An improvement, first start he didn’t get out of the first inning after 30 pitches.
Here you go @Mongoose an article on the Tigers knuckleballer who is 27 but in knuckleball that equals 21? I didn’t realize the kid a 90+mph fastball to go with two knuckleballs.
Full article at Link.
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Serwa was signed by the Tigers in January after Tread Athletics, in Charlotte, North Carolina, made known Serwa was owner of the fastest knuckleball documented.
In fact, Serwa throws two knucklers: his high-velocity, no-spin jewel; and a lower-gear, butterfly-ball that cruises anywhere from 75-82. The latter pitch is named “Yoshi” after a college roommate decided the lower-throttle version looked like something from the Mario Baseball video series.
He complements the now-you-see-it, now-you-don’t flutterballs with a conventional four-seam fastball that can push 94, as well as a sinker and cutter. In a game, Serwa estimates he throws about 50% knucklers.
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Serwa, who is 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, had enough skills to earn a scholarship at St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana. Rather, he did until St. Joseph’s ceased operations in 2017, which sent Serwa to Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, where Serwa pitched his way into probable draft status in 2020 – anywhere from the fifth to eighth rounds, scouts had projected.
One problem: A pandemic ravaged America and chopped that year’s MLB Draft to five rounds.
Serwa now was starting all but anew. He transferred to University of Central Florida, pitching there while gaining a graduate certificate in tourism, marketing and management.
With yet another year of eligibility granted because of COVID, he made one more stop, at the University of Dayton, picking up another grad certificate in strategic public relations.
But he was a baseball free agent, not drawing big-league interest until the staff at Tread Athletics saw they had something exceptional brewing in a client named Serwa.
Cody Whitten, a pitching coordinator at Tread, thought Serwa could do something unprecedented: throw a high-velocity knuckleball. Knuckleballs conventionally move at school-zone speeds.
Adding zest to a ball that darts as spontaneously as a knuckler was a different realm altogether.
“And so now I had two of them,” Serwa said, speaking of his slowpoke Yoshi option. “It’s definitely very unique. Hitters don’t enjoy it.
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Few guys showing some talent in Lakeland:
Montilla, 20, switch-hitter, shortstop/second base, batting .267 in 11 games with a slew of 100-plus-mph exit velocities: “This kid wants to play in the big leagues and you can see that with what he did during the offseason. His bat has been great so far – he’s hitting the ball harder than when I saw him last summer. He’s got more muscle, he got stronger, his swing got better. He’s refined his swing a bit – he’s getting to the ball with a better path. And he can play multiple (infield) positions. We like athletes.”
Rainer, 19, left-handed hitter and shortstop the Tigers got with last July’s 11th overall pick (hit in head with a pitch in the season opener – played in only four games before Sunday, but had a 105.1 single in his first at-bat Sunday): “For a young kid coming out of high school, having that makeup, he’s mature,” Rivera said. “He’s a really, really skilled player, and really good defender, who’s got some raw pop in there. I believe we have a special-talented player. He’s a tough kid, and he’s got massive power the other way (left field). The thing that has opened my eyes is the way he knows the strike zone. He’ll take his walk. He won’t swing at a bad pitch. He’ll wait for a pitch he can handle. It’s rare to see a kid with that kind of talent.”
Wilson, 20, left-handed starter, 6-3, 205, Tigers’ third-round pick in 2023, seven strikeouts in 4.1 innings spanning his first two starts: “He might take a little longer to get used to the league, but he’s got a special arm, and his arsenal (fastball at mid-90s, slider, change-up, developing curve) is really, really good,” Rivera said of a pitcher whose only pro experience was last year in the Florida Complex League. “He makes hitters uncomfortable. His first outing, he had some nerves (three walks and 50 pitches in 1.2 innings), but he’s going to get better and better.”
Minton, 24, right-handed starter, two starts, eight innings, three hits, one walk, 11 strikeouts, for the Tigers’ ninth-round pick in 2023 (Missouri State): “He came out last year and he was OK. He knew he needed to attack the zone more (4.4 walks per nine innings with Lakeland). He’s throwing a little harder than he was last year and his stuff is playing really, really good. He knows he can pitch at a high level. This man has improved himself.”
Used to love the guys that could throw a knuckle ball with success, I’m hoping this long shot does something. He’s been putting up great numbers so far
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I didn’t think a 90 mph knuckle ball was even possible.
I really want to see what that looks like.
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Imagine how fun that would be to see up close
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No sir. 90 mph looks like center cut then “right turn Clyde!” breaks your cup? F that
Bonus points for the reference quote
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Rainer with another opposite field HR moments ago
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Rainer is my guy. I was so happy that he fell to us.
It’s crazy that we have the best record in the AL, and the best minor league system coming in behind it.
This organization is built for long term success. Scott Harris is a friggin beast.
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Hhmm, another Buckeye showing up in the minors, @HSVLion
More on Rainer, exit velocities, F Montilla, M Clark, Hinton and others
http://archive.today/2025.04.27-222223/https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2025/04/27/detroit-tigers-farm-kids-are-pushing-for-heavier-duty-at-higher-rungs/83311395007/
full article at link.
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Melton is 24 and three years ago was the Tigers’ fourth-round pick out of San Diego State. Through his first four starts with the SeaWolves he is doing things in step with what a man 6-4, 210 pounds steadily has done since joining the Tigers: four starts, 16 innings, nine hits, four walks, 15 strikeouts.
His fastball steams from mid-90s to at times a tad higher. His secondary stuff at least justifies what probably will be a short stay at Erie.
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…The Tigers would be forgiven for wanting Briceño, only 20, to have a full year catching at West Michigan before shipping him to Erie. It should also be noted that Thayron Liranzo is stationed at Erie and the Tigers likely won’t be hurrying two catchers with as much to offer — and to learn — as Liranzo and Briceño.
How this all shakes out with Dillon Dingler now dropping anchor in Detroit is a marvelous challenge for the Tigers front office. It is anticipated, a bit down the line, that Briceño’s dynamic left-handed bat and big body (6-4, 200) will be shifting to a full-time slot at first base.
But for now, the Tigers want that premium alongside Briceño: catcher status.
What must be known also is that Briceño’s bat will force issues, no question. Through his first 17 games this spring at West Michigan, he has five home runs and a near-.900 OPS.
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One of my boys is playing baseball this year with friends, and he has become passionate about the Tigers. This is the most I have watched the Tigers in maybe 15 years. It’s been fun for us. My son was the best batter on his team in 7th grade and I made some adjustments to his swing that he never recovered from. That was a big father moment/blunder. He was fairly disappointed in me at the time. So was his coach. 
He recently came back from a practice and he told me he is hitting the ball like he used to. It kind of made me feel better for him.
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We can’t all be Charlie Lau
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I was wanting to watch this kid in Lakeland and found it odd he started in the FCL league. Another arm to watch…
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The Detroit Tigers used their first three picks in the 2024 MLB Draft on high school talent, starting with shortstop Bryce Rainer in the first round and including a pair of pitchers.
One of those pitchers is generating some buzz among analysts as the Florida Complex League opens its season Saturday.
Baseball America on Friday identified the Tigers’ Ethan Schiefelbein, a lefthanded pitcher out of Corona, California, as one of 10 prospects to watch in the FCL in 2025.
Baseball America on Friday identified the Tigers’ Ethan Schiefelbein, a lefthanded pitcher out of Corona, California, as one of 10 prospects to watch in the FCL in 2025.
“Drafted out of the same Corona High School that should produce multiple first-rounders this summer, Schiefelbein raised scouts’ eyebrows this spring and will be one to watch in Lakeland when he makes his pro debut,” Baseball America senior editor Josh Norris writes. “The southpaw boasted some of the best command in last year’s prep class and has the potential for four average-or-better pitches. His best offering is a curveball that scouts pegged as a future 55-grade pitch before the draft. Schiefelbein has room for projection, so his stuff could tick up as he matures.”
The Tigers selected the 6-foot-1, 175-pound Schiefelbein, who turned 19 in April, with the No. 72 overall pick last July, part of the Competitive Balance-B round between the second and third rounds. He ranked No. 12 among [The Detroit News top 50 Tigers prospects]
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I’ll be at the Tigers vs Rockies game this coming Thursday, with my son and his friend. Skubal will be pitching.
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How old is your Son?
He will likely be telling his Grandkids that he got to see Skubal pitch with his Dad.
You are awesome
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He’s 19.
Love that stadium
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It used to be great down there, until you know, we decided to cover everything in shit and needles.
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