Pfaadt shows postseason potential with 12-K gem

Tigers' top pitching prospect strikes out 12, allows one hit in five shutout innings

It was a dominant performance from the Tigers' top pitching prospect on Saturday night.

Right-hander Alex Faadt struck out 12 batters and allowed just one hit in five shutout innings as the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens beat the Louisville Bats 5-0 in the first game of their International League Wild Card series.

Faadt, who is ranked as the No. 4 prospect in the Tigers' organization by MLB Pipeline, was in complete control from the start.

He retired the first nine batters he faced, striking out five of them.

Impressive mound performance

Faadt's fastball was clocked as high as 98 mph, and he also showed a sharp slider and a developing changeup.

The Bats' only hit off Faadt came in the fourth inning, when Aristides Aquino singled to lead off the inning.

But Faadt quickly recovered, striking out the next three batters to end the inning.

Faadt's outing was the latest in a string of impressive performances by the 23-year-old.

In his last five starts, he has allowed just three earned runs in 29 innings, with 35 strikeouts and five walks.

The Mud Hens will face the Bats in Game 2 of the Wild Card series on Sunday afternoon.

If Faadt can continue to pitch like he did on Saturday, the Tigers may have a future ace on their hands.