ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Detroit Tigers right-hander Mason Englert, a 2022 Rule 5 draft pick who came into this season with 15⅓ innings above the High-A level, battled against one of the best young hitters in baseball.
Making his MLB debut, Englert lost the nine-pitch battle to Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco in the eighth inning in Thursday’s 4-0 loss on Opening Day. A four-seam fastball caught too much of the middle of the strike zone; Franco drilled the heater 402 feet to left-center field for a solo home run.
Englert retired the next three batters.
“We want him to keep the ball in the ballpark, but he can take away the fact that he’s made it,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “He’s one of very few people in the world that’s pitched at this level. He should be very, very comfortable knowing that he’s earned the opportunity.”
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Just like that, Englert got the first appearance out of the way.
Anxiety, panic attacks and depression previously impacted Englert’s performance on the field. He found help and put in the work to improve his mental health over the past two years, and since joining the Tigers in December 2022, he has talked about keeping a “quiet mind” on the mound.
In his MLB debut, Englert maintained his mindset but felt extra adrenaline rushing through his body. He returned to Tropicana Field on Saturday feeling refreshed and ready for his next outing.
“I know what to expect now,” Englert said.
The 23-year-old dominated through six games in spring training, posting a 2.25 ERA with two walks and 14 strikeouts in 12 innings. The Tigers — Hinch and president of baseball operations Scott Harris — asked him to throw strikes in their first meeting in big-league camp.
He answered the call with an outstanding 75% strike rate.
“I’m not going to lose games because I’m getting behind in the count and putting guys on base,” Englert said. “If I’m going to get beat, I want to get beat with good at-bats. … If you can execute pitches in the zone, they won’t do damage very often. Over the season, it’s going to level out to a good performance.”
Englert, taken by the Rangers in the fourth round of the 2018 MLB draft, started 24 games and pitched 118⅔ innings in the minor leagues last season with High-A Hickory and Double-A Frisco, logging a 3.64 ERA with 31 walks and 136 strikeouts. He throws four pitches and views himself as a starting pitcher.
The Tigers are employing Englert as a multi-inning reliever this season because of his status as a Rule 5 pick. He thinks lessons from the bullpen, like realizing his routine doesn’t have to be perfect to compete at his best, could translate to his role as a starter in the future.
“You quickly realize you don’t need as much to be ready for a game,” Englert said. “It helps you go with the flow and be cool with everything happening.”
Playing time
Second baseman Jonathan Schoop wasn’t in the starting lineup for Saturday’s game against Rays right-hander Zach Eflin, though he played in the first game of the season against left-hander Shane McClanahan.
Schoop, an 11-year MLB veteran, is earning $7.5 million this season but will be employed in a platoon role, at least at the beginning of the season. The 31-year-old hit .202 with 11 home runs in 131 games last season.
“I’ve told Schoop he’s going to start against left-handed pitching,” Hinch said, “and it’ll be a little more sporadic against right-handed pitching until we settle into the season a little bit. He knew this was coming, coming into today. But he’s doing fine.”
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In 2022, Schoop hit .207 against right-handed pitchers and .186 against lefties. In 2021, he hit .256 against righties and .333 against lefties. He has similar production against righties and lefties throughout his entire career.
The change in playing time opens the door for Zach McKinstry, a left-handed hitting infielder, to play against righties. He came off the bench for a pinch-hit opportunity Thursday and started Saturday against Eflin.
Designated hitter Miguel Cabrera, who turns 40 in April, will play all three games against the Rays.
Rehab assignment
Infielder Tyler Nevin (left oblique strain) started a rehab assignment Friday with Triple-A Toledo.
The Mud Hens won, 7-4, on Opening Day for Triple-A.
“We’ll go case-by-case,” Hinch said. “It’s spring training 2.0 for him. We have a tentative schedule for him, and we’ll see how it plays out. The way he swung the bat, he looks much closer to being up to game speed and ready. Now, we have to build his endurance.”
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Nevin played first base and went 3-for-3 with two singles and one triple. Andy Ibañez replaced him, also playing first base, and launched a three-run home run in the seventh inning.
It was Nevin’s first official game since March 6 in spring training. In his second game, on Saturday afternoon, Nevin homered to center field in the second inning.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.