By Sunday afternoon, we'll know who's representing the Tigers in this year's All-Star Game. And if it's Casey Mize, as selected by his fellow players and the commissioner's office, A.J. Hinch will have no problem letting him go -- even as the Tigers keep a close eye on the rookie's workload in his first full big-league season.
Hinch said Tuesday he'd have "zero" issue with Mize taking his talents to Coors Field on July 13th.
"From my vantage point, if he's pitched his way onto an All-Star team then he should get all the notice and all the experience of going to the All-Star Game. I realize we're going to be super careful with innings and things like that, but that shouldn't get in the way of him getting rewarded for the first half that he's had," said Hinch.
Mize is Detroit's most deserving candidate, especially if Major League Baseball wants to promote its young stars. He leads the Tigers in WAR and he's improved as the season's progressed. He'll carry a 3.46 ERA into this weekend's series against the White Sox. Since May, he's tied for fourth among AL starters in WHIP (1.02), sixth in ERA (2.77) and eighth in batting average against (.212).
12 pitchers and up to eight starters make each All-Star team.
At some point soon, the Tigers will have to start limiting Mize's innings. He's at 88.1 through 15 starts, after throwing just 28.1 in last year's shortened season. The most he's ever thrown in a season was 114.1 three years ago at Auburn. The Tigers shut him down toward the end of his first full professional season in 2019 due to shoulder soreness. They'd rather be proactive than reactive this year.
Just not to the point of restricting him from the Midsummer Classic.
"For me, I think we need to reward players when they earn it," he said.
