General Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila met Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal and Isaac Paredes for the first time as MLB players Sunday on a plane to Chicago.
That was when manager Ron Gardenhire also got his first appearance.
“They’re excited,” Avila said. “But just her reaction to us on the plane, just like what (Vice President of Player Development Dave) Littlefield described when he called her, very calm, cool and collected, and very professional. It tells you about her behavior.”
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Paredes, a third baseman, will be the first to make his debut, as Avila indicated Gardenhire will start on Monday against the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. He will be followed by left-handed Skubal’s start on the mound on Tuesday and right-handed Mize’s exit on Wednesday.
The Detroit rotation now consists of Mize, Skubal, left-hander Matthew Boyd and righties Spencer Turnbull and Michael Fulmer. Avila said Fulmer, recovering from Tommy John’s surgery, may be able to start more than three innings if his pitch counts.
The Tigers (9-10) have lost five consecutive games.
“There are a lot of things that have gone on here,” Avila said. “No. 1, of course, we have the biggest need at the moment, but more importantly, we found that both pitchers are ready to save at the moment.”
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Avila wants Mize, Skubal and Paredes to stay at Detroit for the rest of the 2020 season, unless their performances indicate they need to return to the reserve shop at Fifth Third Field in Toledo, where they have been since summer camp broke in late July.
“If we bring these guys up, we want them to stay,” Avila said. “We’ll see how it works.”
Here’s a glance:
RHP Casey Mize
Age: 23.
2019 stats: 8-3, 21 games, 109⅓ innings, 2.55 ERA, 0.942 WHIP, 106 strikeouts, 23 walks between High-A and Double-A.
Organization Ranking: No. 2.
Taken over: Draft of 2018 (first round, no. 1 in general).
As the top option from two years ago, Mize is the expected cornerstone of the franchise.
Because spring training was shortened due to COVID-19, stopping baseball for nearly four months, the Tigers did not want to push Mize too much. He was retained before the start of the season to build up his pitch count, extend his innings and develop his pitch selection.
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In the summer camp, he knocked out Miguel Cabrera (and many others) on three field goals and earned rave reviews at every turn in the organization.
Avila would not say if he had previously considered calling Mize, but he realized he needed him after appearances began with appearances by Boyd (10.24 ERA), Fulmer (7.56 ERA), right-hander Ivan Nova (8.53 ERA) and more open roles of relievers Tyler Alexander, Rony Garcia and Daniel Norris.
“We went through the players and pitchers we had at the level of the big league, and tried to see what they could do at that point,” Avila said. “Because, of course, of some circumstances and the extra months of work that these guys have put in, I would say (they are) more ready than it was several weeks ago. It’s the right time.”
Tarik Skubal
Age: 23.
2019 stats: 6-8, 24 G, 122⅔ IP, 3.08 ERA, 1,011 WHIP, 179 K, 37 BB between High-A and Double-A.
Organization Ranking: No. 5.
Taken over: Draft of 2018 (ninth round, No. 255 overall).
Because Skubal missed summer camp with a positive COVID-19 test, the Tigers had not shown him much live throwing between a short spring training and his arrival in Toledo.
The best-case scenario, Avila said, would have been to give him more time with the reserve team to increase his pitch-count range.
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But due to the recent injury to Nova, combined with reports of Skubal from the alternative training side, Avila needed him now.
“As for his general health and general goods – control and command – he has been in place,” Avila said. “Obviously we’d want to stretch him more innings at this point, and that’s the only thing we ‘re a little short on.”
Gardenhire and pitching coach Rick Anderson will keep Skubal closer and help him get his first few starts before he can let go. Avila is confident Skubal and Mize will find MLB successful, despite the respective paths they have taken.
“Although they would have preferred to be here, they went about their business (in Toledo) in the right way in preparation,” Avila said. “They prepared for their bullpens, they prepared for their trips there. Sometimes they are cut short because of the weather, (but) they go in and keep track of what they have to work on.”
Isaac Paredes
Age: 21.
2019 stats: 127 G, .282 BA, .368 OBP, .416 SLG, 13 HR, 66 RBIs, 61 SO, 57 BB in Double-A.
Organization Ranking: Now. 6.
Taken over: 2017, by Chicago Cubs.
The Tigers needed Paredes because of his offensive capabilities, forcing fellow striker Dawel Lugo to sign. With first baseman CJ Cron (four home games, eight RBIs in 13 games) out with season-ending knee surgery, the team lost its top slugger in the daily lineup.
Paredes’ job is to help fill the void left, as typical third baseman Jeimer Candelario continues to play first base. Paredes is expected to play on third base with fellow prospect Willi Castro, but he can play shortstop and second base as needed.
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“We felt we needed some misunderstanding, so let’s give the child a chance,” Avila said. “He’s very young, but he’s been hit at all levels. Ideally, just like one of those guys we raise, it would have been better to have a season in the minor leagues.
“But we did not have the chance, so the next best thing was the Toledo squad. He did well, and we feel, hopefully, he can give us some mischief the rest of the way.”
Paredes missed part summer camp with a positive COVID-19 test, but was removed to return July 17. During his four-year minor career, he had 93 doubles, six triples, 40 homers and 232 RBIs in 424 games.
Evan Petzold is an Internship Reporter in Sports at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold. The Free Press has launched a new digital subscription model. Here’s how you can access our most exclusive Detroit Tigers content.
