Saturday, March 30, 2013

2013 Flying Tigers Roster Preview

THE PITCHERS:

Alex Burgos (LHP)
... Midwest League Player of the Week (Aug. 22-28, 2011) ... 5th round pick of Detroit in 2010 draft out of State College of Florida ... third year in organization ... was 8-10 in 2012 for Lakeland with a 4.90 ERA (member FSL Championship squad) ... tied for FSL lead with 10 losses and led league with 88 walks ... 14-15 with a 3.60 ERA entering 2013 season ... Eighth-best prospect in Tiger organization by Baseball America following 2011 season ... 13-1 with a 1.42 ERA as a freshman in 2010 at State College of Florida ... Born in Regensburg, Germany.

Will Clinard (RHP)
... 19th round draft pick by Detroit in 2012 out of Vanderbilt (alma mater of fellow Flying Tigers, Aaron Westlake and Drew VerHagen) ... was 7-3 with a 4.83 ERA and five saves as a senior ... previously drafted by the Twins (2011) and Dodgers (2008) but did not sign ... was 2-1 with a 1.38 ERA and two saves in seven games for Connecticut and 1-1 with a 2.96 ERA and two saves for West Michigan in 2012 ... holds his high school team’s record for home runs, ERA and strikeouts.

Tommy Collier (RHP)
... West Michigan’s Pitcher of the Year in 2012 ... named to 2012 Midwest League mid-season All-Star Team ... Midwest League Pitcher of the Week (May 28-June 3, 2012) ... 22nd round draft pick by Detroit in 2011 out of San Jacinto College North in Texas ... was 9-8 with a 2.74 ERA in 24 starts at West Michigan in 2012 and 4-1 with a 1.85 ERA in 7 starts for Connecticut in 2011 ... previously drafted by Blue Jays in 2009 but did not sign ... was 13-1 with a 2.67 ERA and 128 strikeouts in 16 starts at San Jacinto College North in 2009.

Kevin Eichhorn (RHP)
... West Michigan’s Pitcher of the Year in 2011 ... was 3-2 with a 4.00 ERA in eight starts for Lakeland in 2012 before going on disabled list for the rest of the season on May 15 with a strained flexor mass ... acquired from Arizona, along with Ryan Robowski, in Jan. 2011 as part of Armando Galarraga trade ... Finished third in Midwest League with 152.0 IP ... 11-5 with a 3.61 ERA, 109 K, 33 BB at West Michigan in 2011 ... Named the 26th-best prospect in the Tigers organization following the season by Baseball America ... fifth year in professional baseball (16-13, 4.10 ERA entering 2011) ... Originally a 3rd round pick of Arizona in 2009 draft out of high school ... Son of former major league pitcher Mark Eichhorn.

Jeff Ferrell (RHP)
... Midwest League Pitcher of the Week (July 30-August 5, 2012) ... 26th round draft pick by Detroit in 2010 out of Pitt Community College in North Carolina ... was 7-5 with a 3.91 ERA in 2012 at West Michigan with 81 strikeouts and 29 walks in 92.0 IP ... fourth year in organization (14-11 with a 3.62 ERA in 42 career games entering 2012 season)

Melvin Mercedes (RHP)
... Member of Detroit’s 40-man roster ... Signed by the Detroit Tigers as a non-drafted free agent on March 4, 2008 ... sixth year in organization (7-10 with a 3.13 ERA and 37 saves in 129 games entering 2013 season) ... had not played above low-A until joining Lakeland on Sept. 1, 2012 (member of 2012 FSL Championship squad) ... was 1-0 with 1 save in six shutout innings of relief in FSL playoffs in 2012 ... was 0-3 with nine saves and a 2.80 ERA in 37 appearances for West Michigan with 43 strikeouts and 23 walks in 64.1 innings in 2012 ... has played for the Dominican Summer League and Gulf Coast League Tigers as well as Connecticut and West Michigan ... had a 7-7 record and a 3.34 ERA in 91 career minor league games entering this season.

Wilsen Palacios (RHP)
... Signed by Detroit in 2006 as a non-drafted free agent ... was 12-9 with a 3.70 ERA in 23 starts at West Michigan in 2012 with 77 strikeouts and 23 walks in 129.0 IP ... tied for second in the Midwest League with 12 wins ... seventh year in organization ... second stint with Lakeland (played in one game for the Flying Tigers in 2010) ... 25-24 with a 3.15 ERA and 259 strikeouts in 363.0 career innings pitched entering 2013 season  ... 83 of his 84 career appearances have been at low-A or lower.

Ryan Robowski (LHP)
... Non-rostered invitee to 2013 Spring Training ... Signed by the Detroit as a non-drafted free agent on March 4, 2008 ... acquired from Arizona, along with Kevin Eichhorn, in Jan. 2011 as part of Armando Galarraga trade ... began 2012 with AA Erie and was 1-1 with a 3.32 ERA and two saves in 25 games before earning promotion to AAA Toledo ... was 0-2 with a 4.38 ERA in games before being sent back to Erie where he went on disabled list for the remainder of the season on August 6, 2012 with a left-hand fracture ... was 2-1 with a 2.35 ERA in 29 appearances for Lakeland in 2011 ... originally drafted by Arizona in 2009 out of Ohio Dominican University ... has an 8-12 record and a 3.96 ERA with 161 strikeouts and 57 walks in 124 career relief appearances.

Joe Rogers (LHP) ... 5th round draft pick by Detroit in 2012 out of the University of Central Florida ... was an All-Conference USA pick as a junior at UCF with a 5-1 record and a 1.47 ERA and 13 saves ... named to Louisville Slugger All-American team as a freshman ... posted a 13-5 record with 30 saves in college (UCF career saves leader) ... was 2-1 with a 2.28 ERA and three saves for Connecticut in 2012 ... played high school ball at Winter Haven High in Polk County ... tossed a no-hitter during his prep career, striking out 20 of 21 batters.

Kyle Ryan (LHP) ... 11th round draft pick by Detroit in 2010 out of Auburndale High School in Polk County ... was 7-8 with a 3.74 ERA and 105 strikeout and 29 walks in 158.2 innings pitched in 28 starts at West Michigan in 2012 ... tied for Midwest League with 28 starts and second with 158.2 innings ... is 15-22 with a 3.58 ERA in 64 career starts with 250 strikeouts and 72 walks in 349.2 innings pitched over three seasons ... selected to USA Under-18 National Team.

Jade Todd (LHP)
... Tigers Minor League Co-Pitcher of the Month in August 2012 ... 7th round pick by Detroit in 2008 out of Shades Valley High School in Alabama ... was 6-2 with two saves and a 1.65 ERA in 44 games at West Michigan ... had 71 strikeouts and 19 walks in 60.0 innings for the Whitecaps ... pitched in one game for Lakeland in 2012 (member of 2012 FSL Championship squad) ... sixth year in the organization ... is 15-13 with a 3.18 ERA in 105 games (25 starts) in his career ... was 7-3 with a 1.04 ERA and 96 strikeouts as a high school senior

Michael Torrealba (RHP)
... Midwest League mid-season All-Star team in 2012 ... Tigers Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April 2012 ... signed as a non-drafted free agent by Detroit in 2006 ... seventh year in the organization ... was 1-2 with a 5.32 ERA in 12 games for Lakeland in 2010 ... remaining 156 games of his career have been at Low-A or below ... is 19-16 with a 2.96 ERA with 22 saves and 339 strikeouts and 134 walks in 309.2 IP in 168 career appearances.

Drew VerHagen (RHP) ... 4th round draft pick of Detroit in 2012 draft out of Vanderbilt (alma mater of fellow Flying Tigers, Will Clinard and Aaron Westlake) ... was 6-3 with two saves and a 3.50 ERA in 27 games (7 starts for the Commodores) ... had Tommy John surgery while at Navarro Junior College ... Navarro JC won the Junior College National Championship while VerHagen was there ... also pitched as a freshman at Oklahoma ... was 0-3 with a 3.67 ERA in eight games (six starts) for Lakeland in 2012 ... 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in two playoffs starts for 2012 FSL Championship squad ... also pitched in two games for GCL Tigers last season ... named 16th best prospect in Tigers’ organization by MLB.com.


THE PLAYERS:

Dean Green (IF)
... Midwest League mid-season All-Star Team in 2012 ... Tigers Minor League Player of the Month for August 2012 ... Connecticut Player of the Year in 2011 ... New York-Penn Mid-Season All-State in 2011 ... Drafted in 11th round by Detroit in 2011 out of Barry University in Miami ...  hit .348 with three homers and 36 RBI in 38 games for Lakeland in 2012 ... hit .306 with nine homers and 38 RBI in 58 games at West Michigan in 2012 ... sidelined June 8 to July 19, 2012 due to elbow surgery ... has a .318 average with 19 homers and 123 RBI in 170 career games played ... named 2011 Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year while at Barry after batting .400 with 19 homers and 77 RBI ... transferred to Barry from Oklahoma State ... batted .513 for his prep career at Berry High School with 32 homer and 225 RBI.

Tyler Hanover (IF) ... New York-Penn Mid-Season All-State in 2012 ... 33rd round draft pick by Detroit in 2012 out of Louisiana State University ... drafted by the Yankees in 2011, but did not sign ... batted .269 with 11 doubles for Connecticut in 2012 ... also played in four games for GCL Tigers last season ... high school All-American ... 2008 Gatorade High School Payer of the Year in NC.

Jason King (IF) ... 4th round pick by Detroit in 2011 out of Kansas State University ... hit .326 with 10 homers and 59 RBI as a junior at KSU ... hit .253 with seven homers and 37 RBI in 90 games at West Michigan in 2012 ... has hit .252 with 13 homers and 68 RBI in 143 career games over two seasons ... father, Jeffrey, played in Yankee’s minor leagues and grandfather, Frank, played college football at Ohio State for Woody Hayes and was a member of the 1954 OSU national championship team.

Jason Krizan (OF) ... 8th round draft pick by Detroit in 2011 out of Dallas Baptist University ... named to Baseball America’s All-America team as a senior at DBU after batting .413 with 39 doubles (NCAA record), 10 homers and 81 RBI ... had a 39-game hit streak ... led nation with 101 hits ... hit 79 doubles and 37 homers while driving in 212 runs in three collegiate seasons ... batted .244 with 20 doubles, four homers and 40 RBI at West Michigan in 2012 ... has a .242 career batting average with 24 doubles, seven homers and 59 RBI in two seasons entering 2013.

Brandon Loy (IF) ... 5th round draft pick by Detroit in 2011 out of the University of Texas ... named fifth-best defensive player in 2011 draft by Baseball America ... 19th best prospect in Tiger organization following 201 season by Baseball America ... earned All-Big 12 honors as a junior at Texas after hitting .342 with 23 doubles and 30 RBI ... drafted out of high school by the Orioles in 2088, but did not sign ... batted .240 at West Michigan in 2012 with 120 hits, 21 doubles and 21 stolen bases in 134 games played ... played in 12 games for Lakeland in 2011, batting .220.

Zach Maggard (C) ... Non-rostered invitee to 2012 Spring Training ... 34th round pick by Detroit in 2011 out of Florida Southern College in Lakeland ... saw action in games at West Michigan (.193 in 40 GP with four homes and 20 RBI); Lakeland (.176 in 5 GP) and Toledo (.222 in 3 GP) in 2012 ... batted .291 with 9 homers for Florida Southern as a senior.

Jeff McVaney (OF) ... 8th round draft pick by Detroit in 2012 out of Texas State University ... hit 10 homers in each of his three seasons at TSU ... also had 48 doubles and 139 RBI to go with his 30 collegiate homers ... batted .250 with four homers and 29 RBI in 56 games at West Michigan in 2012 ... also played in 15 games at Connecticut last season.

Steven Moya (OF)
... Midwest League mid-season All-Star team in 2012 ... Signed by Detroit as a non-drafted free agent in 2008 ... hit .288 with nine homers and 47 RBI in 59 games at West Michigan in 2012 before heading for disabled list for the season on June 27 and underwent surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow ... fifth year in organization ... batted .236 with 37 doubles, 39 homers and 130 RBI in 245 career games played thru 2012.

John Murrian (C) ...  New York-Penn League mid-season All-Star team in 2009 ... 9th round draft pick by Detroit in 2009 out of Winthrop University ... batted .254 in 20 games at Erie in 2012 before being placed on disabled list for the rest of the season with a right knee sprain ... also spent time on DL in 2011 (left hamstring) and 2010 (right wrist hamate fracture) ... fifth year in organization ... hit .254 with 46 doubles, 15 homers and 97 RBI in 209 career games played entering 2013 season.

Eugenio Saurez (IF)
... Non-rostered invitee to 2013 Spring Training ... Midwest League mid-season 2012 All-Star Team ... West Michigan Player of the Year in 2012 ... Midwest League Player of the Week (May 28-June 3, 2012)  ... Tigers Minor League Player of the Month for June 2012 ... signed by Detroit as a non-drafted free agent in 2008 ... second in the Midwest League with 147 hits in 2012 with ninth-best league average of .288 ... named ninth-best prospect in Tigers organization following 2012 season by Baseball America ... fifth year in Tigers organization ... hit .283 with 73 doubles, 15 triples, 15 homers, 133 RBI and 48 stolen bases in 323 career games played entering 2013 season.

Aaron Westlake (IF) ... 3rd round draft pick by Detroit in 2011 out of Vanderbilt (alma mater of fellow Flying Tigers, Will Clinard and Drew VerHagen) ... batted .344 with 18 doubles, 18 homers and 56 RBI as a junior at Vanderbilt in 2011 ... clubbed 42 homers and drove in 174 in three collegiate seasons ... tied for fifth in Midwest League with 35 doubles ... batted .249 with 35 doubles, nine homers and 69 RBI at West Michigan in 2012 ... hit .250 with 40 doubles, 12 homers and 88 RB In 155 career games entering 2013 season.

Chad Wright (OF) ... 9th round draft pick by Detroit in 2011 out of the University of Kentucky ... earned All-SEC honors at UK as a junior after hitting .359 ... batted .256 with 19 doubles, four homers and 40 RBI at West Michigan in 2012 ... hit .258 with 28 doubles, four homers and 55 RBI in 200 career games played entering 2013 season.


THE COACHES:

Manager Dave Huppert
  ... Became the Minor League’s winningest active manager on April 19, 2012; won his 1,700th career game on June 3, 2012; Named to Florida State League Hall of Fame in 2012 ... recipient of Detroit’s Dwight Lowery Award (Player Development Man of the Year) in 2012 ... led Lakeland to 2012 Florida State League Championship (his third FSL title) ... third season with Lakeland (64-74 in 2011 and 73-58 in 2012) ... 25th season as a minor league manager (1,745-1,593 thru 2012) ... Began managing in the minors in 1986 for the Milwaukee Brewers Helena team in the Pioneer League ... Lakeland is his fourth managerial job in the Florida State League ... Coached the 1993 Sarasota White Sox, 1999-2001 Brevard County Manatees (Marlins) and the 2007 Clearwater Threshers (Phillies) ... Led 2001 Manatees to FSL Co-Championship and Threshers to FSL crown in 2007 ... Also managed the Lakewood Blue Claws (Phillies) to South Atlantic League title in 2006 ... Managed the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs in 2010 ... Two-time Minor League Manager of the Year ... Played ten seasons in the minors as a catcher ... Was the Rochester catcher for 31 of the 33 innings against Pawtucket in professional baseball’s longest game on April 18, 1981 ... Played in 17 games in the major leagues - two for Baltimore in 1983 and 15 for Milwaukee in 1985 with a combined 21 at bats ... His one major league hit came off of Hall of Fame pitcher Phil Niekro ... Was third base coach for the Washington Nationals in their inaugural season of 2005 ... Turn 54 on April 17.

Coach Larry Herndon (hitting)
... Ninth season with Lakeland ... served as Detroit’s Minor League hitting coach from 1992-98 ... played 14 seasons with Cardinals, Giants and Tigers ... hit .274 with 107 career home runs ... 1976 National League Rookie of the Year by The Sporting News as a member of the San Francisco Giants ... member of Detroit’s 1984 World Series Championship team.

Coach Mike Maroth (pitching)
... Second season with Lakeland (his first stint as a professional coach ... Played for six seasons with Detroit (2002-07), went 50-62 with a 4.81 ERA in 147 APP (143 starts) ... Also played for St. Louis in 2007 ... Originally a 3rd round pick of Boston in 1998 ... Pitched in Red Sox (1998-99), Tigers (1999-2007), Cardinals (2007), Royals (2008) and Twins (2010) organizations ... Was 2-1 with a 3.24 ERA in 3 games for Lakeland in 1999