow/back) experienced lower back soreness following his latest throwing session, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
Mize will be shut down for a week before trying to ramp up again. He required Tommy John surgery last June and then a back procedure shortly after. It's unclear at this point whether the 26-year-old former top prospect is going to be a contributor at all for the Tigers in 2023 as he continues to encounter roadblocks in his recovery.
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Tigers' Casey Mize: Throws from 100-plus feet Friday
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Mize (elbow, back) threw from around 100 feet Friday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Mize, who underwent Tommy John surgery last June, is slowly ramping up his activity early in the season. The elbow injury and subsequent procedure typically leads to a 12-to-18 month recovery period, putting Mize in an uncertain position on his status for the 2023 campaign. Regardless though, the 2018 first round selection figures to be a big part of the Tigers' long-term plan, and the organization is unlikely to rush him back.
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Tigers' Casey Mize: Playing catch thrice weekly
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The Tigers announced Tuesday that Mize (elbow, back) is playing catch three times a week in his throwing program, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Mize is on the 60-day injured list while he continues to recover from the Tommy John surgery he underwent last June followed by a back surgery shortly thereafter. The right-hander isn't likely to return from the IL until August or September at the soonest, and it's possible he doesn't pitch for the big club at all in 2023.
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Tigers' Casey Mize: Lands on 60-day IL
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Mize was placed on the 60-day injured list by the Tigers on Friday as he recovers from right elbow and back surgeries.
The Tigers needed to free up a spot on the 40-man roster for waiver claim Tyler Holton. Mize had Tommy John surgery last June and also underwent back surgery around the same time. He's begun a throwing program but is expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2023 season.
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Tigers' Casey Mize: Focusing on strengthening work
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Mize is working on maintaining full range of motion in his surgically repaired elbow at this stage of the offseason and has progressed to the strengthening phase of his rehabilitation process, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
After undergoing Tommy John surgery in mid-June, Mize is likely a month or more away from starting a throwing program, but he should at least be ready to play catch during spring training, if not throw off a mound. He'll presumably open the 2023 campaign on the 60-day injured list and isn't likely to pitch until late in the season, if at all.
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Tigers' Casey Mize: Surgery completed
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Mize confirmed via his personal Instagram account that he underwent successful Tommy John surgery earlier Wednesday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
The right-hander stated that his goal is to pitch for the Tigers at some point in 2023, but if Detroit plans to bring him back in a starting role, his return may not happen until next August or September even if he endures no setbacks in his recovery. Mize made only two starts for the Tigers this season before landing on the injured list in mid-April and eventually opting for the procedure after rest and rehab didn't yield the desired results.
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Tigers' Casey Mize: Requires Tommy John surgery
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Mize (elbow) will undergo Tommy John surgery, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander doesn't actually have a torn UCL, but the procedure is still necessary since the ligament has been stretched to the point that it's lost elasticity. Mize landed on the injured list after only two starts this season, and he made one rehab start in mid-May before his elbow issues worsened. The 24-year-old will miss the rest of the season and will also be sidelined for at least the first half of 2023.
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Tigers' Casey Mize: Shut down from throwing
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Manager A.J. Hinch said Tuesday that Mize (elbow) continues to feel discomfort while throwing and will be shut down while seeking additional medical opinions, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
Mize had his rehab slowed in mid-May but resumed throwing early last week. However, he was unable to throw from 90 feet without experiencing pain and will face another shutdown as a result. A better idea of the right-hander's status will likely come into focus after he receives additional opinions on his elbow.
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Tigers' Casey Mize: Shifts to 60-day IL
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The Tigers transferred Mize (elbow) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Tuesday.
Mize has been on the shelf since April 15 and didn't resume his throwing program until Monday, so he was already on track to spend more than the minimum 60 days on the IL. As a result, the transaction won't affect his timeline for a return. The right-hander is gradually expected to increase his long-toss distance off flat ground before potentially advancing to mound work at some point next week.
