Tigers pitching prospect Mize escapes serious injury

Detroit Tigers prized pitching prospect Casey Mize appears to have avoided a serious injury when an MRI exam performed Friday identified inflammation but no structural damage in his right shoulder.

Mize, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft out of Auburn, departed his Thursday start for Double-A Erie in the third inning after experiencing a loss of velocity in his pitches. Erie placed Mize on the seven-day injured list on Friday.

Noted orthopedic surgeon James Andrews was among those who reviewed the test results, which found soreness on the back of Mize's pitching shoulder.

Mize, who is rated the No. 1 pitching prospect and No. 3 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline, has been dominating hitters in the minors this season.

The 22-year-old is 8-0 with a 0.92 ERA in 13 starts -- nine for Erie and his first four of the season for Class-A Lakeland. He pitched a nine-inning no-hitter against the Altoona Curve on April 29 in his first Double-A start.

--Field Level Media