Back to manage his second consecutive season with the West Michigan Whitecaps, Tony Cappuccilli not only welcomes in a collection of new faces this season, he’ll have the opportunity to develop them in an upgraded ballpark.
Throughout the 2024 offseason, LMCU ballpark underwent a series of renovations as a part of the second phase of the long-term ballpark renovation project taking place over the course of several years. In addition to several new fan entertainment spaces, the park features a completely upgraded playing surface, as well as the home and visitor bullpens being relocated to the outfield.
“We have the best fans in the Midwest league,” Cappuccilli said. “Our players feed off them and their energy in the ballpark every night. The playing surface and stadium is the best around and it’s a fun place for our players to get to go out and play in front of big crowds in a beautiful ballpark. The new additions to the field are incredible. A lot of time and money went into the upgrades and I know our players are grateful for the opportunity to play here.”
West Michigan Whitecaps’ vice president and general manager, Jim Jarecki has had firsthand involvement with the renovation from the beginning and sees the upgrades as a fan-focused improvement.
“The renewed excitement that the Whitecaps fans will encounter will be the “Wow” or the “Woah” factor when they walk through the gates of LMCU Ballpark for the first time this season,” Jarecki said. “The viewpoints will be more unique than ever, with some areas strategically positioned to make them feel like they are a real part of the game.”
Including the new player additions to this year’s roster, Cappuccilli, along with his new support staff of hitting coach Matt Malott and pitching coach Nick Green will be able to continue building off of the culture set last season.
“I’m most excited about the group of guys we have here,” Cappuccilli said. “We have a lot of really good baseball players here right now but they’re also incredible teammates and from top to bottom, the work ethic is off the charts. They know how to enjoy the day-to-day work and it’s a group of really competitive guys.”
As for the best word to describe this year’s roster collectively?
“Committed,” Cappuccilli said. “We have a lot of talented guys who are determined to be really good baseball players. You never have to worry about them getting their work done. They know each other well, know how to push each other, and they want to be coached and learn from their mistakes. It’s not a group that’s just going to show up and check the boxes. They want to learn and improve.”
Names to watch in 2025:
1. OF Max Clark
Since the completion of his post-all-star-break introduction to the Midwest League last season, Clark remains one of the most projectable and infectious members of the Tigers’ farm system.The 20-year-old outfielder produced a nine-game hit streak, including five multi-hit games and five extra-base hits over his first nine games with the Whitecaps.
2. INF Kevin McGonigle
After completing a successful rehabilitation from his hamate bone surgery last summer, McGonigle returns to the Whitecaps infield to start the regular season. Prior to his injury, McGonigle booked 14 games with the Whitecaps, posting nine hits, nine runs, seven RBI and three extra-base hits. Much like last season, expect McGonigle to split his time defensively between second base and shortstop.
3. 1B/C Josue Briceno
If you weren’t familiar with the name last season, an absolute offensive tear through the Arizona Fall League put Josue Briceño on everyone’s radar. The 6’4, 200-pound lefty-bat is unquestionably built for offensive power, but for the Tigers’ front office, defensive versatility has taken a primary focus in their development plan. According to Tigers vice president and assistant general manager Ryan Garko, the Tigers plan to continue developing Briceño at first base and behind the plate. Exposure to the Midwest League should indicate a better idea of where the long term defensive home will be for 20-year-old.
4. RHP Rayner Castillo
Joining the Tigers’ organization as an international free agent signing out of the Dominican Republic in 2021, the ascent through the organization for Rayner Castillo has been steady. Making his Class A Lakeland debut in 2024, the 6’3, 180-pound righthander struck out 41 with a 2.52 ERA over 60 ⅔ innings of work for the Flying Tigers. Still just 20 years one, the youngster should be an intreguing addition to the West Michigan staff this season.
5. INF Izaac Pacheco
Since bouncing back from a broken hamate bone surgery last season, 2025 will be an opportunity for Pacheco to showcase more consistency in the raw-power profile that originally grabbed the Tigers’ attention. Detroit’s 2021 second-round pick just turned 22 in November, one of the benefits of a high school draft pick. While the 65-grade raw power is fun to dream on, Pacheco will need to focus on trimming down a thirty percent strikeout rate from 2024.
The Whitecaps kick off their 2025 season against 2nd overall draft pick Chase Burns and the Dayton Dragons on Friday, starting at 6:35pm.
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Jerry McKennan 
Jayden Hewitt 
Ashley Couturier