Lakeland Flying Tigers

The Lakeland Flying Tigers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Class 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 logoCap insignia
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass A (from 2021)
Previous classesClass A-Advanced (1990–2020)
Class 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
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

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

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
  • 43 Angel De Jesus
  •  1 Max Green
  • -- Wilkel Hernandez
  • 58 Garrett Hill
  • 34 Billy Lescher
  • 48 Paul Richan
  • -- Jesus Rodriguez
  • -- Zac Shepherd

Catchers

  • -- Cole MacLaren
  • -- Joey Morgan
  • 15 Christopher Proctor
  •  9 Jon Rosoff

Infielders

  • 46 Nick Ames
  • 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)
  • -- Ollie Kadey (developmental)
  • -- John Murrian (hitting)


7-day injured list
* On Detroit Tigers 40-man roster
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
† Temporary inactive list
Roster updated January 14, 2021
 Transactions
→ More rosters: MiLB • Florida State League
 → Detroit Tigers minor league players

Notable alumni

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
  • 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

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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