Casey Mize saw it as an opportunity. After undergoing Tommy John surgery last year to fix his injured elbow, he figured he might as well fix his aching back.
So Mize underwent back surgery shortly thereafter, with the aim of being fully healthy when he retakes the mound for the Tigers.
"I’ve been dealing with the issue for a long time. I’ll say years," Mize told reporters Wednesday at spring training. "It’s just something that’s gradually gotten worse over time and we had the unique opportunity with me having Tommy John surgery to go ahead and tackle this, because there was available time for it to be done.
"So we decided we’re going to focus on getting everything better. That way when we’re back, I can be the best player I can be and be completely healthy. It was just a good opportunity and good timeline to do that."
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The first overall pick in 2018, Mize posted a 3.71 ERA in 2021 in his first full season in the majors, but made just two starts last season before elbow pain shelved him for the year. He opted to undergo Tommy John in June and may not pitch again for the Tigers until 2024. The general recovery time is 12 to 18 months.
Mize admitted the back issue, defined by the Tigers as a lumbar strain, likely contributed to his eventual elbow injury: "It was something I had to tackle daily and it led to some mechanical things that I didn’t love. There’s some compensation there, everything is connected. I’d be a liar if I said it didn’t effect my elbow."
Mize, who turns 26 in May, has been cleared to begin a throwing program this week, the Tigers announced. His recovery timeline remains fluid depending on how his elbow responds.
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