Casey Mize’s professional career has begun.
The Detroit Tigers’ No. 1 overall pick in this year’s MLB draft made his minor league debut this afternoon in Lakeland, Fla., throwing two innings for the team’s Gulf Coast League affiliate.
Mize threw two scoreless innings, striking out four of the seven batters he faced. He walked one, in the second, while striking out the side.
Tigers general manager Al Avila said earlier in the week that Mize’s next step will be a start for Class A Lakeland on Tuesday. In that game, Mize is slated to throw three or four innings, Avila said.