ALTOONA, Pa. — Detroit Tigers top prospect Casey Mize pitched a no-hitter for the Erie Seawolves in his Double-A debut Monday night.
Mize, the top overall pick in last year’s MLB draft, faced one batter over the minimum and needed just 98 pitches to shut down the Altoona Curve, a Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate. He hit the first batter of the game but went on to strike out seven and walk one.
“It was definitely one of those days where, I don’t know, it just felt like auto pilot,” Mize said. “I’ve said that before. So it was just a good day.”
Mize was called for a pitch-clock violation early in the ninth inning but shook off the automatic ball. He retired Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Jared Oliva on a popup to second base to complete the gem. Erie never had anybody throwing in the bullpen.
It was Mize’s first no-hitter as a pro; last year, he also threw a no-hitter for Auburn against Northeastern.
“I threw one last year in college, and I wish I would have enjoyed it more,” Mize said. “So I think I kind of learned from that, and so I’m definitely going to let this one soak in.”
He is the Tigers’ top-ranked prospect, according to rankings by ESPN’s Keith Law, who also ranks Mize as the fourth-best pitcher in all of baseball and No. 15 player at any position.
The 21-year-old right-hander made four starts with Class A Lakeland this season prior to his promotion, going 2-0 with an 0.35 ERA.
Mize pitched Erie’s second no-hitter in six days. Alex Faedo — Detroit’s first-round pick in 2017 — started a combined no-hitter last Wednesday, ending Erie’s 10-year drought without one.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.