ALTOONA, Pa. -- Detroit Tigers top prospect Casey Mize pitched a no-hitter for the Erie Seawolves in his Double-A debut on Monday.
Mize, the top overall pick in last year's MLB draft, faced one batter over the minimum and needed just 98 pitches to shut down the Altoona Curve, a Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate. He hit the first batter of the game but went on to strike out seven and walk one.
"Dominant," manager Mike Rabelo said. "No deep counts. The only blemish was a hit-by-pitch and a walk. He was absolutely electric tonight.''
Erie won the game 1-0. Mize credited catcher Jake Rogers and his fielders afterward. Outfielder Derek Hill, a first-round pick in 2014, made a diving catch in the third inning, and right fielder Jose Azocar made a sliding catch in the fifth.
"It was definitely one of those days where, I don't know, it just felt like auto pilot,'' Mize said. "I've said that before. So it was just a good day.''
Mize was called for a pitch-clock violation early in the ninth inning but shook off the automatic ball. He retired Pirates prospect Jared Oliva on a popup to second base to complete the gem. Erie never had anybody throwing in the bullpen.
It was Mize's first no-hitter as a pro. Last year, he threw a no-hitter for Auburn against Northeastern.
"I threw one last year in college, and I wish I would have enjoyed it more,'' Mize said. "So I think I kind of learned from that, and so I'm definitely going to let this one soak in.''
He is the Tigers' top-ranked prospect, according to rankings by ESPN's Keith Law, who ranks Mize the fourth-best pitcher in all of baseball and No. 15 player at any position.
The 21-year-old right-hander made four starts with Class A Lakeland this season prior to his promotion, going 2-0 with an 0.35 ERA.
Mize pitched Erie's second no-hitter in six days. Alex Faedo, Detroit's first-round pick in 2017, started a combined no-hitter on Wednesday, ending Erie's 10-year drought without one.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.