Casey Mize's velo spike starting to catch attention of those outside Tigers' camp

Lakeland, Fla. — It was one of the first things Justin Morneau noticed Wednesday as he was working the Bally’s television broadcast of the Tigers’ 12-3 win over the Twins on Wednesday in Fort Myers.

Morneau, the former Twins All-Star and now a TV analyst for the Twins, highlighted the spike in velocity from Tigers’ starter Casey Mize. Before he underwent elbow and back surgeries, Mize’s average four-seam fastball sat between 93 and 94 mph. All spring, it’s sat between 94 and 95 mph and, like it did again Wednesday, hitting 97.

“When guys have Tommy John surgery and they’re rehabbing, a lot of times they come back stronger,” Morneau said. “They build up their legs and their shoulders.”

That’s certainly been the case for Mize, who has put on 20 pounds since he last pitched in April 2022.

“My body is moving better because of taking away the back pain,” Mize said Tuesday in Lakeland. “It’s been a life-changer, but also it’s changed the way I throw a baseball. It’s also just intent; I have more intent with the pitch and the other stuff is ticking up, as well.

“You see a lot of guys coming off TJ (Tommy John surgery), they have a ton of time to get stronger. As simple as that is, I do think it’s a true thing. I put on 20 pounds throughout all of this. I’m 230 now and was playing at 210. It’s just training and preparing and feeling comfortable in my body so I can move really well.”

Mize, in his fifth spring start, blanked a lineup of Twins’ regulars on just two hits in 4.2 innings Wednesday. And he bullied them mainly with his rejuvenated fastball. Of his 70 pitches, 36 were four-seamers. His average velocity on 94.8 mph and he threw his firmest fastball on his 70^th and final pitch — a 97.7 heater that froze Manuel Margot for a called third strike.

“He was in attack mode from the beginning,” manager AJ Hinch told reporters in Fort Myers. “He maybe even tried to do a little too much early, but he settled in nicely. He threw multiple pitches in each inning and held his stuff all the way to the fifth. That was a really good outing for him.  

Mize also threw 17 sliders and 11 splitters. The uptick on his secondary pitches, Hinch said, was going to be key in the regular season as teams adjust to Mize’s fastball.

“We all have confidence in the fastball,” Hinch said. “He can use it and make it better and better. But the more teams see him, the more he’s going to have to adjust back and forth. He has the ability to pitch to any game plan.”

Opponents are hitting under .200 against Mize this spring and he hasn’t allowed a run in his last two starts.

“All of us, including Casey, were wondering how he was going to respond throughout the spring,” Hinch said. “He’s been great.”

It was another scoreless outing for right-hander Alex Faedo, who set down all four hitters he placed. Hinch told reporters afterward that Faedo was still in the competition for a bullpen role and that the decision likely would go right down to the end.

Presumably, Faedo, Beau Brieske, lefty Joey Wentz, Miguel Diaz and non-roster pitchers Drew Anderson, Trey Wingenter and Andrew Vasquez are all fighting for two bullpen spots.

Wentz gave up a solo homer to Ryan Jeffers and also struck out a pair in 1.2 innings. Diaz, pitching in a 12-1 game backed by mostly minor-league players, was charged with two runs on four hits.

The Tigers packed their hitting shoes for this trip.

Matt Vierling homered and had four RBIs, while Carson Kelly and minor-league catcher Josh Crouch also homered.

Non-roster first baseman Keston Hiura had three hits and shortstop Ryan Kreidler and second baseman Zach McKinstry each had a pair of hits as the Tigers jumped on Twins starter Louie Varland for eight runs and nine hits in four innings.

It was a stark contrast to the nine scoreless innings the Tigers’ endured at Joker Marchant Stadium on Tuesday night.

Vierling, who got the start at third base, raised his spring batting average and OPS to .270 and .917, respectively. With the Tigers facing White Sox lefty Garrett Crochet in the season opener next week, there is a chance Vierling could end up starting at third base or possibly center field.

“He did a little bit of everything,” Hinch told reporters. “The way he is centering the ball on the barrel is a good sign.”

Hiura and Kreidler are very much on the roster bubble heading into the final six games and both are having productive springs. Hiura is hitting .323 with a .966 OPS and Kreidler, as well as playing exceptionally at shortstop, is hitting .333 with a .968 OPS.

Another round of cuts is expected on Thursday.

chris.mccosky@detroitnews.com

@cmccosky