It really has not been that long since Casey Mize was selected No. 1 overall by the Detroit Tigers, or since the organization’s top pitcher threw a no-hitter his first night in Double-A. But while he still ranks highly on prospect lists and in the eyes of evaluators, the shine seems to be quickly fading in both the general public and the impatient portion of the fanbase.
This requires a little pumping of the brakes. While Mize’s major league debut was not exactly as hoped, like much of 2020 it should be dwelled on too long. Yes, the homers were too frequent last season and the walks were higher than desired, but there is a long future ahead of him and it still remains very bright.