Tigers Minor League Recap: Toledo and West Michigan hit parade

Toledo Mud Hens (Triple-A)

Toledo 10-Louisville 5 (Toledo 28-24) have won three in a row.

Top Performers:

• Parker Meadows: 3-for-5, 3B, 3 RBI, 2 R

• Hao-Yu Lee: 2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI, SB

• Nick Margevicius (W, 2-1): 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 K

Toledo Mud Hens used timely hitting and a dominant stretch from starter Nick Margevicius to take down the Louisville Bats 10-5 on Tuesday night at Fifth Third Field.

Toledo broke a scoreless tie in the second inning behind Parker Meadows, who laced a two-out triple to plate two and set the tone early. Hao-Yu Lee added a two-run double in the fourth and tacked on an RBI single in the sixth, continuing his breakout campaign with a 3-RBI night.

The Mud Hens padded their lead in the seventh thanks to a two-run double by Ryan Kreidler, followed by an RBI single from Meadows, who finished with three hits and three RBIs. Akil Baddoo also contributed with a late RBI double and a stolen base.

On the mound, Margevicius worked five strong innings, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out four. He gave way to Matt Manning, who surrendered a run in the sixth before Tyler Owens and Jordan Balazovic held the line.

Parker Meadows hits one to left and takes advantage of the defensive for a triple. pic.twitter.com/myBcVuMjHw

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) May 27, 2025

Erie SeaWolves (Double-A)

Reading 1-0 Erie

Top performers:

Max Anderson 1-for-3, 2B

Garrett Burhenn (L, 5-1) – 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 6 K

Austin Bergner – 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

Garrett Burhenn turned in a quality start and Max Anderson extended his hitting streak to 17 games, but it wasn’t enough as the SeaWolves fell 1-0 in a pitcher’s duel against the Reading Fightin Phils on Tuesday morning at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Burhenn (5-1) took his first loss of the season despite allowing just one earned run over five innings. He struck out six and walked four, with the only damage coming in the second inning, when Keaton Anthony doubled and later scored on a Leandro Pineda RBI double.

Erie’s offense struggled to find rhythm against Reading’s pitching staff, managing just four hits. Their best scoring chance came in the fourth when Anderson opened the frame with a double, but he was erased on a fielder’s choice at third.

Austin Bergner kept the SeaWolves in it with three scoreless innings, striking out two and allowing only two hits. But the offense couldn’t capitalize, grounding out or flying out in key spots throughout the day.

Anderson’s 13th double of the season was the lone offensive highlight, continuing a torrid stretch at the plate for the infielder.

West Michigan Whitecaps (High-A)

Top performances:

Josue Briceño: 2-for-2, HR (8), 3 RBI, BB (left game with shoulder injury)

Kevin McGonigle: 2-for-5, 2B, 2 R

Andrew Jenkins: 1-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI

Seth Stephenson: 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, SB

Austin Murr: 2-for-4, 3B, R

The West Michigan Whitecaps used a five-run fifth inning and a balanced offensive attack to erase a three-run deficit and defeat the Dayton Dragons 12-7 on Tuesday night. The win came despite losing catcher Josue Briceño, who exited after taking a shot to the shoulder while behind the plate in the fifth.

Briceño had already left his mark on the game, launching his eighth home run of the season in the first inning,  a three-run blast that gave West Michigan a 3-0 lead. He reached base all three times before departing, going 2-for-2 with a homer, a walk, and three RBIs.

Josue Briceño crushes this hanging curve 384 feet, 107 MPH off the bat. 3-0 West Michigan pic.twitter.com/hlrBaBSX5H

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) May 27, 2025

Dayton responded with seven runs across the first four innings, including a three-run homer by Carlos Jorge and a two-run shot by John Michael Faile to take a 7-4 lead. But West Michigan flipped the script in the fifth. Izaac Pacheco walked in a run, Andrew Jenkins doubled home two, and Seth Stephenson capped the rally with a two-run double, putting the Whitecaps back in front for good.

Austin Murr added a triple in the eighth and finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Kevin McGonigle stayed hot with two hits, a walk, and two runs scored, extending his season average to .368.

On the mound, Rayner Castillo started but struggled through three innings, allowing five earned runs and two homers. Marco Jimenez picked up the win in relief, while Trevor Michael and Micah Ashman combined for four scoreless innings to secure the victory. The Whitecaps have the league’s best bullpen ERA at 2.61.

West Michigan improved to 31-15 with the win. Hayden Minton was called up from Lakeland earlier in the day. Minton in seven starts, has struckout 33 in 31 innings of work. Lakeland’s contest was postponed due to rain.