Lakeland Flying Tigers

Lakeland Flying Tigers
Lakeland Flying Tigers
Founded in 1960 ; Lakeland, Florida ;
Minor league affiliations
Class	Single-A (2021–present)
Previous classes	Class A-Advanced (1990–2020); Class A (1962–1989); Class D (1960);
League	Florida State League (1960–present)
Division	West Division
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;
Division titles (1)	2024;
Second-half titles (2)	2023; 2024;
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
Website	milb.com/lakeland

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.

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]

In conjunction with Major League Baseball's restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Flying Tigers were organized into the Low-A Southeast at the Low-A classification.^[6] In 2022, the Low-A Southeast became known as the Florida State League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization, and was reclassified as a Single-A circuit.^[7]

Roster

Lakeland Flying Tigers roster
v
t
e
Players				Coaches/Other
Pitchers 29 Garrett Apker 49 Micah Ashman 26 Cam Brown 46 Thomas Bruss ~ 41 Rayner Castillo 13 Ronny Chalas 33 Pedro Garcia 30 Duque Hebbert 31 Preston Howey 28 Zack Lee 40 Carlos Lequerica 35 Hayden Minton 18 Cole Patten 55 Patrick Pridgen ~ 20 Josh Randall ~ 12 Gabriel Reyes 20 Erick Rodriguez 38 Andrew Sears 27 Ethan Sloan ~ 22 Luke Stofel 37 Cole Stupp		Catchers 58 Josue Briceño 45 Archer Brookman 43 Eduardo Valencia Infielders 32 Clayton Campbell 9 Samuel Gil 19 Woody Hadeen 8 Franyerber Montilla 39 Jack Penney 15 Garrett Pennington 15 Cristian Santana ~ 10 David Smith Outfielders 21 Jose De La Cruz 25 Nomar Fana 34 Zach MacDonald 1 Jackson Strong		Manager 17 Andrew Graham Coaches 99 Nick Bredeson (hitting) 24 Nick Green (pitching) 44 René Rivera (bench) 60-day injured list 20 Donye Evans (full season) -- Wilmer A. Fenelon -- Diego Palmero (full season) -- Blake Pivaroff 86 Chris Williams Jr. 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 September 18, 2024 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

2024: Lost Palm Beach 2–1 in championship.
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

^ Hill, Benjamin. "PDC's make everything old new again, www.milb.com". Web.minorleaguebaseball.com. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
^ "1997 Florida State League - Season Review". www.thebaseballcube.com. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
^ "Flying Tigers Scrape Two Runs Across in The Eight to Win FSL Championship Series | TheLedger.com". Archived from the original on 2012-10-14.
^ Benjamin Hill (November 13, 2006). "Article | Lakeland Flying Tigers News". Minorleaguebaseball.com. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
^ "The Lodwick School of Aeronautics: A Photo Exhibit". City of Lakeland. Archived from the original on February 25, 2007.
^ Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
^ "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2024.

External links

[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] "Flying Tigers Scrape Two Runs Across in The Eight to Win FSL Championship Series | TheLedger.com". 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] "The Lodwick School of Aeronautics: A Photo Exhibit". City of Lakeland. Archived from the original on February 25, 2007.

[6] Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved June 30, 2024.

[7] "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2024.

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