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Lakeland Flying Tigers

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Lakeland Flying Tigers
Team logo Cap insignia
Minor league affiliations
ClassSingle-A (2021–present)
Previous classes
LeagueFlorida State League (1960–present)
DivisionWest Division
Major league affiliations
TeamDetroit Tigers (1963–present)
Previous teams
Minor league titles
League titles (4)
  • 1976
  • 1977
  • 1992
  • 2012
Division titles (1)
  • 2024
Second-half titles (2)
  • 2023
  • 2024
Team data
NameLakeland Flying Tigers (2007–present)
Previous names
  • Lakeland Tigers (1963–2006)
  • Lakeland Giants (1962)
  • Lakeland Indians (1960)
BallparkPublix 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 managerZach Burek
ManagerAndrew Graham
Websitemilb.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

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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

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Lakeland Flying Tigers roster
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

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

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Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

Notable former ballplayers

  • Ron Leflore (1974) MLB All-Star; 2 x AL Stolen Base Leader
  • Jim Leyland (1964, 1969, 1976-1978-MGR) 3 x MLB Manager of the Year; Manager: 1997 World Series Champion - Florida Marlins


  • 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

Playoffs

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References

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  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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