You could ask the Double-A Akron batters who underwent Ty Madden’s surgery Saturday how it felt.
Or, you could just check the linescore and deduce they needed a bit more anesthetic — especially as that fastball hit 99 mph, several times.
Madden, a right-handed starter the Tigers were pleased two years ago to find available at the 32nd overall draft slot, struck out 10 batters within the four innings and 59 pitches he threw Saturday in Erie’s 3-2 victory at Akron.
“The way the ball was exploding out of his hand was definitely different from what it was last year,” Gabe Alvarez, who has been Madden’s manager the past two seasons at Erie, said during a Sunday phone conversation.
“Now, it’s a definite plus-fastball. He was just dominant. He had big-league stuff.”
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In absolute accord was Ryan Garko, the Tigers player-development overseer who studied Madden last year at Single-A West Michigan, and later at Erie, and who sees just how far a one-time University of Texas ace has evolved since 2022.
“Great to see all four pitches working,” said Garko, referring not only to Madden’s four-seamer, but to his curveball, change-up, and that spanking-new cutter Madden began tossing last summer.
“What I really liked to see (Saturday) was the swing-and-miss on the fastball in the zone. He was throwing fastballs in the zone by people.”
Oh, and one more note.
“He added that cutter last year,” Garko said, “and I think it’s really helped him.”
Madden’s four innings spent dissecting the Akron lineup was nearly unblemished.
He did not allow a hit. He walked one batter. Nice complementary numbers to those 10 punch-outs.
This was both a surprise, and a non-surprise, Madden’s opening act from 2023.
He was viewed even two years ago as Top 15, maybe Top 10, talent as the MLB Draft convened.
But there were money issues some MLB clubs didn’t appreciate on Draft Night and, suddenly, Madden was moving down the board and straight into the Tigers’ hands at 32.
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There was, however, no champagne being sprayed just yet.
Various scouting critiques thought Madden’s fastball lacked the zip to beat good hitters upstairs. They wanted more movement, more spin, more bat-elusiveness.
Last season was fine, for the most part: 19 starts at West Michigan (3.10 ERA, 1.09 WHIP), seven starts at Double A (2.78, 1.12). He had 133 strikeouts in 122.2 innings.
But for a starter, 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, to move closer to big-league work — for a starter to move closer to the ace status he knew at Texas — Madden needed more octane.
More of everything, really, from pitch portfolio, to location — the works.
Garko and his allies went to work with Madden during the offseason, making the usual recommendations and alterations. The rest was up to Madden — and he cooperated by putting serious sweat equity into his 2023 preparations.
Alvarez didn’t see a great deal of Madden during spring camp, given Alvarez’s responsibilities with a different group of Tigers farmhands.
But he saw a difference Saturday.
“I think the delivery seemed a little different,” Alvarez said. “Maybe a little bit different leg-kick.”
Akron’s batters, as one by one they loped back to their dugout, knew whatever had changed was borderline unfair.
“You could tell the hitters weren’t comfortable, weren’t able to pick up the ball against him,” Alvarez said. “Not just by their swings, but by their takes.
“And just adding that cutter, that’s such an effective pitch for him. It’s a weapon against both left-handers and right-handers.
“He now has a legitimate four-pitch mix.”
Erie likewise has a legitimate one-two punch of power pitchers at the top of the SeaWolves rotation.
It isn’t clear yet whether Madden, or his right-handed sidekick Wilmer Flores, will be the better pitcher as each man moves closer to expected regular work in Detroit.
Nor is it important to decide there’s any real qualitative difference in two pitchers who could eventually be rotation-toppers for the Tigers.
What matters is that two gents, both of whom brandish power arms, get steadily better.
Madden two months ago turned 23. Flores, also in February, turned 22. Flores has one start for the SeaWolves. He went four innings last week, struck out six, and gave up no runs.
It is a most entertaining race the Tigers, Flores, and particularly Madden, have organized at Erie.
Just ask the Akron batters.
Lynn Henning is a freelance writer and a retired Detroit News sports reporter.