The Tigers were counting on Casey Mize to play a major role in their rotation this season. He may not pitch again until 2024.
A.J. Hinch announced Friday that Mize will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair his injured right elbow.
When Mize originally landed on the injured list in April with an elbow sprain, the Tigers thought he had avoided the worst. But his rehab was shut down twice in the next two months due to persistent pain while throwing. It became clear after a recent meeting with Dr. Keith Meister in Dallas that surgery was the only option.
Hinch explained that Mize's UCL -- the elbow ligament that's typically torn prior to Tommy John -- remains intact, but it has stretched to the point that it "has lost its flexibility and functionality inside his elbow."
"Any of the exams that we’ve had have shown an intact ligament, which is true, but the symptoms continued to re-occur," said Hinch.
After a follow-up MRI showed Mize's UCL from a different angle, Hinch said Meister "saw that he needed to have Tommy John." The surgery will take place in the near future.
"I’m very sad for Casey, for the work he’s put in and for the ultimate diagnosis," said Hinch.
Mize, who turned 25 in May, is done for the season. And with Tommy John requiring a general recovery time of 12 to 18 months, there's a chance the former first overall pick won't take the mound for the Tigers again until the 2024 season.
It's the latest and most significant blow to Detroit's rotation, which has already lost five starters to the injured list this season. That's without mentioning Spencer Turnbull, who underwent Tommy John himself last season and likely won't pitch again until 2023.
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