Michael Massey -- Prospect Evaluation

Michael Massey is a left-handed batter and right-handed thrower from Palos Park, Illinois, drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 2019. Standing 6'0" and weighing 190 lbs, Massey made his MLB debut on July 15, 2022. In recent statistics, he has posted a .215 batting average with a .243 on-base percentage and .385 slugging percentage across 65 at-bats with 2 home runs.

Scouts have consistently praised Massey's hitting approach, highlighting his short, compact swing and ability to use the whole field with excellent plate coverage. His track record at Illinois—where he batted .325 or better in all three seasons—suggests he has the tools to develop into a reliable hitter at the professional level. Beyond batting, evaluators commend his defensive capabilities at second base, noting above-average range and average arm strength, with some scouts believing he has the versatility to play shortstop and third base.

Massey's development has been hampered by injury issues. He was slowed by a back injury early in his 2022 season and was recently placed on the 10-day injured list due to a left ankle sprain (retroactive to June 8, 2025), requiring multiple rehab assignments. Despite his prospect pedigree and scout enthusiasm about his makeup and baseball intelligence, the combination of current modest offensive production and recurring injuries represents a significant challenge to his career trajectory.

The Detroit Tigers selected right-handed pitcher Michael Massey with the 114th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. Massey pitches for Wake Forest and was considered one of the nation's most electric relief prospects following a dominant 2023 sophomore season where he recorded 16.6 strikeouts per nine innings across 27 relief appearances.

Wake Forest moved Massey into the rotation for his junior year, and his performance declined significantly. He struck out fewer hitters, finished with a 4.76 ERA over 10 starts, and dealt with nagging injuries that affected both his physical performance and mental approach. However, his fundamental stuff remains valuable for professional baseball.

Massey's primary weapon is his fastball, which sits 93-94 mph and touches 97 mph. What makes it exceptional is a deceptive delivery and an exceptional 20 inches of induced vertical break—a metric that typically peaks in the high teens for quality four-seam fastballs. He complements the fastball with a slider (low 80s) that draws whiffs and a curveball, both of which work in tandem to create swing-and-miss potential. A changeup and experimental splitter, added during his stint as a starter, lacked consistency.

Despite his junior year struggles, Massey's future is almost certainly in relief, where scouts project him as a potential leverage reliever at the professional level. The Tigers may attempt to rehabilitate his stuff in professional baseball before committing him to a bullpen role long-term.

Michael Massey, a fourth-round 2024 draft pick from Wake Forest University, is a 6-foot-5, 230-pound right-handed pitcher with clean mechanics and good extension from his over-the-top delivery. His fastball is his best pitch, sitting 93-94 mph with reach to 97 mph, featuring significant vertical break and slight cutting action that generates swings and misses. His slider (low-80s, grade 50) flashes plus movement but inconsistently; his curveball (grade 45) is a 12-6 offering still being refined; and his changeup (grade 40) is underdeveloped, with the Tigers potentially pivoting to develop a splitter.

Massey's primary weakness is command (grade 40), as his aggressive delivery creates control issues that must improve for him to succeed as a starter. His background in Wake Forest's Pitching Lab—which uses high-speed cameras and motion-capture technology to optimize mechanics and prevent injury—provides a strong foundation aligned with the Tigers' modern pitching development system. The Tigers' willingness to refine mechanics and add pitches has produced improvements across their farm system.

Massey's pathway involves continued development of his fastball and slider while improving command and refining secondary offerings. His final role—whether as a starter or high-leverage reliever—will depend on how his arsenal and command progress. Notably, he is recovering from back surgery, which adds a health consideration to his development timeline.

Michael Massey is a 6-foot-5, 230-pound right-handed pitcher at Wake Forest who is transitioning to the starting rotation for the 2024 season after appearing primarily out of the bullpen in his first year with the program. Massey transferred from Tulane, where he recorded a 5.03 ERA as a freshman starter, seeking a higher level of development and competition. At Wake Forest, he has thrived under the program's renowned pitching development system, posting a 2.59 ERA with 76 strikeouts and 16 walks in 41 2/3 innings of relief.

Massey projects as a potential first-round pick and Wake Forest's No. 3 starter. He throws a mid-90s four-seam fastball that touches 97 mph with natural movement, a nasty slider, and a changeup from a high three-quarters arm slot with a deceptive delivery. Last season, he struck out 47.2% of the hitters he faced, demonstrating elite strikeout stuff. Massey emphasizes the importance of staying present during his draft year and maintaining perspective through his faith, stating that his value extends beyond on-field performance.

This article is part of the 2025 Detroit Tigers prospect reports series published by Bless You Boys, a community-focused website dedicated to Detroit Tigers coverage. The specific article focuses on RHP Michael Massey, ranked as the #29 prospect in the Tigers organization. The content appears to be an individual prospect evaluation within a broader ranking system covering the Tigers' minor league and prospect pipeline. However, the provided excerpt contains primarily navigation and site structure elements rather than the detailed prospect analysis itself, limiting the ability to extract specific performance metrics, statistics, or scouting information about Massey's abilities, development trajectory, or organizational outlook.