Tigers Minor League Recap – 5/14

Toledo Mud Hens (Triple-A)

Final: Scranton 5 – Toledo 4

Top Performer(s):

Hao-Yu Lee, 3B — 2-for-3, HR, RBI, 2 R, BB
Andrew Navigato, SS — 2-for-4, HR, R, RBI
Ryan Kreidler, CF — 1-for-4, HR, R, RBI

Matt Seelinger — 1.0 IP, 1 hit, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 Ks. Matt Seelinger came in relief in the 6th innings and really shut down Scranton to help keep the Mud Hens in the game getting 2 Ks and letting just one on base. Check out Colin’s excellent interview of Matt on YouTube:

Game notes:

Nick Margevicius got the start today and didn’t have his best stuff. Have up 5 runs, all of which were earned, on 5 hits and 2 walks with 2 strikeouts. Still, the Mud Hens tried to complete the comeback as Andrew Navigato hits a solo shot in the 9th to bring them within one. However, still wasn’t quite enough as they lose by a run.

Hao-Yu Lee with a solo bomb to left center. It’s his 3rd home run of the year, and it left his bat at 105.8 MPH and traveled an estimated 418 feet. pic.twitter.com/K22C0uUWB1

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) May 14, 2025

Tomorrow’s projected starters: TBD vs Erick Leal (1-4, 6.60 ERA)

Erie SeaWolves (Double-A)

Final: Richmond – Erie Postponed

Game Notes:

No notes, game was postponed tonight.

Tomorrow’s projected starters: Garrett Burhenn (3-0, 2.67 ERA) vs Joe Whitman (1-4, 5.92 ERA)

West Michigan Whitecaps (High-A)

Final: Fort Wayne 0 – West Michigan 7

Top Performer(s):

Brett Callahan, LF — 1-for-3, R, RBI, BB
Max Clark, CF — 2-for-5, HR, R, RBI
Luke Gold, LF — 1-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI
Izaac Pacheco, DH — 2-for-4, 2B, 3B, R, BB, 2 RBI

Rayner Castillo — 5.0 IP, 3 hits, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 Ks. Best start of the season for Castillo and breaks his streak of 4 straight games giving up 3 ER. His fastball was registering 93-95 on the radar gun, got some ugly swings on his curveball, and some weak contact on his changeup tonight. More reminiscent of his starts in Lakeland last year.

Max Clark returns to his home state with a bang, leadoff home run to right, 3rd of the season. pic.twitter.com/bpvXZdl6V9

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) May 14, 2025

Game Notes:

The offense got off to a fast start tonight scoring 4 runs in the first inning. The scoring was started by a leadoff home run from Max Clark and was later followed by a bases loaded and clearing double by Luke Gold. Brett Callahan would tack on the 5th run for the Whitecaps on a single in the 5th. Izacc Pacheco drives in two, one on a groundout in the 7th and another on a triple in the 9th. Pacheco adds to what has quietly been a great streak the last 9 games where he’s posted a .343/.389/.656 slashline.

On top of Rayner’s fantastic start, the bullpen continues to dominate. 6 Ks, no base runners allowed in 4.0 IP from Colin Fields, Micah Ashman, and Trevin Michael.

Tomorrow’s projected starters: Joe Miller (1-0, 1.78 ERA) vs Jose Luis Reyes (0-3, 3.09 ERA)

Lakeland Flying Tigers (Single-A)

Final: Clearwater 1 – Lakeland 2

Top Performer(s):

Jackson Strong, CF — 2-for-3, HR, BB, R, RBI, CS
Bryce Rainer, SS — 1-for-3, R, BB
Patrick Lee, LF —2-for-3, BB, CS

R.J. Sales — 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K. R.J. Sales had a 33% CSW% on his 4-Seam Fastball tonight, thanks to 9 called strikes. Overally he had a 32% Whiff% and gave up just one hard hit ball. Had a really good outing today.

Game Notes:

The Flying Tigers scored their first run of the night on Jackson Strong’s 2nd home run of the year. Then just when you think they’re going to have a big inning, Franyerber Montilla grounds into a crazy double play that resulted in a heated confrontation at home plate. After things settle down, Rainer scores on a wild pitch, giving them their 2nd run of the game. The bottom of the 7th sees a throwing error by Sergio Tapia, letting Brady Day get to 3rd base where he eventually scored on a single. Fast forward to the 9th inning and we see ejections of Clearwater’s manager and relief pitcher after he hits Sergio Tapia. Pitching did great keeping the Clearwater batter off the bases tonight and R.J. Sales put up in a great 5 innings.

Franyerber Montilla grounds into an unusual double play, with Kevin McGonigle getting called out and home. Then, shenanigans! pic.twitter.com/Gwf68JD0ze

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) May 15, 2025

Tomorrow’s projected starters: TBD vs TBD

FCL Tigers (Rookie ball)

No FCL games today, but they play tomorrow.

Tomorrow’s projected starters: TBD vs TBD