3 elite pitching prospects, 3 scoreless outings

After top top hitting prospects grabbed the spotlight on Day 1 and Day 2 of camp, the pitchers came out strong on Tuesday.

Top-100 hurlers Casey Mize, Ian Anderson and Matthew Liberatore each twirled scoreless outings for their respective teams in their 2020 Spring Training debuts.

Mize, who ranks as MLB Pipeline's No. 2 right-handed pitcher, got the start for the Tigers, working around three walks with three strikeouts over two hitless frames. The 2018 first-overall pick utilized his signature 70-grade splitter on the first punchout and then his plus fastball for the other two.

This was Mize's (1-0) first outing since making his Major League debut last summer. The 23-year-old went 0-3 with a 6.99 ERA, 26 strikeouts and 13 walks in 28 1/3 innings across seven starts for Detroit.

Anderson also got the start and the 'W.' The No. 18 overall prospect spun two three-hit frames with a free pass and a pair of punchouts. Anderson was stingy in his big league debut last year, posting a 1.95 ERA with 41 strikeouts against 14 walks in 32 1/3 innings. The campaign was capped by an even better postseason in which he went 2-0 with an 0.96 ERA in 18 2/3 frames.

Following his first calendar year in the Cardinals system after the trade from the Rays for Randy Arozarena, Liberatore made his 2021 debut in fifth. The 21-year-old southpaw, who is ranked No. 37 overall, worked in and out of trouble with a pair of two-out walks and a balk before getting Magneuris Sierra to fly out and end the hitless frame.

More top prospect performers from Tuesday's action:

Spencer Torkelson, 3B, DET (MLB No. 3 prospect)
In his first career Spring Training plate appearance, Torkelson worked a walk and then came around to score. The 2020 first overall Draft pick had taken a few days off after suffering a minor cut on his right index finger on February 25. It shouldn’t be long before Torkelson shows off his 70-grade power in Grapefruit League play. More »

Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B, PIT (MLB No. 9 prospect)
Hayes doubled for the second straight game. Batting in the No. 2 hole, the top Pirates prospect grounded out to third in the first, then ripped a double up the middle in the third before lining out to center to end the game. Hayes is now 2-for-5 with an RBI, a walk and a run scored in Grapefruit League action. Gameday »

Andrew Vaughn, 1B, CWS (MLB No. 14 prospect)
Serving as designated hitter, Vaughn got the White Sox started with a three-run homer to left field in the first inning. The third overall pick of the 2019 Draft went yard six times in his first 55 pro games that summer and enters 2021 with 60-grade power. The dinger was Vaughn's first hit in two Cactus League games this year, and he followed it with his third walk and scored on a single by fellow Chicago prospect Luis González. More »

Shea Langeliers, C, ATL (MLB No. 73 prospect)
Entering the game behind the plate in the fifth, Langeliers promptly laced an RBI double in the home half of the frame. He then came around to score on an Austin Riley single. The backstop flew out in the seventh. Langeliers went 0-for-2 in his Spring Training debut on Sunday. Gameday »

Jarren Duran, OF, BOS
The Red Sox erupted with six runs in the third, and Duran was right in the middle of that. Although he is not known for his power, the starting center fielder went back-to-back with Enrique Hernandez for his first home run of the campaign. Duran also worked a walk for Boston. He is now 2-for-6 with one strikeout in three games at big league camp. Gameday »

Braxton Garrett, LHP, MIA
Coming off his Major League debut, Garrett had a strong Spring Training bow by working around three walks with a strikeout in two hitless frames. The 23-year-old southpaw allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits and five walks with eight strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings across two starts for Miami last September. Gameday »

Kyle Muller, LHP, ATL
Entering in the fifth, Muller worked around two hits with no walks and three strikeouts in 1 2/3 scoreless frames. The 6-foot-7 hurler pitched at the Braves’ alternate training site last summer and is a possibility to pitch in Atlanta at some point this year. More »

Akil Baddoo, OF, DET
In his first Tigers Spring Training since being claimed off waivers from the Twins, Baddoo has reached base four times in three games. Batting out of the No. 2 hole, Baddoo went 1-for-2 with an RBI double, a walk and two runs scored in the win. The 22-year-old saw action in both right and center. Gameday »

Adonis Medina, RHP, PHI
Medina pitched a perfect third inning for the Phillies in his 2021 debut, including a strikeout of Marcus Semien. The right-hander hasn’t allowed a run in his last 4 1/3 big league camp frames, dating back to 2019. Medina is coming off his Major League debut in which he allowed two runs on three hits and three walks with four punchouts in four innings to be tagged with the loss on Sept. 20. Gameday »

Kevin Padlo, 3B, TB
Padlo put the Rays on the board in the sixth by crushing a solo shot to left-center. The 24-year-old -- whose best tool is his power -- drilled a career-high 21 homers in 2019 as he reached Triple-A Durham. Padlo now has two knocks at camp this year, including a double on Sunday. Gameday »

Parker Dunshee, RHP, OAK
Dunshee spun two hitless frames, striking out one and working around a walk in his first appearance of the spring. The 26-year-old righty tossed a 1-2-3 opening inning to make an emphatic return to the hill after struggling to a 12.27 ERA over three 2020 Cactus League appearances. Dunshee split 2019 between Double-A and Triple-A. More »