Despite a commanding three-game lead in the Midwest League East, the wins for the West Michigan Whitecaps this season have not come without a lot of work behind the scenes. Since the start of April, West Michigan has transferred eight players to the Injured List for a variety of reasons, and they have still managed to maintain arguably the most feared lineup across the Midwest League this season.
Making the trip to Parkview Field to face the Padres’ affiliate, Fort Wayne Tincaps, key contributions across the roster led to one of the Whitecaps’ strongest campaigns so far this season.
“I was really happy with how we swung the bats,” West Michigan manager Tony Cappuccilli said. “We saw a lot of hard contact. But I was also thrilled about the way some of our pitchers threw. Like (Carlos) Marciano twice, (Max) Alba, and (Andrew) Sears.”
Cappuccilli and his staff are seeing the fruits of a creative approach to handling the obstacles of the season, and in turn, the players are finding new ways to raise the bar night after night.
GAME 1 Final Score: 3-0:
As one of two Major Leaguers rehabbing with the Whitecaps for their series in Fort Wayne, 27-year-old Sawyer Gipson-Long got the nod to start game one. The righthander worked three clean innings for West Michigan, walking one and striking out a pair. Led by multi-hit games from John Peck and Payton Graham, the West Michigan offense combined for three runs off seven hits, and five strong scoreless frames from righthander Carlos Marcano led to Marcano’s first win of the season and a game one victory for West Michigan.
John Peck launches a solo homer to left center to put West Michigan up 1-0. It’s his 3rd home run of the season. pic.twitter.com/Z1VYYJX1OD
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) May 14, 2025
GAME 2 Final Score: 7-0:
When you enjoy the feeling of one shutout, why not add another? Behind an impressive five scoreless innings from 20-year-old Rayner Castillo, the pesky West Michigan offense was back to work, combining for 11 hits and featuring multi-hit nights for Max Clark, John Peck, Andrew Jenkins, and Izaac Pacheco. Collin Fields, Micah Ashman, and Trevin Michael maintained Castillo’s shutout in relief, and the Whitecaps cruised to their second consecutive series win.
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 3 Final Score: 9-8:
Carrying the momentum of a pair of wins going into game three, the Whitecaps lineup was ready to go to work. Witnessing the resurgence of Izaac Pacheco, the 22-year-old tore out of the game with a three-hit night, including his second home run of the year. Seth Stephenson, Jack Penney, Brett Callahan, and Abel Bastidas all contributed two-hit nights for a total of 14 hits on the night for the Whitecaps. After suffering an injury while running in the second inning, Brett Callahan was removed from the game and placed on the Injured List shortly after. Carrying a 7-5 lead over the Tincaps going into the fifth inning, a passed ball by West Michigan catcher Archer Brookman, followed by throwing errors from Brookman and first baseman Izaac Pacheco, Fort Wayne was able to post an additional three runs on the play. The one-run lead by the TinCaps would prove to be enough to hold off West Michigan from making it three straight wins.
And Izaac Pacheco with a laser beam of a homer to make it a 7-2 Whitecaps lead. pic.twitter.com/ZMmyLUTWR4
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) May 15, 2025
GAME 4 Final Score: 8-4:
A rehabbing Wenceel Perez joined the Whitecaps lineup on Friday and wasted no time with the at-bats he was given. The 25-year-old finished 2-for-2 on the night with a double and a run scored for the Whitecaps. Izaac Pacheco was back to irritating the Fort Wayne pitching staff with another multi-hit night, bringing him to five hits over just two games. Adding his fourth home run of the year, Andrew Jenkins finished 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored, and on the hill in relief, Max Alba was masterful over four innings, walking one, striking out seve,n and not allowing a hit to earn his first win of the year for the Whitecaps.
Wenceel Pérez smokes a double to deep center in his first plate appearance with West Michigan. pic.twitter.com/dF4BlboDRv
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) May 16, 2025
GAME 5 Final Score: 4-1:
On Saturday, Tony Cappuccilli looked to big West Michigan lefty Andrew Sears, and Sears proved to be a force to be reckoned with against the Fort Wayne lineup. Over five score frames, Sears held the Tincaps to two hits and struck seven without allowing a walk. John Peck, Luke Gold, and Archer Brookman each posted a multi-hit night towards West Michigan’s eight hits overall. Max Clark and Luke Gold each added a pair of RBI, and the run support proved enough to collect a second win for Andrew Sears this season.
Max Clark, showing off the glove, makes a great catch. pic.twitter.com/9JE3sqHN8I
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) May 18, 2025
GAME 6 Final Score: 3-2:
Sawyer Gipson-Long was back on the bump for West Michigan to start the series finale on Sunday afternoon. While Gipson-Long was originally slated for four innings, an escalated pitch count ended the day at 2 ⅔ innings with one run allowed off 46 pitches. At the plate, it was once again Izaac Pacheco at work with his eighth double of the year and a pair of RBI. Seth Stephenson led the West Michigan offense in hits with a pair, marking his 11th multi-hit game this season. 21-year-old Carlos Marcano capped off a truly impressive week with four scoreless frames, walking one and striking out five. In the top of the 6th inning, Wenceel Perez was struck by a pitch in the knee, requiring attention from the team’s training staff. After a brief period, Perez was able to leave the field on his own and was replaced in right field by Patrick Lee. With two outs in the 9th inning, TinCaps Nerwilian Enrique Cedeño attempted to stretch an RBI-single into a double, but rightfielder Patrick Lee sent a money shot to second to end the game and give five of six games to the Whitecaps.
This is what you call easy effort.
103 MPH off the bat on a long out for #Tigers Max Clark. pic.twitter.com/LI9awYkquv
— Emily Waldon (@EmilyCWaldon) May 18, 2025
Up Next: Tonight, West Michigan is back at LMCU Ballpark for a six-game series with the Dodgers’ Midwest League affiliate, the Great Lakes Loons. Following the series, the Whitecaps jump back on the road to head south to face the Dayton Dragons.
Pitcher of the Week: LHP Andrew Sears
A 10th-round pick in 2023, 6’3 lefty Andrew Sears is getting his first taste of the Midwest League this season. Sears, 22, posted a 2.51 ERA over 89 ⅔ innings with Class-A Lakeland in 2024. While April (14 IP) was not the most welcoming to the Rhode Island native, Sears has done a 180 in May (14 IP), and it’s something to pay attention to. Since April, Sears has nearly evaporated his 7.07 ERA, bringing it down to 0.64 during hs work in May. The combination of more favorable Midwest weather and a healthy dose of confidence should result in a pretty entertaining campaign this season.
Player of the Week: INF Izaac Pacheco
It’s been a long time coming for Izaac Pacheco and no one is more aware of this than Izaac Pacheco. While the ingredients have always been there, the Tigers’ 2021 2nd-round pick has had an up-hill battle to bring everything together connsistently. Following a broken hamate bone, surgery and one IL stint this season, Pacheco is finally healthy and the numbers more than reflected that this past week. Over five outings against the TinCaps, Pacheco combined for a five-game hit streak, two multi-hit games, nine hits, five runs, three doubles, two triples, one home run and six RBI. Pacheco’s accomplishments were rewarded with being named Midwest League Player of the Week.
Whitecap to Watch: RHP Carlos Marcano
Although still only 21 years old, Carlos Marcano has been quietly working in the Tigers’ farm system since signing as an international free agent out of Venezuela in January, 2021. The 6’2 righthander spent all of 2024 with West Michigan, booking 112 innings for the Whitecaps and posting a 3.86 ERA. Leading into last week, Marcano has worked strictly as a starter over six appearances this season, but facing the TinCaps, the West Michigan staff shifted Marcano to a relief role and the new role was embraced without a hitch. Over nine combined relief innings, Marcano did not allow a run.
Week Seven Notes:
According to multiple sources, Kevin McGonigle is expected to rejoin West Michigan this week.
Following an injury sustained while running, OF Brett Callahan was placed on the Injured List, and OF Patrick Lee was called up to fill Callahan’s slot.
Josue Briceño is nearing the end of a stint on the Injured List and expects to be reactivated this week for West Michigan’s series with Great Lakes.Before Sunday’s game, a rehabbing Wenceel Perez was expected to be promoted to Toledo for the next phase of his rehab assignment, but due to a hit-by-pitch to his knee during the game, it will depend on how careful the Tigers want to be with moving him.
Hey Detroit Tigers fans! If you enjoy Tigers Minor League Report and want to help us keep bringing you the latest updates and in-depth analysis, consider contributing to our efforts. We operate entirely on a volunteer basis, and every bit of support goes a long way. You can donate to us directly via our GoFundMe or become a valued member by subscribing to our YouTube channel. Or take your fandom to the next level by joining our Patreon community. Additionally, you can shop for some awesome gear at our TMLR store. Your support helps us continue our mission to provide you with quality content on all things Tigers Minor League. Thank you!
Chris Brown 
Joe Rampe