Lakeland Flying Tigers

The Lakeland Flying Tigers are a minor league baseball team based in Lakeland, Florida.

Lakeland Flying Tigers
Founded in 1960
Lakeland, Florida
Team logoCap insignia
Minor league affiliations
ClassAdvanced-A (1990–present)
Previous classesClass A (1962–1989)
Class D (1960)
LeagueFlorida State League (1960–present)
DivisionNorth Division
Major league affiliations
TeamDetroit Tigers (1963–present)
Previous teamsSan Francisco Giants (1962) Cleveland Indians (1960)
Minor league titles
League titles (4)
  • 1976
  • 1977
  • 1992
  • 2012
Team data
NicknameLakeland 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–)
Previous parks
Henley Field (1960, 1962–1965, 2002, 2016)
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
Detroit Tigers, Inc.
ManagerAndrew Graham
General ManagerZach Burek

Home games are played at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium; opened in 1966 and most recently renovated in 2017. The park, which doubles as the Detroit Tigers spring training home, seats 8,500 fans. It plays in the Florida State League and has been the High-A affiliate of the Tigers since 1963, one of the two longest unbroken affiliate relationships currently existing.[1] Until November 2006, the team was known as the Lakeland Tigers, with branding similar to the parent club. However the team originated 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, and an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.

In 1997, playing with the Flying 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]

Team name

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
Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 35 Brad Bass
  • 29 Beau Brieske
  • -- Tom de Blok
  • 43 Angel De Jesus
  •  1 Max Green
  • -- Wilkel Hernandez
  • 58 Garrett Hill
  • 34 Billy Lescher
  • -- Franklin Pérez *
  • 48 Paul Richan
  • -- Jesus Rodriguez
  • -- Zac Shepherd
  • -- Will Vest

Catchers

  • 15 Christopher Proctor
  •  9 Jon Rosoff

Infielders

  • 46 Nick Ames
  • -- Chad Sedio
  • 19 Luke Sherley
  • 20 John Valente

Outfielders

  • 10 Ulrich Bojarski
  • 14 Brock Deatherage
  • 18 Reece Hampton
  • 28 Bryant Packard
  • 30 Dylan Rosa

Manager

Coaches

  • 40 Jorge Cordova (pitching)
  • -- Bill Springman (hitting)
  • -- Ollie Kadey (developmental)


7-day injured list
* On Detroit Tigers 40-man roster
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
† Temporary inactive list
Roster updated March 26, 2020
 Transactions
→ More rosters: MiLB • Florida State League
 → Detroit Tigers minor league players

Notable alumni

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

Notable former ballplayers

  • Juan Encarnacion (1994, 1996)
  • Mark Fidrych (1975, 1978) 2 x MLB All-Star; 1976 AL ERA Leader; 1976 AL Rookie of the Year
  • 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
  • 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
  • Jose Lima (1991-1992, 1995) MLB All-Star
  • 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
  • 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. http://www.theledger.com/article/20120912/NEWS/120919715/1002/sports?Title=Flying-Tigers-Scrape-Two-Runs-Across-in-The-Eight-to-Win-FSL-Championship-Series
  4. Benjamin Hill (November 13, 2006). "Article | Lakeland Flying Tigers News". Minorleaguebaseball.com. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
  5. Archived February 25, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
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