Mize’s 2nd BP session ends short, but Hinch is not worried
Akil Baddoo was ready for the next pitch. Detroit Tigers right-hander Casey Mize, though, walked from the mound to home plate. His second live batting practice session ended after 17 pitches, right in the middle of Baddoo’s third plate appearance.
After his first live batting practice, in which he threw 20 pitches, Mize said the next step in his rehab program was to “increase volume” in his second live batting practice session. But that didn’t happen for the 26year-old in Wednesday’s session at Comerica Park.
“We were going to have him go one inning and see how it took him, and then obviously try to build off that,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Wednesday. “He was done, I think, at 18 pitches, up to 96 (mph) . ... I think he’s fatiguing. I think he’s tired. I don’t think he felt particularly great, which is expected, but that didn’t alter his plan.”
Hinch was asked about the specifics of Mize’s fatigue.
Mize, the 2018 No. 1 overall pick, underwent elbow surgery and back surgery during the 2022 season. The 26-year-old underwent Tommy John surgery on June 15, 2022, then back surgery shortly after that.
“His whole body,” Hinch said. “His arm. He’s sore. He’s throwing. I mean, we’ll see where it takes him. I don’t think it’s anything that is that concerning or even to comment on it. I think it’s a guy rehabbing who’s doing a lot, so whether he threw 17 pitches or 18 pitches or 20 pitches, or whatever would satisfy the masses, he did exactly what we wanted him to do.”
After Wednesday’s live batting practice, Mize gathered near home with Hinch, pitching coach Chris Fetter, assistant pitching coach Robin Lund, video coordinator Austin Tripp and head athletic trainer Ryne Eubanks.
Mize faced Baddoo and Zack Short in a total of five plate appearances.
He threw one pitch to Baddoo (resulting in a single to right field), five pitches to Short (a groundout to shortstop), four pitches to Baddoo again (a grounder down the first-base line), four pitches to Short (a strikeout) and finished with three pitches to Baddoo.
Mize didn’t appear in the Tigers’ clubhouse immediately after his work.
Seven days ago, Hinch appeared on MLB Network to discuss the Tigers’ success in August. During the interview, Hinch said Mize “is about to go out on a rehab assignment here in the not-too-distant future.”
The regular season schedule for Low-A Lakeland and High-A West Michigan concludes Sept. 10, followed by Double-A Erie on Sept. 22 and Triple-A Toledo on Sept. 24. It’s unclear if Mize will take the mound for a third live batting practice session, or if he will begin a rehab assignment.
Tigers place Cisnero on waivers ahead of playoff deadline
Right-handed reliever José Cisnero could be joining a new team soon.
The Tigers placed Cisnero, a seven-year MLB veteran and a free agent at season’s end, on waivers before Tuesday’s game against the New York Yankees at Comerica Park.
“It’s something that I cannot control,” Cisnero said Wednesday. “It didn’t affect me as many people would think.”
Teams have until Thursday to claim him, and if claimed, the 34-year-old will be eligible to pitch for his new team in the postseason. Claims are awarded in reverse order of winning percentage.
“There’s no awkwardness for him being here,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said before Wednesday’s game. “That’s all created by a confidential process that turned unconfidential . ... He’s been here a long time and unfortunately had to answer questions about something that he should never have to deal with.”
Cisnero is making $2.29 million in the 2023 season, with roughly $438,000 still owed over the Tigers’ final 31 games. If Cisnero is claimed off waivers, his new team will pay the remainder of his salary this season.
If Cisnero goes unclaimed, the Tigers can choose to keep him on their 26-man and 40-man rosters, or he can be designated for assignment. Cisnero said he found out Tuesday night — likely after Tuesday’s 4-2 loss to the Yankees — that the Tigers placed him on waivers.
Miguel Cabrera, Cisnero’s locker-room neighbor, chimed in with a more detailed timeline. The Tigers finished Tuesday’s game as the clock struck 9 p.m., roughly three hours after The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal first reported Cisnero — among other players — had been placed on waivers.
“Around 9 p.m.,” Cabrera said.
Several non-contending teams, some doing so in an attempt to save money, placed players on waivers before Tuesday evening because of the Sept. 1 cutoff for players to be eligible for the postseason with contending teams.
The Los Angeles Angels put six players — starter Lucas Giolito, relievers Matt Moore, Reynaldo López and Dominic Leone and outfielders Hunter Renfroe and Randal Grichuk — on waivers, while the Yankees did so with outfielder Harrison Bader, the Chicago White Sox did so with starter Mike Clevinger and the New York Mets did so with starter Carlos Carrasco.
Bader, in the final season of a two-year contract, started in center field for the Yankees on Tuesday against the Tigers. He was also slated to start in center Wednesday at Comerica Park.
Cisnero has a 5.36 ERA with 20 walks and 56 strikeouts over 482⁄3 innings in 54 relief appearances this season.
“I’m focused on working hard, as usual,” Cisnero said. “Doing my best, giving my 100% and finishing at a high rate for the Tigers.”
The Tigers did not move Cisnero at the Aug. 1 trade deadline.
“I’ve known these guys for a long time,” Cisnero said. “I’ve been here for a while. Regardless of that, I just took it in a nice way and cool-headed because I didn’t want it to affect me as much as could be possible.”
Cisnero has pitched in 213 of his 246 career games as a Tiger, from 2019-23. He has a 3.77 ERA with 99 walks (11.3% walk rate) and 215 strikeouts (24.5% strikeout rate) over 2001⁄3 innings in his Detroit tenure.
His 2023 season plummeted with a terrible 20-game stretch. Since July 1, Cisnero has an 11.21 ERA (22 earned runs) with eight walks and 22 strikeouts across 172⁄3 innings, allowing 29 hits.
“I told him, ‘Be ready to pitch tonight.’ That’s all he can control,” Hinch said, “and that’s all he’s going to do. The business side of the business sometimes gets a little bit different than the competition side.”
The Tigers signed Cisnero to a minor-league contract in November 2018. He previously appeared in 33 games over two seasons (2013-14) with the Houston Astros.