The Detroit Tigers have drafted right-handed pitchers in the first round of the last four MLB drafts, and all four are off to absolutely dominant starts in the minor leagues this season.
Mize, the organization’s No. 1 prospect and last year’s top overall pick in the draft, highlights the group with a sparking 0.50 ERA, 0.39 WHIP, .105 batting average against and 21 strikeouts in 18 innings with Single-A Lakeland.
The 21-year-old has faced 60 batters this season and only eight have reached base. Mize is ranked as the No. 16 prospect in baseball and the No. 4 pitching prospect, according to MLB.com.
Manning, the team’s No. 2 prospect, is also flourishing at just 21 years old. The 2016 first-round pick is demonstrating elite strikeout potential with 23 whiffs in 16.2 innings.
Only six of the 59 batters he’s faced have recorded a hit, and only four have received free passes. Manning struggled in a pair of starts at Double-A Erie last season, but those same hitters appear overmatched through his first three starts of 2019.
Manning is the No. 49 overall prospect in baseball but possesses one of the game’s best fastballs. If he can maintain his current strikeout and walk rates, he’ll be an ace at the big league level.
It’s an important bounce-back year for Beau Burrows after he struggled and fell out of baseball’s top 100 prospects last seaon. So far, he’s off to a very good start in Triple-A Toledo.
