Mason Englert's only chance to make Detroit Tigers this spring: Improve his dang fastball

LAKELAND, Fla. — Mason Englert woke up, ate breakfast and put his bag into the backseat of an old Jeep. He had his uniform, glove and cleats; and he was getting ready for an afternoon baseball game.

“I feel like I’m back playing travel ball,” Englert said to his fiancée, Ella Mabrito.

Englert, a 24-year-old pitcher trying to make the Detroit Tigers, punched in directions to the Pittsburgh Pirates facility in Bradenton, Florida.

“Where’s the away team parking?” he asked a guard.

“And she's like, ‘Oh, that's like two miles away from here,’” Englert said.

Englert didn’t realize the Pirates' practice facility was separate from LEECOME Stadium, where they play Grapefruit League games.

“Didn’t check the address,” he smiled.

TGIF: No concerns about Kenta Maeda's low velocity in Tigers 4-2 win over Phillies

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch allows any player with MLB service time to drive to away games during spring training.

The only rule?

“You gotta beat the bus,” Englert said.

A year ago, Englert had to ride that bus. He had yet to play in the big leagues. As a Rule 5 player, he was just trying to figure it out. Just trying to make it through the entire season on the roster.

But now?

He has MLB experience, and yes, he beat that bus to stadium. “By 15 minutes,” Englert said, smiling.

But there's a big question: will he be traveling to Detroit when the Tigers break camp?

To do that, he has a need for speed.

FROM LAST YEAR: How Mason Englert climbed out of depression from deaths, panic attacks

Trying to find more velocity

Englert pitched in 31 games in 2023 with a 1.500 WHIP.

“There were some really good outings, some good stretches,” he said. “Also, I had some bad outings and one that blew up, and I had to stay out there to try to just eat the innings.”

That happened on July 22 when he gave up nine runs on 10 hits in 2⅔ innings in a 14-3 loss against San Diego.

It was his final game of the season, and he was put on the injured list with a hip issue.

“It's just one of those things where nothing was going right,” he said. “It could have left a sour taste, could have skewed the whole season and made me overlook some of the positives.”

When the Tigers studied Englert’s 2023 season, they came to simple conclusion: Throw the dang ball harder.

MORE FROM SEIDEL: It wasn't a walk in the park, but Colt Keith showed why he'll be special

Early in the season, he was throwing 91-93 mph.

But then, his velocity dropped.

“It averaged barely 90 -- it was terrible,” he said.

So, the Tigers want his velocity to improve this year. He's trying to do that by improving his mobility and throw harder during practice.

“This year, I have to show better stuff,” Englert said. “Obviously, my stuff wasn't where it needed to be at the end of the year last year. So basically, just trying to throw everything harder.”

Finding his groove

Englert opened his Grapefruit League season on Feb. 24 in a completely forgettable game for the Tigers, as the New York Yankees ran away with a ridiculous 22-10 victory — the Tigers could manage only a touchdown and field goal, if I recall.

[ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ]

In that game, Englert pitched two innings, giving up three solo homers.

“I went down the middle, just letting it rip,” he said. “They hit a couple out. One of them was a first-pitch fastball above the zone, so props to that guy. One of those was a first-pitch slider that caught too much middle, and then the other one was also a slider. It was two in a row after I got down 3-1. I don't know if that was really a product of the middle thing or if that was just the situations.”

Then, came that trip to Bradenton.

Englert pitched 2⅔ scoreless innings, didn’t allow a hit and struck out four but walked two.

“I was locating well,” Englert said. “Things are trending in the right direction. It's been a slow process ticking up. That was the best it's come out since offseason. I felt like closer to what I can do. It was nice to feel like every pitch playing and not feel like I was basically pitching with two pitches and trying to hide the fastball. I felt like I was throwing the fastball where it needs to be thrown.”

More from Seidel: Detroit Tigers' Jack Flaherty saw team chemistry like this before. Fans may like the results

He sees that as a positive.

He sees all of this as a positive.

And this year is already so different.

Now, instead of being a Rule 5 project, stashed on the roster for the future, he wants the find a way to contribute to a winning team.

“We're turning the corner," Englert said. "It's not like we're stocking up for the future. We're going after right now. This year, it's got to show better stuff and show I can be a legit contributor. My outlook is like, how can I continue to develop and then whenever they feel I'm ready, whether it's Opening Day, or whenever, it's like, how can I help the team and be the best pitcher can be.”

Contact Jeff Seidel at jseidel@freepress.com or follow him @seideljeff.

To read Seidel's recent columns, go to freep.com/sports/jeff-seidel.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers' Mason Englert has one mission: Improve his fastball