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With the 1st overall pick in the draft, the Detroit Tigers have selected right-handed pitcher Casey Mize from Auburn University. In mock drafts, Mize was projected to go 3rd by ESPN and 1st by Baseball America.
Mize is the player who is most ready for the next level. The 21-year-old brings the best combination of stuff and control among all pitchers, and has shown he can stay healthy after having no issues this season following a 2017 spring at Auburn in which he had a tired arm and a summer in which he had a flexor strain in his forearm while playing for Team USA. The Tigers junior led the NCAA in strikeout-to-walk ratio at 12.1 and has improved that ratio this year, posting a 14.0 (140 strikeouts/10 walks).
Mize has three well-above average pitches: a splitter, fastball and slider. His splitter is the best one out of the three, but he can also make his improving slider become a cutter, which makes him even more valuable. Mize’s ability to strike out hitters and keep men off base will give the Tigers a starter they can’t wait to have on the mound.
Get a look at Mize on the mound here: