Casey Mize’s comeback from injuries cleared another hurdle on Friday when the Detroit Tigers optioned pitcher Matt Manning to the Toledo Mud Hens, the Major League team’s Triple-A affiliate.

That decision meant Mize will open the 2024 MLB season in the Tigers’ rotation.

The Tigers chose Mize from Auburn with the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft, but the right-hander most recently pitched for Detroit on April 14, 2022.

Mize, Manning and Reese Olson had been the candidates for the Tigers’ two open rotation spots. Jack Flaherty, Kenta Maeda and Tarik Skubal already were penciled in a Detroit starters for 2024.

“It’s more about where Casey is and where Reese is than necessarily negative on Matt,” Detroit manager A.J. Hinch said.

In five Grapefruit League games during spring training, Mize posted a 3-1 record with a 2.35 earned-run average. In 15.1 innings, he struck out 14 and yielded 10 hits and nine walks.

“All of us, including Casey, were wondering how he was going to respond throughout the spring,” Hinch said. “He’s been great.”

In June 2022, Mize had Tommy John surgery and, shortly after that, back surgery.

In Tommy John surgery – or ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction – a tendon from elsewhere in the injured player’s body or from a donor is attached to the inner side of the elbow in place of the damaged ligament. The surgery is named after the first pitcher to undergo the procedure in 1974 and resume his career.

But the back surgery has been just as important to Mize.

“My body is moving better because of taking away the back pain,” Mize said. “It’s been a life-changer, but also it’s changed the way I throw a baseball. It’s also just intent. I have more intent with the pitch, and the other stuff is ticking up, as well.

“You see a lot of guys coming off TJ, they have a ton of time to get stronger. As simple as that is, I do think it’s a true thing. I put on 20 pounds throughout all of this. I’m 230 now and was playing at 210. It’s just training and preparing and feeling comfortable in my body so I can move really well.”

Mize had a 19-2 pitching record at Springville High School before going 20-13 in three seasons at Auburn, where he struck out 324 in 267.1 innings.

Mize made 26 minor-league starts, with an 8-3 record and 2.71 earned-run average, before he made his MLB debut on Aug. 19, 2020. His minor-league work included a no-hitter for the Erie SeaWolves in his Double-A debut on April 29, 2019.

Mize made seven starts with the Tigers during the coronavirus pandemic-affected 2020 season. In 2021, Mize posted a 7-9 record with a 3.71 earned-run average in 30 starts for Detroit. He’s pitched 10 innings for the Tigers since.

In 39 starts for Detroit, Mize has a 7-13 record with a 4.29 earned-run average. In 188.2 innings, he has struck out 148 and yielded 172 hits and 56 walks.

The Tigers open their 2024 schedule at 3:10 p.m. CDT Thursday with a road game against the Chicago White Sox.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.