Tigers take Casey Mize No. 1 overall

The Detroit Tigers have made their selection, and the future of their franchise in the rotation is now the No. 1 overall pick. They selected Auburn pitcher Casey Mize.

The MLB Draft produces a lot of intrigue for hardcore baseball fans, and even some casual ones. The Detroit Tigers had the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, and they chose Auburn RHP Casey Mize after a stellar 2018 season.

Mize was coming off a season in which he suffered some arm issues. He had arm fatigue during the season while pitching for the Tigers in 2017, and he strained his flexor tendon while pitching for Team USA.

This year was, however, definitely good enough to warrant consideration for a top pick in the MLB Draft. He posted a 10-5 record in 16 starts for Auburn, with 151 strikeouts, 12 walks and an ERA of 2.95. This helped the Tigers get to the NCAA tournament, and they are currently in the Super Regionals, where they’re set to face off against the winner of the Gainsville Regional.

He’s a three-pitch pitcher with an exceptional spitter. However, according to Anthony Spaulding of MLB Daily Dish, he’s working to turn his slider into more of a cutter, which will make him even more effective.

"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."

The Tigers may have found their replacement for Justin Verlander, who’s now in Houston. Tigers fans may not have to wait long to see him, either, because typically, college guys pass quickly through the minors.

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Mize is the ace of the future the Tigers need. He can be the guy that helps lead them back to the Fall Classic. This could be a step toward their first World Series title since 1984.