Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Mission Notes vs. Tampa (April 30-May 3)

TUESDAY RAIN OUT ... Tuesday’s Education Day game against Brevard County was postponed due to heavy rains and will be made up as part of a home doubleheader June 22 at 5 pm. 

THE SERIES ... Thanks to the rainout on Tuesday and a scheduled day off Wednesday, Lakeland has a two-day rest heading into the four-game Tampa series. Game one is Thursday, April 30 at 6:30 pm in Lakeland before heading for three games against the Yankees, May 1-3, at George Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.

FIRST MEETING ... These two clubs opened the season with each club winning two games at the other’s home stadium. Tampa won the opener 2-1 in Lakeland as Brady Lail struck out nine while the Flying Tigers won 5-2 in Tampa, scoring four runs in the eighth. Returning to Joker Marchant for game three, the Yankees took a 7-3 victory despite a three-run homer from Javier Betancourt while the Flying Tigers won the finale 4-2 at George Steinbrenner Field behind two RBIs from Jiwan James and Ismael Salgado.

THE FLYING TIGERS (7-12, 6th, 5.0 GB) ... Lakeland lost the first two games of their last home series to Brevard County with the third game postponed due to rain. It was all Manatees in game one in a 14-4 win while the two clubs battled for 13 innings in game two with Brevard County coming out on top, 4-2.

THE YANKEES (11-9, 2nd, 1.5 GB) ... Tampa took two of three from Clearwater winning the first and third games by one run while dropping an 8-5 loss in 10 innings in game two. The Yankees have won five of their last seven games. Tyler Wade is sixth in the FSL with a .338 average and is tied for the league-lead with 24 hits. Ericson Leonora leads the FSL with nine doubles while Mark Payton is second with 17 runs scored and tied for first with three triples. Rookie Davis is ninth in the league with a 1.66 ERA and tied for third with 26 strikeouts. The Yankees are the highest-scoring team in the league with 95 runs, but last with five hoers. Tampa’s pitchers have struck out a FSL-best 166 batters.

LAKELAND PROBABLE STARTERS
4/30 - RHP Tommy Collier (2-0, 1.00 ERA) ... Collier, who is second in the league with a 1.00 ERA, got the win in his last start on April 23 at home versus Clearwater, limiting the Threshers to two unearned runs with four strikeouts and zero walks and six hits in 6.0 innings. He has allowed just two earned runs in 18.0 innings in his three starts. Collier has struck of 17 this season while issuing just one free pass.
5/01 – LHP Locke St. John (0-2, 6.06) ... St. John is looking for his first win of 2015. He lost his first two starts and did not factor into the decision in his third start on April 24 at home versus Clearwater. In that game, St. John allowed three runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and three walks. He has not allowed a run in the first two innings and just one in the third. St. John has not faced Tampa this season.
5/02 - LHP Kevin Ziomek (2-2, 3.22) ... Ziomek, who ranks fifth in the FSL with 25 strikeouts, has won his last two starts including back-to-back starts against Clearwater. In his two wins, he has given up three earned runs on 12 hits with 14 strikeouts and two walks. In his last start on April 25 at home versus Clearwater, Ziomek tossed 6.0 shutout innings, holding the Threshers to three hits with six strikeouts and two walks. In his lone start against Tampa on April 9, Ziomek gave up one run on three hits in 5.0 innings with three strikeouts and one walk.
5/03 - RHP Jonathan Maciel (0-2, 9.33) ... Maciel had his worst outing in his last start on April 26 at home against Brevard County, giving up eight runs on 10 hits in 4.0 innings with one strikeout and no walks. He has allowed eight or more hits in each of his last three starts and surrendered three or more runs in each of his four starts. In his one start against the Yankees  on April 10, Maciel was touched for three runs on six hits with three strikeouts and one walk in 5.0 innings.

THE LONG BALL ... While Lakeland hit just one homer in the Brevard County series, the Flying Tigers are still tied for second in the FSL with 14 home runs.

NUMBER NINE, NUMBER NINE ... Flying Tiger Curt Powell brings a nine-game hit streak into the Tampa series which is the second-longest active streak in the Florida State League. Powell is 13x36 (.361) over the last nine games with eight runs scored, three doubles and a triple. His .351 average is second in the FSL only to Bradenton’s Jin-De Jhang who is hitting a blistering .431 on the season so far. He has had two hits in a game four times in the last five contests. Powell is hitting a crisp .390 versus righthanded pitching this year.

OVER AT EIGHT ... While Curt Powell is still streaking, Ben Verlander saw his streak come to a close at eight games on Monday. The Flying Tigers outfielder was 13x27 (.481) during the streak with six runs scored, two doubles and two homers. 

ZIPS FOR ZAC ... Reliever Zac Reininger has not allowed a run in any of his six appearances this season and just six hits overall. He is tied with five others for third in the league with three saves.

JOLLY ROGERS ... Winter Haven native Joe Rogers gave up an unearned run in his first appearance of the year on April 9 and has not given up a run in his last five outings.

SECOND WITH FOUR ... Justin Betancourt collected four singles on April 27 against Brevard County. He is the second Flying Tiger to have four hits in a game this season. Ben Verlander had a double and three singles on April 24 versus Clearwater.

ROSTER MOVE ... On Monday, LHP Micah Kellogg announced his retirement. Taking his spot on the roster is RHP Matt Crouse, who is working his way back from an arm injury that limited him to just two appearances last season.

THE SKIPPER (thru 4/28) ... Manager Dave Huppert, a member of the 2012 FSL Hall of Fame Class, is back for a 28th season as a minor league manager. He is the winningest active manager in the minors and ranks 18th all-time with 1,878 career wins (1,878-1,749). He is in his fifth season with Lakeland and has a 270-287 record with the club, including a FSL championship in 2012.

UP NEXT ... Lakeland’s next home games are May 4-6 against the league’s newest team, the Daytona Tortugas, which are a Cincinnati Reds affiliate. Area elementary students will be the Flying Tigers guests on Tuesday, May 5 and Wednesday, May 6 as Lakeland hosts back-to-back Education Day games at 10:30 a.m. both days.


Sunday, April 26, 2015

Mission Notes vs. Brevard County (April 26-28)

THE SERIES ... The Flying Tigers continue their homestand with three games against the Manatees of Brevard County. Game one is Sunday at 1 pm with game two Monday at 6:30 pm. Game three is Tuesday at 10:30 am as the Flying Tigers host area elementary students in the first Education Day game of the season. Lakeland is just 0.5 games behind Brevard County in the North Division.

FIRST MEETING ... The first series between these two clubs got off to a slow start as game one was rained out on April 20. The two squads then split their doubleheader on April 21 with Lakeland taking the opener, 4-3, behind a three-run homer by Ben Verlander and a solo shot by Dominic Ficociello. The Manatees took game two as Lakeland reliever Scott Sitz gave up two homers in the bottom of the seventh for a 8-6 Lakeland loss. The Flying Tigers captured the finale, 3-1, on April 22 scoring a pair of unearned runs for the first scores in the third while Francisco Martinez hit a solo homer in the seventh.

THE FLYING TIGERS (7-10, 6th, 3.5 GB) ... Lakeland won two of three against Clearwater and has now won five of its last seven games. Against the Threshers, the Flying Tigers won the first and last games by scores of 5-2 and 4-1, respectively, while dropping the middle game, 8-4. Lakeland hit .299 in the Threshers set, collecting double-digit hits in the first two games of the series. The Flying Tigers are tied for 10th in the FSL with a .233 team batting average and last with 53 runs scored.

THE MANATEES (7-9, 5th, 3.0 GB) ... Brevard County has lost three of its last four games, including the last two. Last night, the Manatees fell to the Blue Jays, 9-8, in 12 innings in Dunedin. Clint Coulter is tied for the league lead with five home runs while Victor Roache is tied for second with four and is fourth in the FSL with a .344 average. Roache, who is tied for second with 21 hits, is also second with 14 RBI while Coulter is tied for third with 12. Roache has hits in his last seven games and has gone 13x29 (.448) during that stretch. Coulter leads the FSL with a .650 slugging percentage and is tied for the lead with nine extra base hits. Taylor Brennan brings a seven-game hit streak into this series and is 7x12 with five runs scored his last three starts. Javier Salas ranks sixth with a 1.35 ERA. Brevard County has drawn a lead-best 64 walks and have the second highest ERA (4.07) in the FSL.

LAKELAND PROBABLE STARTERS
4/25 – RHP Jonathan Maciel (0-1, 6.91) ... Maciel is looking for his first win of the young season. In his last start on April 21 in game one of a doubleheader at Brevard County, he was chased after 4.1 innings. He allowed three runs on eight hits while striking out three and walking none.
4/27 - LHP Ryan Longstreth (1-2, 3.95) ... Longstreth picked up his first win of the season in his last start on April 22 at Brevard County. He held the Manatees to one unearned run on three hits with three strikeouts and four walks over 6.0 innings. Longstreth has struck out three batters in each of his three starts, but has walked seven in 8.2 innings over his last two outings.
4/28 - RHP Tommy Collier (2-0, 1.00 ERA) ... Collier, who is second in the league with a 1.00 ERA, got the win in his last start on April 23 at home versus Clearwater, limiting the Threshers to two unearned runs with four strikeouts and zero walks and six hits in 6.0 innings. He has allowed just two earned runs in 18.0 innings in his three starts. Collier has struck of 17 this season while issuing just one free pass.

LONG BALL CONTINUES ... Jiwan James and Drew Longley each went deep Saturday against Clearwater. It was James’ second homer of the season while for Longley, it was his first round-tripper since July, 2013. The Flying Tigers have now hit 11 home runs in the last eight games after hitting just two dingers in the first nine games of 2015. The club is second in the FSL with 13 homers as a team, four behind the leader, Dunedin.

FIERY FICOCIELLO ... Dominic Ficociello has hits in six of his last eight games, going 10x24 during the stretch for a .417 clip, raising his average from .225 to an even .300 on the season.

TWO-FER NIGHTS PUTS HIM #2 ... Curt Powell has collected two hits in each of the three games in the Clearwater series, going 6x9. Powell brings a seven-game hit streak into this series putting together a 10x26 streak for a .385 average with seven runs scored. He is now second in the FSL with a .362 average and third with a .444 on-base percentage.

LUCKY SEVEN ... Ben Verlander also brings a seven-game hit streak into the series. He has had six hits in the last two games, including a 4x4 night on April 24 against Clearwater. In his last seven games, Verlander is 12x24 (.500).

JOLLY JOE ... Joe Rogers had not allowed an earned run this season and just one run overall. He has given up just one hit in his last five outings and 6.0 innings.

K’s FOR Z ... Kevin Ziomek struck out six in his last start on April 25 against Clearwater to give him 22 in his last three starts. He is now fifth in the FSL with 25 strikeouts.

MOYER MOVES UP ... The Tigers announced Saturday morning that Steven Moya’s rehab assignment in Lakeland was over and the outfielder was headed back to AAA Toledo. Moya hit .275 in nine games with the Flying Tigers, collecting 11 hits in 40 at bats, including three doubles and three home runs with eight runs batted in. Taking the open roster spot is Ismael Salgado who began the season with the club, but was sent to Extended Spring Training on April 16 to make room for Moya.

ROSTER MOVE ... Also on Saturday, the Flying Tigers activated Julio Felix from the disabled list where he had been since April 16. To make room, Scott Sitz was sent to Extended Spring Training.

THE SKIPPER (thru 4/25) ... Manager Dave Huppert, a member of the 2012 FSL Hall of Fame Class, is back for a 28th season as a minor league manager. He is the winningest active manager in the minors and ranks 18th all-time with 1,878 career wins (1,878-1,747). He is in his fifth season with Lakeland and has a 270-285 record with the club, including a FSL championship in 2012.

UP NEXT ... The Flying Tigers get their first off day of the season on Wednesday, April 29 before hosting Tampa on April 30 at 6:30 pm in the first of a four-game series with the Yankees. Games 2-4 take place May 1-3 at George Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. Lakeland’s next home games are May 4-6 against the league’s newest team, the Daytona Tortugas, which are a Cincinnati Reds affiliate.

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Mission Notes vs. Clearwater (Apr. 23-25)

THE SERIES ... The Flying Tigers return to Joker Marchant Stadium tonight to open a seven-games-in-eight-days homestand. Lakeland host Clearwater April 23-25 with Thursday’s and Friday’s games getting underway at 6:30 pm and Saturday’s series finale at 6:30 pm. 

FIRST MEETING ... Lakeland was swept by the Threshers in a three-game set in Clearwater on April 17-19. In the opener, Lakeland was shutout 6-0 while the next night was a 17-inning affair with Clearwater winning 4-3. The finale saw the Threshers post a 7-3 win. The series was witnessed by 10,965 fans.

THE FLYING TIGERS (5-9, 6th, 4.5 GB) ... Lakeland sandwiched a pair of wins around a loss at Brevard County and now has won three of its last four games. It was a matter of the long ball in the first two games as Ben Verlander (3-run homer) and Dominic Ficociello (solo shot) put up all of the Flying Tigers offense in a 4-3 win. In game two of the doubleheader, Lakeland reliever Scott Sitz surrendered two homers in the bottom of the 7th as the Manatees won 8-6. Game three was a bit strange as the first Flying Tiger run came via a bases-loaded balk and the second scored on an error. Francisco Martinez capped the win with a solo home run. Lakeland is up to hitting .220 as a team which is third lowest batting average in the FSL while the 40 runs scored this season is the fewest in the Florida State League. The staff ERA of 3.87 is third highest.

THE THRESHERS (8-6, 2nd, 1.5 GB) ... Clearwater has dropped three of its last four after winning five in a row. Tampa took two of three from Clearwater, outscoring the Threshers 21-8 in the process. Brandon Leibrant ranks 9th in the FSL with a 1.42 ERA and third with 19.0 innings pitched while Ulises Joaquin is tied for second with three saves. Willians Astudillo leads the club with a .327 average while Andrew Pullin is next at .306. Clearwater is hitting .248 as a team while pitching staff has a 3.53 ERA.

LAKELAND PROBABLE STARTERS
4/23 - LHP Locke St. John (0-2, 6.17) ... St. John has allowed four runs in each of his first two starts this season with only one strikeout in each game. He has allowed 12 hits and issued six free passes. He faced Clearwater on April 18 and worked 6.2 innings with seven hits, five runs allowed (four earned) on two walks and one strikeout.
4/24 - LHP Kevin Ziomek (1-2, 4.41 ERA) ... Ziomek picked up his first of the season in his last start on April 19 at Clearwater despite allowing a season-high nine hits. He worked 6.1 innings and allowed four runs (three earned) while striking out eight for a second straight game. Ziomek is 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA in his first two appearances at Joker Marchant Stadium. His 19 strikeouts on the season is tied for fourth most in the FSL.
4/25 – RHP Jonathan Maciel (0-1, 6.91) ... Maciel is looking for his first win of the young season. In his last start on April 21 in game one of a doubleheader at Brevard County, he was chased after 4.1 innings. He allowed three runs on eight hits while striking out three and walking none. He did not face Clearwater in the road series. This is his second home start.

FOUND THE POWER SWITCH ... After hitting just two homers in the first nine games, Lakeland has hit eight in the last five games with at least one homer in each of the five contests. The big night came on April 19 at Clearwater when Bobby Borchering, Steven Moya, and Francisco Martinez all went deep. The Flying Tigers have now hit the second most homers in the league, tied with St. Lucie, and two behind Daytona’s league-high 12 dingers.

HELLO, FICOCIELLO ... Dominic Ficociello collected six hits in a three-game swing from April 19-21, going 6x10 during that stretch. Unfortunately, the streak ended last night as he was held hitless in four trips to the plate.

LONGING FOR PLAYING TIME ... Being the No. 2 catcher doesn’t allow for a lot of playing time, but the way Drew Longley has hit his last two games, he may see more action. On April 19, the former University of South Florida backstop had two doubles and an RBI. On April 21, he went 1x1 with two walks, a run scored and two more driven in.

MARTINEZ-ING ... Francisco Martinez has been cleaning at the plate as of late, getting hits in five of his last six games to almost double his batting average. With just two hits in his first seven games, Martinez is 7x20 his last six games.

MIGHTY BEN ... Ben Verlander has hits in each of his last five games and is 6x18 during that streak with a double, a homer, and four runs batted in.

UNCHARACTERISTIC ... In past season, Lakeland’s defense has ranked toward the top of the Florida State League standings. However, this season is a different story as the club has been charged with 17 errors in 14 games to tie for 10th place on the FSL fielding chart. 

SPEAKING OF THE “D” ... Clearwater first baseman Zach Green is perfect in 114 fielding chances to lead the league’s first-sackers with a 1.000 fielding percentage. Thresher shortstop Devin Lohman is also sitting atop his fellow shortstops with a 1.000 mark, having zero errors in 39 chances. 

THE SKIPPER (thru 4/22) ... Manager Dave Huppert, a member of the 2012 FSL Hall of Fame Class, is back for a 28th season as a minor league manager. He is the winningest active manager in the minors and ranks 18th all-time with 1,876 career wins (1,876-1,746). He is in his fifth season with Lakeland and has a 268-284 record with the club, including a FSL championship in 2012.

UP NEXT ... Brevard County comes to Lakeland for games on April 26-28 with game on the 28th being the first Education Day of the season. After a day off, the Flying Tigers will close out the month with a single game against Tampa on April 30 before heading to George Steinbrenner Field for three games.

Monday, April 20, 2015

Mission Notes vs. Brevard County (April 20-22)

THE SERIES ... The Flying Tigers continue their road trip with a three-game set at Brevard County (Brewers), April 20-22. Games one and two are Monday and Tuesday at 6:35 pm with the series finale on Wednesday at 10:30 am for the first Education Day of the season.

LAST YEAR
... The Manatees won 11 of the 16 games played between the two clubs last season, including four of the last five.

THE FLYING TIGERS (3-8, 6th, 4.5 GB)
... Lakeland snapped a six-game losing streak with a 7-5 win at Clearwater on Sunday as Steven Moya, Bobby Borchering, and Francisco Martinez all hit solo home runs. Starter Kevin Ziomek struck out eight for a second straight outing for the win while Scott Sitz cut down three in the ninth for the save. The Flying Tigers have struggled at the plate in the early going and rank last in the league with a .206 team batting average and 27 runs scored. The staff ERA of 4.02 is third highest in the league.

THE MANATEES (5-5, 3rd, 2.0 GB)
... Brevard County took two of three at home from Dunedin over the weekend winning the opening game of the series by a 4-0 tally and taking the finale, 3-2, in 12 innings. The Blue Jays won the middle game, 4-0. Chris McFarland has a .310 average and has twice had three hits in a game this season. He is tied for second in the FSL with five doubles. Victor Roache has gone 7x16 his last four games to boost his average to .297 on the season. Clint Coulter brings a four-game hit streak into the series going 7x15 during that stretch. He is also tied for second in the Florida State League with three homers. Brandon Macias has hits in each of his five games played so far for a .350 average. Johnny Davis is tied for second in the league with four stolen bases. Hiram Burgos, who started Sunday’s game, is 1-1 with a 2.12 ERA to go with his league-leading 21 strikeouts in 17.0 innings pitched. Javier Salas, 1-1, ranks fourth in the FSL with a 0.69 ERA. Brevard is hitting .210 as a team and the Manatees sport a 3.40 staff earned run average.

FIRST ROUNDER ... Manatees outfielder Clint Coulter was Milwaukee’s first round pick (27th overall) in the 2012 amateur draft out of Union (WA) High School.

LAKELAND PROBABLE STARTERS
    4/20 - RHP Jonathan Maciel (0-1, 7.20)
... Maciel gave up five runs on eight hits in 5.0 innings in his last start on April 15 at home against Palm Beach with one strikeout and one walk. Righthanded batters are hitting .375 against Maciel.
    4/21 - LHP Ryan Longstreth (0-2, 7.04 ERA) ... Longstreth allowed a pair of runs on four hits with three strikeouts and three walks in a lost to Palm Beach in his last start on April 16. Righthanded batters are hitting .300 against Longstreth.
    4/22 – LHP Tommy Collier (1-0, 1.50) ... Collier has allowed just two runs in his first two starts with both coming in his last outing on April 17 at Clearwater. He won that game with eight strikeouts and zero walks while giving up nine hits. Righthanded batters are hitting .267 against Collier.

17 ON 17 ... April 17 turned out to be a special 17 as the Lakeland Flying Tigers locked horns (fins?) with the Clearwater Threshers for a marathon 17 innings. Unfortunately, the Flying Tigers came out on the short end as the four hour, 50 minute game ended with the Threshers on top 4-3. The two teams combined for 27 hits in 122 at bats while nine hurlers notched a total of 33 strikeouts. Lakeland got all three of its runs in the fourth inning while Clearwater notched solo runs in the fourth, fifth and eighth innings to tie the contest. The Threshers finally won the game in the bottom of the 17th inning when Dylan Cozens singled with the bases loaded.

GOING YARD ... Bobby Borchering homered Saturday night at Clearwater and was one of three Flying Tigers to homer on Sunday. Joining Borchering, who leads the team with his two dingers, in the hit parade were Steven Moya and Francisco Martinez. Borchering was 4x13 (.308) in the Clearwater series while Moya went 5x16 (.313).

ROLLIN’ REAVES ... Jared Reaves has a hit in each of his seven games played this season. Throw in a hit in his last game of 2014, and he has the second-longest active hit streak in the FSL, trailing Palm Beach’s Luke Voit who has hit in nine straight games.

VERILY VERLANDER ... Ben Verlander has gone 4x10 over his last three games played.

WEEKEND TRANSACTIONS
... Lakeland added a pair of players over the weekend. On Saturday, righthanded pitcher Nate Fury was added from Extended Spring Training with righty Montreal Robertson being sent to EST. On Sunday, RHP Julio Felix was played on the Disabled List (retroactive to April 16). Taking his place on the roster is RHP Micah Kellogg. Both Fury and Kellogg played briefly in Lakeland last season.

BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL ... Starter Kevin Ziomek has struck out eight batters in back-to-back games and now ranks third in the FSL with 19 strikeouts, just two behind the leader, Hiram Burgos of Brevard County.

THE SKIPPER (thru 4/19) ... Manager Dave Huppert, a member of the 2012 FSL Hall of Fame Class, is back for a 28th season as a minor league manager. He is the winningest active manager in the minors and ranks 18th all-time with 1,874 career wins (1,874-1,745). He is in his fifth season with Lakeland and has a 266-283 record with the club, including a FSL championship in 2012.

UP NEXT
... The Flying Tigers land once again in Lakeland to open a six-game homestand starting with three games against Clearwater April 23-25 and then three games versus Brevard County April 26-28. The April 28 game is the first home Education Day game for the Flying Tigers with a 10:30 am first pitch.

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Mission Notes vs. Clearwater (17-29)

THE SERIES ... The Flying Tigers head to Clearwater and Bright House Field Friday-Sunday to kick off a six-day road trip. Friday and Saturday’s games are set for 6:30 pm starts while Sunday has a 1 pm first pitch. The first 2000 fans at Friday’s game with get a Finley Bobblehead (Finley is Clearwater’s mascot). Friday is also 70s Night with a post-game concert while its Star Wars and Fireworks on Saturday. 

LAST YEAR ... The 18 games between theses two clubs was a tale of two halves. The Flying Tigers won the first seven straight, including games of 13 and 11 innings, while the Threshers captured nine of the last 10 contests. Clearwater won five of the nine played at Bright House Field

THE FLYING TIGERS (2-6, 6th, 3.0 GB) ... Lakeland was shutout in three of four games of the Palm Beach series, marking the first time the Flying Tigers have been blanked three times in a series since 2010. In the one game they were not shutout, the Flying Tigers managed just one run, giving them one run scored in the last 38 innings. The sweep by the Cardinals left Lakeland winless in six home games this season (but the team is 2-0 on the road). The Flying Tigers batted .174 in the Thresher series (with 44 strikeouts) leaving Lakeland tied for last in the league with a .192 team batting average. The staff ERA of 4.13 is third highest.

THE THRESHERS (5-3, T-1st, 0.5 game lead) ... Clearwater fell 8-1 in the opening game of its series with Jupiter, but roared back to win the next three games including a 3-2 triumph in 11 innings last night. Andrew Pullin is third in the Florida State League with a .417 average while Andrew Knapp is 10th with a .343 mark. Pullin ranks fifth with a .481 on-base percentage while Knapp is tied for first with 12 hits so far. David Whitehead has the fourth lowest ERA (9.75) while Ulises Joaquin is tied for first with three saves. The Threshers’ team batting average of .252 is fifth best in the FSL while the staff ERA of 3.04 is sixth best. Clearwater has the league’s best defense (.988) with just four errors so far.

LAKELAND PROBABLE STARTERS
4/17 - RHP Tommy Collier (1-0, 0.00) ... Collier picked up a win in his 2015 season debut, tossing five shutout innings at Tampa on April 12. He struck out five and walked one in 5.0 innings and held the Yankees to one hit.  
4/18 - LHP Locke St. John (0-1, 7.20 ERA) ... St. John was tagged with the loss in his first outing on April 13, surrendering four runs  on five hits to Tampa. He also walked four while striking out just one Yankee batter.
4/19 – LHP Kevin Ziomek (0-2, 4.50) ... Ziomek (ZO-meck) is looking for his first “W” of the season after dropping his first two starts. On April 9, he struck out three in 5.0 innings and walked one while allowing the Yankees one earned run on three hits. On April 14, he struck out eight Palm Beach hitters, but gave up four earned runs on seven hits with one walk in a 5.0 inning stint.

ONE MAN JAMES GANG ... Jiwan James has a team-leading 10 hits and four runs scored with a team-best 16 total bases.

ENOUGH WITH THE RAIN ALREADY ... Lakeland fans sat thru a rain delay of 2:16 before getting Saturday’s game underway. Last night, the start of the game was delayed 49 minutes by rain, plus the game was stopped in the top of the third inning due to more rain. After a delay of 2:02 the game resumed at 10:10 pm with a total of 2:51 delays in the game. The game ended at 11:43 pm, some 5:13 after the scheduled start time of 6:30 pm. Ironically, Thursday’s game took just 2:22 which was the quickest game of the year.

TRIPLE-A REHAB ... Steven Moya, who began the season on the disabled list at Toledo, is rehabbing a plantar fasciitis injury in his foot. However, his comeback got off on the wrong foot, so to speak, as the rightfielder struck out in each of his four at bats Thursday.

FLYING HIGH ... Grayson Greiner has one hit in each of his last three games, going 3x12 (.250) during that span ... Jiwan James has hits in six of his last seven games and is 10x30 (.333) since going hitless opening night ... Jared Reaves has one hit in each of his four games played so far ... Ben Verlander has hits in the last two games and has collected one base hit in four of his six games played.

GROUNDED ... Javier Betancourt is 2x19 (.105) his last five games ... Bobby Borchering went 1x4 in the opening game of the season, but has gone 0x21 since ... Dominic Ficociello has three hits in his last 18 at bats (.167) ... Francisco Martinez is 2x22 (.090) the last six games ... Curt Powell began the season going 7x15 (.467) the first four games, but was held hitless in three at bats in each of the last two outings ... Raph Rhymes is 1x10 (.100) his last three games.

EIGHT IN THE EIGHTH ... The Flying Tigers have scored just 14 runs this season, eight of which have come in the eighth inning.

THE SKIPPER (thru 4/16) ... Manager Dave Huppert, a member of the 2012 FSL Hall of Fame Class, is back for a 28th season as a minor league manager. He is the winningest active manager in the minors and ranks 18th all-time with 1,873 career wins (1,873-1,743). He is in his fifth season with Lakeland and has a 265-281 record with the club, including a FSL championship in 2012.

MLB CONNECTIONS ... Clearwater pitcher Mark Leiter is the son of former Major Leaguer Mark Leiter who played 10 seasons in the big leagues, including the 1991-93 seasons with Detroit. Threshers second baseman Jesmuel Valentin is the son of 16-year MLB veteran Jose Valentin.

UP NEXT ... Lakeland continues on the road with a three-game set at Brevard County. Games one and two are Monday and Tuesday at 6:35 pm with the finale being a 10:30 am Education Day game at Space Coast Stadium.

Monday, April 6, 2015

Mission Notes vs. Tampa (April 9-12)

THE SERIES ... As has been the case the last 13 seasons, Lakeland opens its 2015 campaign against the Tampa Yankees. The season lid-lifter is Thursday at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland at 6:30 pm with game two in Tampa at 7 pm. Game three returns to Lakeland for a 6 pm game while the series concludes at George Steinbrenner Field on Sunday at 5 pm.

2014 SEASON SERIES ... The two teams split their 20 games in 2014. Lakeland won eight of the first 12 meetings while Tampa came back to take six of the last eight games. The two clubs also split the 10 games played in their own respective home parks as well.

HOME OPENERS ... This marks the 13th consecutive season Lakeland has faced Tampa to open the season. The two clubs have split their last 12 season openers with Tampa shutting out Lakeland in the opener in 2014. Lakeland is 8-7 in the first game of the year since 2000. Last season, Lakeland drew 1,039 fans to the first home game of the year while in 2009, the home opener was witnessed by 2,224 fans – the largest first crowd in the last 11 seasons.

A LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE ... Lakeland will play 13 home games in April; 10 in May; 17 in June; 12 in July; 16 in August; and 2 in September. The Flying Tigers will have one six-game homestand in April and will play just three home games in the first 14 days of May. Lakeland will have nine home games over a ten-day span from June 2-11 and then will not play at home again until June 22 when then play eight of the final nine days of the month at Joker Marchant Stadium. In July, Lakeland makes an eight-game road trip to Palm Beach and Fort Myers while there are two six-game homestands in August. Lakeland will host morning games on April 28, May 6, and June 30.

START TIMES ... Friday night home games are no longer sponsored by 7-11 so game times will shift back to the normal weekday start time of 6:30 pm. Saturday games are still at 6 pm while Sunday’s are at 1 pm. The Fourth of July game will begin at 5 pm.

BY THE DRAFT ... 2014 Picks: Grayson Greiner (3rd Round); Locke St. John (32nd) ... 2013 Picks: Kevin Ziomek (2nd); Calvin Drummond (6th); Zac Reininger (8th); Dominic Ficociello (12th); Ben Verlander (14th); Raph Rhymes (15th); Jonathan Maciel (18th); Curt Powell (21st) ... 2012 Picks: Joe Rogers (5th); Julio Felix (12th); Jared Reaves (25th); Matt Davenport (34th); Ryan Longstreth (40th) ... 2011 Picks: Ismael Salgado (16th); Tommy Collier (22nd); Montreal Robertson (29th) ... 2010 Picks: Brennan Smith (33rd) ... Non-Drafted Free Agents: Drew Longley (2012); Javier Betancourt (2011); Confesor Lara (2010); Free Agents: Bobby Borchering (2015), Jiwan James (2015); Trade: Francisco Martinez (2013 via Seattle).

BACK FOR AN ENCORE ... The following players have played in past years for the Flying Tigers – Pitchers: Tommy Collier (2013 & 2014); Matt Davenport (2013); Calvin Drummond (2014); Julio Felix (2012);  Ryan Longstreth (2014); Montreal Robertson (2013); Joe Roberts (2013); Brennan Smith (2013 & 2014); and Locke St. John (2014). Catcher: Drew Longley (2013 & 2014). Infielders: Francisco Martinez (2008, 2010, & 2013); Curt Powell (2014); Jared Reaves (2013 & 2014).

SAFE AT HOME ... Joe Rogers played his prep ball at Winter Haven High School and his college career at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Catcher Drew Longley played college ball at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

ROSTER TRIVIA ... Outfielder Ben Verlander is the brother of Detroit pitcher Justin Verlander ... The tallest Flying Tiger is pitcher Matt Davenport who is a lofty 6’8” ... Pitcher Jonathan Maciel and catcher Drew Longley will make a formidable battery with each topping the scales at 225 ... Javier Betancourt is the baby of the bunch as he is just 19 years old while Longely is the elder statesman of the group at 25 years of age ... You won’t find a left-handed hitter (outside of pitchers), but your will find three switch-hitters in Bobby Borchering, Dominic Ficociello, and Jiwan James

2014 WRAP ... Lakeland finished 62-75 last season. The squad battled in the first half, finishing with a 42-25 record to place second, 3.0 games behind Dunedin. The second half was a different story as the team turned in the worst second half in franchise history at 20-50.

THE SKIPPER ... Manager Dave Huppert, a member of the 2012 FSL Hall of Fame Class, is back for a 28th season as a minor league manager. He is the active winningest manager in the minors and ranks 18th all-time with 1,871 career wins (1,871-1,737). Huppert, who has a 263-275 record with the Flying Tigers, stepped aside as manager on June 28, 2014 for medical reasons and missed most of the rest of the season recovering. In 2012, he led Lakeland to the Florida State League Championship to record his fourth overall championship and his third in the FSL. He also led the 2001 Brevard County (Brewers) to a co-championship while his 2007 Clearwater (Phillies) squad won the crown outright. In addition, he coached the Lakewood Blue Claws (Phillies) to the 2006 South Atlantic League title.

NEW PITCHING AND HITTING COACHES ... Jorge Cordova takes over as Lakeland’s pitching coach, replacing Mike Maroth, who is now at Toledo. Cordova is in his 10th season in the organization and was the pitching coach for the GCL Tigers in 2014. He pitched for eight seasons in the minors with the Yankees (1996), Marlins (1998-2000), Reds (2000-2002) and Tigers (2003-2004) ... Nelson Santovenia joins the club as the hitting coach, replacing long-time coach Larry Herndon, who had spent 10 years with Lakeland. Santovenia was the West Michigan hitting coach in 2014 and spent two seasons in the GCL. Prior to joining the organization, he was a high school coach winning back-to-back Class 4A state titles at Archbishop McCarthy High in Florida. A first-round draft pick by Montreal in 1982 out of the University of Miami, Santovenia played seven seasons in the majors for the Expos (1987-1991), White Sox (1992) and Royals (1993).

FSL CHANGE ... The Daytona franchise is now an affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and has been rebranded as the Daytona Tortugas. 

IN MEMORIAM ... Longtime Florida State League President Chuck Murphy passed away in February at the age of 83. Murphy, who had served as the general manager for the Daytona Beach Islanders from 1984-85, became the league’s president in 1990. Under Murphy, FSL attendance surpassed 1 million fans in the 2006 season and continued to climb. The league attracted a record 1,296,962 fans in 2011 and surpassed 1.2 million again last season. Ken Carson, the FSL executive vice president since 2011, is the new league president. Carson had served as the GM for the Dunedin Blue Jays from 1986-2006. He is a member of the Minor League Baseball Board of Trustees.

INSIDE THE 2015 FLYING TIGERS ROSTER

THE PITCHERS:TOMMY COLLIER (RHP)    2014 – Eastern League Pitcher of the Week (June 30-July 6) ... split time between Lakeland (9 GS, 3-3, 3.80) and Erie (17 GS, 4-7, 5.88) ... 2013 – started season in Lakeland (13 GS, 4-3, 4.35) ... made one start at AA Erie (1-0, 5.40) ... 2012 – West Michigan Player of the Year ... Midwest League mid-season all-star team ... Midwest League Pitcher of the Week (May 28-June 3) ... Tigers Minor League Gold Glove Winner ... 24 GS, 9-8, 2.74 ... 2011 – started seven games at Connecticut (4-1, 1.85) ... HOW OBTAINED: 22nd round pick by Detroit in 2011 out of  San Jacinto College North (Texas) ... also drafted by Toronto in 49th round of 2009 draft, but did not sign.
  
MATT DAVENPORT (RHP)    2014 – pitched in 65 games at West Michigan (5-6, 2.92) with six starts and three saves ... 2013 – began season in Connecticut (4 G, 1-1, 2.51, 1 SV) ... appeared in 13 games for Lakeland (1-1, 3.81, 1 SV) ... 2012 – pitched in 16 games for Connecticut (2-1, 0.77 ERA, 1 SV) ... HOW OBTAINED – 34th round pick by Detroit in 2012 out of the College of William & Mary ... COLLEGE: Colonial Athletic Association Pitcher of the Year ... two-time All-CAA ... 7-5, 1.73 ERA, 90 K in 17 games as a senior.

CALVIN DRUMMOND (RHP)    2014 – appeared in 35 games for Lakeland (3-3, 3.97, 1 SV) ... 2013 – began season with GCL Tigers (1-0, 0.00) ... pitched in 23 games for West Michigan (3-2, 2.23, 1 SV) ... HOW OBTAINED – 6th round pick of Detroit in 2013 out of Arizona Christian University (but did not play) ... 2012 – drafted by Oakland in 39th round but did not sign .... COLLEGE – played 2011-12 seasons at Univ. of San Diego after redshirting in 2010 ... played JuCo ball at Orange Coast Community College as a freshman in 2009 helping Pirates to state title.

JULIO FELIX (RHP)    2014 – appeared in 44 games for West Michigan (3-2, 3.38, 13 SV) ... 2013 – split time between Connecticut (15 APP, 3-2, 3.55) and West Michigan (22 APP, 0-3, 4.59) ... 2012 – began season in GCL (17 APP, 4-2, 4.11, 2 SV) ... pitched in 1 game for Lakeland (0-0, 9.00) ... HOW OBTAINED: 12th round pick by Detroit in 2012 out of Pima Community College in Arizona.

CONFESOR LARA (RHP)    2014 – pitched one game in GCL (1-0, 0.00) ... appeared in 13 games (3 GS) at Connecticut (2-2, 2.70 ERA) ... 2013 – started 11 games in GCL (3-2, 3.76) ... 2012 – DSL Tigers Pitcher of the Year ... named to DSL midseason all-star team ... led DSL with 17 saves ... appeared in 26 games in Dominican Summer League (0-1, 0.93, 16 SV) ... 2011 – batted .198 in 57 games ... 2010 – batted .177 in 61 games ... HOW OBTAINED – signed by Detroit as a non-drafted free agent in 2010.

RYAN LONGSTRETH (LHP)    2014 – began season in West Michigan (7 APP, 0-1, 2.08) ... appeared in 16 games (1 GS) for Lakeland (0-2, 2.27) ... 2013 – did not play (injured) ... 2012 – pitched in the GCL (11 APP, 3-0, 3.07) and at Connecticut (9 APP 2 GS, 0-1, 6.23) ... HOW OBTAINED – 40th round pick by Detroit in 2012 out of Central Michigan University.

JONATHAN MACIEL (RHP)    2014 – Midwest League Pitcher of the Week (Aug. 18-24) ... pitched in 27 games (20 GS) at West Michigan (6-8, 4.07) ... 91 K in 128.1 IP ... 2013 – pitched in 17 games (1 GS) for Connecticut (4-1, 2.79) and 5 games for West Michigan (0-0, 6.00) ... HOW OBTAINED – 18th round pick by Detroit in 2013 out of Cal State Long Beach.

ZAC REININGER (RHP)    2014 – appeared in 33 games for West Michigan (3-3, 2.54, 11 SV) ... 2013 – Connecticut Pitcher of the Year ... selected to New York-Penn League midseason all-star team ... led NYPL with 10 saves... pitched in 22 games (1 GS) for Connecticut (1-2, 1.00, 10 SV) ... HOW OBTAINED – 8th round pick by Detroit in 2013 out of Hill Junior College in Texas ... NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American.

MONTREAL ROBERTSON (RHP)2014 – appeared in 43 games for West Michigan (6-5, 3.23, 8 SV) ... 2013 – started 16 games for West Michigan (3-7, 5.91) and 1 game for Lakeland (0-0, 4.50) ... 2012 – pitched in 11 games (9 GS) for Connecticut (0-4, 4.69) ... 2011 – GCL Tigers Pitcher of the Year ... appeared in 25 games in GCL (3-2, 2.73, 9 SV) and 2 games for Connecticut (0-0, 0.00) ... HOW OBTAINED – 29th round pick by Detroit in 2011 out of Coahoma Community College in Mississippi .

JOE ROGERS (LHP)    2014 – did not play - injured (left arm/elbow surgery) ... 2013 – pitched in 1 game for GCL (0-0, 4.50) and 7 games for Lakeland (1-1, 0.00) ... 2012 – appeared in 18 games for Connecticut (2-1, 2.28, 3 SV) ... HOW OBTAINED – 5th round draft pick by Detroit in 2012 out of the University of Central Florida ... All-Conference USA pick as a junior in 2012 at UCF with a 5-1 record and a 1.47 ERA and a school record 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) ... 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 vs. Lake Gibson on 3/3/09.

BRENNAN SMITH (RHP)    2014 – pitched in 32 game at Lakeland (2-7, 3.12, 7 SV) and 8 games at Erie (0-1, 6/75) ... 2013 – appeared in 15 games for West Michigan (1 GS, 2-1, 1.23 1 SV) and 11 games for Lakeland (1-1, 10.43) ... 2012 – pitched in 19 games (15 GS) for West Michigan (3-4, 3.86) ... 2011 – Connecticut Pitcher of the Year ... New York-Penn League Midseason All-Star ... Tigers Minor League Pitcher of the Month for August ... made 14 starts for Connecticut (4-3, 1.53) and nine games (7 GS) for West Michigan (1-3, 4.99) ... 2010 – appeared in 15 games (12 GS) for Connecticut (1-7, 3.38, 1 SV) ... HOW OBTAINED – 33rd round draft pick by Detroit in 2010 out of Bowling Green State University ... Named 2010 Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Year ... won his first 27 starts at Sandusky Perkins High School before losing his final start.

LOCKE St. JOHN (LHP)
    2014 – made 2 starts in GCL (0-0, 1.50) ... and 8 starts for Lakeland (2-4, 5.67) ... HOW OBTAINED – 32nd round pick by Detroit in 2014 out of the University of South Alabama ... lettered for two seasons at Southern Union Community College in Alabama ... full name is Kenton Locke St. John

KEVIN ZIOMEK (LHP)    2015 – ranked fourth-best prospect in Tigers organization by MLB.com and sixth-best by Baseball America ... 2014 – Midwest League postseason all-star ... West Michigan Tigers Co-Pitcher of the Year ... led league with 2.27 ERA and second with 127 K ... started 23 games for West Michigan (10-6, 2.27) ... struck put 152 in 123.0 IP ... 2013 – made 4 starts for Connecticut (0-1, 4.50) ... HOW OBTAINED – 2nd round pick by Detroit in 2013 out of Vanderbilt University ... 3rd Team All-American as a junior in 2013 and second-team All-American as a freshman ... 2010 – drafted in 13th round by Arizona, but did not sign.


THE PLAYERS:

JAVIER BETANCOURT (IF)
    2015 – ranked 11th-best prospect in Tigers organization by MLB.com ... 2014 – named to Midwest League all-star team ... Tigers Golf Glove winner for second base ... third in league with 150 hits ... played in 134 games for West Michigan (.269 - 6 - 54) ... 2013 – GCL Tigers Player of the Year ... GCL postseason all-star team ... second in league with .333 average and fourth with 59 hits ... played in 50 games in GCL (.333 - 2 - 22) ... 2013 – played in 32 games in the Venezuelan Summer League (.333 - 3 - 15) ... HOW OBTAINED – signed as a non-drafted free agent by Detroit in 2011.

BOBBY BORCHERING (IF)    2014 – played in 16 games for Lancaster (Astros) in the California League (.238 - 0 - 7) ... HOW OBTAINED –  signed as a free agent by Detroit in February 2015 ... first-round draft pick of Arizona in 2009 draft out of Bishop Verot High School in Fort Myers ... played 2009-2012 in Diamondbacks’ organization, advancing to AA before being traded to Astros along with Marc Krauss for Chris Johnson in July, 2012 ... played 2012–2014 in Astros organization in rookie, A and High-A ... has played in 505 games entering 2015 season (.252 career average) ... batted .494 with 13 homers in 77 at bat as a senior in high school.

DOMINIC FICOCIELLO (IF)    2015 – ranked 29th-best prospect in Tigers organization by MLB.com ... 2014 –  ranked fifth in the Midwest League with 146 hits ... played in 134 games for West Michigan (.275 - 6 - 53) ... 2013 ... played in 59 games for Connecticut (.264 - 3 - 30) ... also played in 6 games for West Michigan (.143 - 0 - 3) ... HOW OBTAINED – 12th round pick by Detroit in 2013 out of the University of Arkansas ... twice named to SEC All-Defensive team ... played in 2012 College World Series ... named Freshman All-American ... 2010 – drafted in 23rd round by Detroit, but did not sign.

GRAYSON GREINER (C)    2015 non-rostered invitee to Spring Training ... ranked 10th-best prospect in Tigers organization by MLB.com ... 2014 – played in 26 games for West Michigan (.322 - 2 - 16) ... on DL from July 30-Sept. 18 with left wrist sprain  ... HOW OBTAINED – 3rd round pick by Detroit in 2014 out of the University of South Carolina ... semifinalist for Johnny Bench Award as top collegiate catcher ... named SEC All-Defensive team in 2014 ... named to 2012 and 2013 USA Baseball Collegiate National Teams and Freshman All-America team.

JIWAN JAMES (OF)    2014 – played in nine games for AA Reading (Phillies) ... played for Clearwater Threshers in 2011 and 2013 ... has played in 457 games in minors from 2009-2014, never advancing beyond AA (.265 - 17 - 161) ... originally a 22nd round pick by Phillies in 2007 out of Williston (FL) High School ... HOW OBTAINED – signed in March, 2015 by Tigers after participating in Detroit’s try-out camp ... missed much of the last two seasons for surgery on his knee and Crohn’s Disease ... was once a top prospect for Philadelphia by Baseball America as the organization’s best athlete, fastest runner and best defensive outfielder.

DREW LONGLEY (C)    2014 – played in 23 games for Lakeland (.203 - 0 - 8)  and 8 games for Erie (.240 - 0 - 3) ... 2013 – played in 24 games for GCL (.192 - 1 - 5) and 1 game for Lakeland ... 2012 – played in 33 games in GCL (.236 - 2 - 17) ... HOW OBTAINED – signed as a non-drafted free agent by Detroit in 2012 out of the Univ. of South Florida ... criminology major at USF.

FRANCISCO MARTINEZ (IF)    2014 – played in 93 games for Erie (.224 - 1 - 19) ... 2013 –  played in 74 games for Lakeland (.295 - 3 - 28) after being acquired by Detroit in June ... began season at Jackson (Mariners) ... 2012 – played full season at Jackson ... ranked third in 2012 among Mariner minor leaguers with 28 stolen bases ... 2011 – began season with Erie and played in 91 games (.282 - 7 - 46) before being traded to Mariners ... selected to participate in All-Star Future’s Game ... played 2008 in the VSL, 2009 in the GCL as well as Lakeland ... played 2010 full season in Lakeland.

CURT POWELL (IF)     2014 – played in 8 games for West Michigan (.265 - 2 - 44) and 117 for Lakeland (.266 - 2 - 44) ... had an 11-game hit streak from May 20-21, 2014 (14x42, .333) ... went 5x8 on May 23, 2014 vs. Charlotte in 19-inning game ... went 5x5 with two doubles on June 4, 2014 at Fort Myers ... 2013 – played in 52 games for Connecticut (.249 - 1 - 20) and 4 for West Michigan (.357 - 0 - 0) ... HOW OBTAINED – 21st round pick by Detroit in 2013 out of the University of Georgia ... two-time All-SEC 2nd Team honoree at UGa.

JARED REAVES (IF)     2014 – Played in 94 games for Lakeland (.236 - 3 - 21) ... 2013 –  played in 99 games for West Michigan (.271 - 5 - 37) and 9 for Lakeland (.276 - 0 - 0) ... 2012 – New York-Penn League Midseason All-Star ... HOW OBTAINED – 25th round draft pick by Detroit in 2012 out of the University of Alabama ... full name is David Jared Reaves.

RAPH RHYMES (OF)    2014 – ranked third in Midwest League with 35 doubles ... played in 134 games at West Michigan (.256 - 9 - 71) ... 2013 – played in 26 games for Connecticut (.230 - 0 - 8) and 32 at West Michigan (.345 - 0 - 4) ... HOW OBTAINED – 15th round pick by Detroit in 2013 out of Louisiana State University ... All-SEC first-team as a senior at LSU in 2013 ... 2012 – drafted in 30th round by Yankees, but did not sign ... named SEC Player of the Year and All-American ... hit .431 to lead NCAA becoming first LSU player to accomplish that feat ... 2011 – drafted by Pirates in 40th round, but did not sign ... hit .360 as a sophomore ... 2010 – named Division II Junior College Player of the Year after batting .483 with 12 homers and 98 RBI for LSU-Eunice ... full name is Raphael Ray Rhymes IV.

ISMAEL SALGADO (OF)
    2014 – played in 46 games in GCL (.300 - 0 - 17) and 5 games at Connecticut (.263 - 0 - 3) ... Played in GCL in 2011 (38 G, .144 - 0 - 6), 2012 (44 G, .209 - 0 - 8) and 2013 (41 G, .205 - 0 - 9) ... named fastest baserunner in Tigers organization by Baseball America in 2011 ... HOW OBTAINED – 16th round pick by Detroit in 2011 out of the International Baseball Academy in Puerto Rico.

BEN VERLANDER (OF)    2014 – played in 43 game at Connecticut (.240 - 2 - 19) and 56 games at West Michigan (.208 - 1 - 23) ... 2013 – named to New York-Penn League midseason all-star team ... played in 67 games at Connecticut (.219 - 4 - 29) ... HOW OBTAINED – 14th round pick by Detroit in 2013 out of Old Dominion University ... earned third-team All-America honors after batting .367 with 11 homers and 37 RBI at ODU ... 2010 – drafted in 46th round by Detroit, but did not sign ... PERSONAL – younger brother of Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander.


THE COACHES:

MANAGER DAVE HUPPERT
•    27th season as a minor league manager (1,871-1,737)
•    Fifth season with Lakeland (263-275; 64-74 in 2011; 73-58 in 2012; 64-68 in 2013;
       62-75 in 2014)
•    Ranks 18th all-time with 1,871 wins as a minor league manager
•    Became the Minor League’s winningest active manager on April 19, 2012
•    Named to Florida State League Hall of Fame in 2012
•    2012 Detroit’s Dwight Lowery Award (Player Development Man of the Year)
•    Led Lakeland to 2012 Florida State League Championship (his third FSL title)
•    Began managing in the minors in 1986 for the Helena (Brewers) 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 2006 Lakewood Blue Claws (Phillies) to South Atlantic League title
•    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.

COACH NELSON SANTOVENIA (hitting)•    Returns to the Tigers organization in 2015 to serve as Lakeland’s hitting coach, his first
        season in that capacity.
•    Served as the West Michigan hitting coach last season (2014)
•    was previously a coach with the Gulf Coast League Tigers for two seasons, which
        marked his first professional coaching assignment.
•    Prior to joining the Tigers organization, he was working in the private sector and                 coaching at the high school level in Florida.
•    He coached during the 2005 season at Archbishop Carroll High School, before he
        served as an associate head coach with Archbishop McCarthy High School for six
        seasons (2006-11).
•    Archbishop McCarthy High School won back-to-back Class 4A State Championships in
        Florida (2010-11).
•    Selected by the Montreal Expos in the first round of the June 1982 draft
•    Saw action in seven seasons at the major league level as a catcher with the Expos
        (1987-91), Chicago White Sox (1992) and Kansas City Royals (1993).

COACH JORGE CORDOVA (pitching)•    Cordova will serve as the pitching coach with Single A Lakeland in 2015, his 10th
         season as a coach in the Tigers organization.
•    was the pitching coach for the Gulf Coast League Tigers in 2014.
•    Spent the previous four seasons as the pitching coach with the organization’s
        affiliate in the New York-Penn League, serving one season with Single A Oneonta
        (2009) and three seasons with Single A Connecticut (2010-12).
•    Served as the pitching coach with the Venezuelan Summer League Tigers during
        each of his first three seasons (2006-08) with the organization.
•    Pitched for eight seasons at the minor league level with the Yankees (1996),
         Marlins (1998-2000), Reds (2000-02) and Tigers (2003-04).
•    He compiled a 44-26 record and 3.30 ERA in 234 outings during his career.