Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch announced Friday that right-hander Casey Mize will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair the damaged ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, according to Evan Woodberry of MLive.com.
The procedure will likely sideline the former first overall pick for most of next season, if not until 2024. Pitchers who undergo Tommy John surgery normally require 12-15 months of rehab.
Mize, who's already on the 60-day injured list due to a sprained medial ligament, was shut down from throwing earlier this week after experiencing continued elbow soreness while playing catch at 90 feet. Dr. Keith Meister found that Mize's UCL has been stretched to the point that it's lost its elasticity, Hinch said, according to Jason Beck of MLB.com.
Asked A.J. Hinch why it can take so long to determine surgery is needed. Mize first went on the IL on April 15 and was shut down twice in his recovery.
— Cody Stavenhagen (@CodyStavenhagen) June 10, 2022
Hinch answered the question as best he could. Mize still doesn't have a torn UCL. Just a ligament that isn't functioning. pic.twitter.com/vRDnqYpkXi
Selected first overall out of Auburn in 2018, Mize reached the majors in 2020 and put together a solid full-season rookie campaign last year for the rebuilding Tigers. The 25-year-old owns a 4.29 ERA, 4.95 FIP, and 1.21 WHIP with 148 strikeouts and 56 walks across 39 big-league starts. He only made two appearances in 2022 before the elbow issue forced him to the sidelines.
Mize's surgery is the latest blow to a Tigers rotation that's been decimated by injuries this season. Tyler Alexander, Matt Manning, Michael Pineda, and Eduardo Rodriguez are all currently on the 15-day IL with varying ailments, while Spencer Turnbull is still rehabbing from his own Tommy John surgery last year.
