Lakeland Flying Tigers

The Lakeland Flying Tigers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Single-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. They are located in Lakeland, Florida, and play their home games at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium.

Lakeland Flying Tigers
Founded in 1960 Lakeland, Florida
Team logo Cap insignia
Minor league affiliations
Class	Single-A (2022–present)
Previous classes	Low-A (2021) Class A-Advanced (1990–2020) Class A (1962–1989) Class D (1960)
League	Florida State League (2022–present)
Division	West Division
Previous leagues	Low-A Southeast (2021) Florida State League (1960–2020)
Major league affiliations
Team	Detroit Tigers (1963–present)
Previous teams	San Francisco Giants (1962) Cleveland Indians (1960)
Minor league titles
League titles (4)	1976 1977 1992 2012
Second-half titles (1)	2023
Team data
Name	Lakeland Flying Tigers (2007–present)
Previous names	Lakeland Tigers (1963–2006) Lakeland Giants (1962) Lakeland Indians (1960)
Ballpark	Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium (1966–2001, 2003–2015, 2017–present)
Previous parks	Henley Field (1960, 1962–1965, 2002, 2016)
Owner(s)/ Operator(s)	Detroit Tigers
General manager	Zach Burek
Manager	Andrew Graham

History

The team was established in 1960 as the Lakeland Indians, an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. After a one-year hiatus, the team was restarted in 1962 as the Lakeland Giants, an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.

The franchise affiliated with the Detroit Tigers' farm system in 1963 and became known as the Lakeland Tigers before becoming the Flying Tigers in 2007. The relationship with Detroit is one of the two longest unbroken affiliate relationships currently existing.^[1]

 

1996 Lakeland Tigers #47 game worn road jersey

In 1997, playing with the Tigers, Gabe Kapler led the Florida State League in doubles and total bases, and tied for first in extra base hits.^[2]

In 2012, the Flying Tigers won their first FSL title in 20 years by defeating the Jupiter Hammerheads, three games to two. It was the fourth league title in club history.^[3]

In 2006, the team introduced a new name and colors to pay homage to the Lakeland School of Aeronautics, later the Lodwick School of Aeronautics. The school trained over 8,000 pilots between 1940 and 1945, some of whom later flew with the Flying Tigers in China during World War II,^[4] and was actually located at the current site of Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium.^[5]

Roster

Lakeland Flying Tigers roster

• v
• t
• e

Players				Coaches/Other
Pitchers 20 Max Alba 30 Garrett Apker 41 Ulices Campos 35 Jesus Cruz 25 Jose Diaz 21 Colin Fields 12 Max Green   34 Quinn Gudaitis 14 Eiker Huizi 33 Edgardo Ibarra 30 Marco Jimenez 31 Tanner Kohlhepp 29 Carlos Marcano 36 Chris Mauloni 38 Eric Mendez  1 Joe Miller  9 Jake Miller 38 Hendry Nunez   49 Cole Patten 44 Franklin Perez 28 Cleiverth Perez 87 Erick Rodriguez   -- Robbie Welhaf ‡ -- Chris Williams Jr.		Catchers 32 Archer Brookman 9 Mike Rothenberg 18 Sergio Tapia 40 Moises Valero Infielders 39 Abel Bastidas 19 Luke Gold 24 Alvaro Gonzalez  8 Peyton Graham 26 Andrew Jankins 24 Adinso Reyes   13 Cristian Santana 15 Manuel Sequera Outfielders 27 Jose De La Cruz 22 J.D. McLaughlin  7 Dom Johnson  4 Seth Stephenson		Manager 17 Andrew Graham Coaches 99 Nick Bredeson (hitting) 58 Rafael Gil (developmental) 37 Nick Green (pitching) 60-day injured list -- Joe Adametz -- Wilmer A. Fenelon -- Patrick Pridgen -- Gabriel Reyes -- Austin Schultz   7-day injured list * On Detroit Tigers 40-man roster ~ Development list # Rehab assignment ∞ Reserve list ‡ Restricted list § Suspended list † Temporarily inactive list Roster updated July 17, 2023 Transactions → More rosters: MiLB • Florida State League → Detroit Tigers minor league players

Notable alumni

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

• Jack Morris (1989) Inducted 2018

• John Smoltz (1986) Inducted, 2015

Notable former ballplayers

• Tony Clark (1993) MLB All-Star

• Francisco Cordero (1998) 3 x MLB All-Star

• Juan Encarnacion (1994, 1996)
• Mark Fidrych (1975, 1978) 2 x MLB All-Star; 1976 AL ERA Leader; 1976 AL Rookie of the Year

• Tito Fuentes (1962)

• Kirk Gibson (1978) 1986 NL Most Valuable Player; 2011 NL Manager of the Year
• Curtis Granderson, 3 x MLB All-Star; Member of the 20-20-20-20 Club

• Jerry Grote (1985-MGR) 2 x MLB All-Star

• Carlos Guillén (2011) 3 x MLB All-Star

• Bill Gullickson (1993) 1991 AL Wins Leader

• Omar Infante (2000) MLB All-Star

• Howard Johnson (1979-1980) 2 x MLB All-Star

• Gabe Kapler (1997), Outfielder and manager

• Ron Leflore (1974) MLB All-Star; 2 x AL Stolen Base Leader

• Rick Leach (1979)

• Jim Leyland (1964, 1969, 1976-1978-MGR) 3 x MLB Manager of the Year; Manager: 1997 World Series Champion - Florida Marlins

• Jose Lima (1991-1992, 1995) MLB All-Star
• Torey Lovullo (1987), MLB manager

• Sam McDowell (1960) 6 x MLB All-Star; 1965 AL ERA Leader
• Elliott Maddox (1968)

• Jerry Manuel (1973) 2000 AL Manager of the Year

• Andrew Miller (2007) 2 x MLB All-Star

• Phil Nevin (1997) MLB All-Star

• Lance Parrish (1975) 8 x MLB All-Star

• Dan Petry (1977, 1986) MLB All-Star

• Rick Porcello (2008) 2016 AL Cy Young Award

• Fernando Rodney (1999, 2001) 3 x MLB All-Star
• Cody Ross

• Vern Ruhle (1973)
• Chuck Scrivener

• Gary Sheffield (2008) 9 x MLB All-Star; 1992 NL Batting Title

• Drew Smyly

• Walt Terrell (1988)
• Rob Thomson (1987), MLB manager
• Pat Underwood

• Ugueth Urbina (2004) 2 x MLB All-Star
• Justin Verlander (2005) 6 x MLB All-Star; 2006 AL Rookie of the Year; 2011 AL Cy Young Award; 2011 AL Most Valuable Player; etc.

• David Wells (1994) 3 x MLB All-Star; 1998-Pitched Perfect Game

• Lou Whitaker (1976) 5 x MLB All-Star; 1978 AL Rookie of the Year

• Dontrelle Willis (2009) 2 x MLB All-Star; 2003 NL Rookie of the Year

• John Wockenfuss (1987)

• Dmitri Young (2006) 2 x MLB All-Star

Playoffs

• 2023: Lost Clearwater 2–1 in semifinals.
• 2012: Defeated Dunedin 2–0 in semifinals; defeated Jupiter 3–2 to win championship.
• 2005: Defeated Dunedin 2–0 in semifinals; lost to Palm Beach 3–2 in finals.
• 2002: Defeated Jupiter 2–0 in semifinals; lost to Charlotte 3–2 in finals.
• 1997: Lost to St. Petersburg 2–0 in semifinals.
• 1993: Lost to St. Lucie 2–1 in semifinals.
• 1992: Defeated West Palm Beach 2–0 in quarterfinals; defeated Clearwater 2–0 in semifinals; defeated Baseball City 2–0 to win championship.
• 1991: Lost to West Palm Beach 2–0 in semifinals.
• 1990: Lost to West Palm Beach 2–1 in semifinals.
• 1989: Lost to St. Petersburg 2–1 in semifinals.
• 1988: Lost to St. Lucie 2–1 in quarterfinals.
• 1987: Lost to Fort Lauderdale 2–0 in semifinals.
• 1978: Defeated St. Petersburg 1–0 in semifinals; lost to Miami 2–1 in finals.
• 1977: Defeated Miami 2–0 in semifinals; defeated St. Petersburg 3–1 to win championship.
• 1976: Defeated Miami 2–0 in semifinals; defeated Tampa 2–0 to win championship.
• 1974: Lost to Fort Lauderdale 2–0 in semifinals.
• 1973: Lost to West Palm Beach 2–1 in semifinals.
• 1970: Lost to Miami 2–0 in semifinals.

References

1. Hill, Benjamin. "PDC's make everything old new again, www.milb.com". Web.minorleaguebaseball.com. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
2. "1997 Florida State League - Season Review". www.thebaseballcube.com. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
3. . Archived from the original on 2012-10-14.
4. Benjamin Hill (November 13, 2006). "Article | Lakeland Flying Tigers News". Minorleaguebaseball.com. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
5. . City of Lakeland. Archived from the original on February 25, 2007.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lakeland Flying Tigers.

• Official website
• TigsTown.com
• Interview with the General Manager of the Lakeland Flying Tigers
• Baseball Reference – Lakeland, Florida