ATLANTA – Detroit Tigers right-hander Casey Mize is injured.
The 28-year-old walked off the mound, down the dugout steps and into the clubhouse alongside head athletic trainer Ryne Eubanks with one out in the third inning Tuesday, April 28, against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park.
The Tigers said Mize left the game due to right groin tightness.
Everything happened after Mize hustled to field a soft grounder down the first-base line and flipped the ball to first baseman Spencer Torkelson, recording the first out of the third inning. He didn’t show any discomfort during the play, but he hopped on one leg in pain after the play.
Eubanks and manager A.J. Hinch visited Mize before his departure.
The biggest red flag: Mize never threw a practice pitch in an attempt to stay in the game.
He just left.
Facing the Braves, Mize allowed two runs on three hits and one walk with three strikeouts across 2⅓ innings, throwing 34 pitches. The Tigers replaced him with left-handed reliever Brant Hurter, who completed the third with back-to-back outs.
Mize has been on the injured list in each of the past two seasons for the same reason.
In 2024, he landed on the injured list from July 3-August 30 with a left hamstring strain. In 2025, he went to the injured list from May 10-24 with a left hamstring strain.
It’s another lower-body injury in 2026.
Mize owns a 2.90 ERA across 31 innings in six starts in the 2026 season. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft is set to become a free agent in early November, reaching the open market for the first time in his MLB career.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers starter Casey Mize leaves game vs Braves with injury
Reporting by Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
