Tigers promote top pitching prospects Mize, Skubal
The future has arrived in the Motor City.
The Detroit Tigers promoted top pitching prospects Casey Mize and Tarik Skubal and infield prospect Isaac Paredes to the major-league roster on Monday.
MLB Pipeline ranks them second, fifth, and sixth, respectively, within the organization.
Welcome to The Show!
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) August 17, 2020
The #Tigers today announced that three top prospects are scheduled to make their debuts this week: No. 2 RHP Casey Mize, No. 5 LHP Tarik Skubal and No. 6 INF Isaac Paredes. pic.twitter.com/CLkyTF6Dx7
Both hurlers will make their MLB debuts this week against the Chicago White Sox, with Skubal going Tuesday and Mize following Wednesday.
This should be fun. pic.twitter.com/ujNKZeB8sq
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) August 17, 2020
Mize has been the crown jewel of the Tigers' system since they selected him first overall in 2018. He rose through the minor-league ranks with relative ease, posting a 2.71 ERA with 0.97 WHIP and 120 strikeouts in 123 innings over two seasons. He was only supplanted in the team's prospect rankings when Spencer Torkelson was drafted first overall this summer.
Skubal, a ninth-round pick the same year as Mize, burst onto the scene in 2019, producing a 2.42 ERA and 1.01 WHIP and 179 strikeouts in 122 2/3 innings across two minor-league levels. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2016, costing him the 2017 college season. At full strength in 2019, he jumped to near the top of the organization's prospect rankings.
General manager Al Avila said that while injuries - most recently, Ivan Nova's IL stint for triceps tendinitis - played a part in the call-up decisions, the prospects are prepared.
"We felt they were ready," Avila said, according to Jason Beck of MLB.com. “The need obviously arose right now, the greatest need. We’re trying to get some of these guys through the season and some of these guys have gotten injured, the latest one obviously Nova. Right now, we feel they’re ready to contribute."
The team acquired Paredes from the Chicago Cubs at the 2017 trade deadline for reliever Justin Wilson. In his first full Double-A season in 2019, he hit .282/.368/.416 with 13 home runs and a 133 wRC+. Paredes will bat eighth and play third base in his MLB debut Monday night.
Infielder Dawel Lugo was designated for assignment in a corresponding transaction. More moves will be needed to make room on the 28-man roster for Skubal and Mize in the coming days.
The Tigers are 9-10 and in the thick of a crowded playoff race thanks to an expanded postseason set to feature 16 teams instead of the usual 10.