West Michigan Whitecaps Notebook: Week 8

West Michigan Whitecaps Notebook

Entering Week Eight with a hold on the top slot in the Midwest League East, the West Michigan Whitecaps quickly discovered they would be facing a challenge on more than one front in their latest series.

The Great Lakes Loons pitching staff and Mother Nature.

In typical Midwest spring fashion, the rain settled in on the first day of the series and proved to be in no hurry to leave. The weather forced a postponement of game one and another delay for game two.

A positive note amidst the rainy weather, West Michigan welcomed back both Josue Briceño and Kevin McGonigle from the Injured List, but remain without the valued offensive contributions of Brett Callahan, who is continuing his stint on the Injured List.

GAME 1 Final Score: 2-1

Following the postponement of game one on Tuesday, the second attempt between the Loons and Whitecaps on Wednesday didn’t fare a whole lot better, with only three innings recorded before the rain once again forced the game to carry over into Thursday. Prior to the delay, Josue Briceño found an opportunity at the bottom of the second inning and jumped all over it with his seventh home run on the year.

While West Michigan finished with a subdued 5-for-23 offensively, Jack Penney booked a two-hit day, his 10th multi-hit game this season. The Loons weren’t able to capitalize at the plate, finishing 4-for-23 offensively behind a combined seven innings of one-run ball from West Michigan starter Rayner Castillo and in relief, Joe Miller. With the 2-1 victory, Miller collected his second win this season, moving to 2-1 on the year.

Josue Briceño just back from the IL, hits a solo shot to right to put West Michigan on the board. @ThatDanHasty on the call pic.twitter.com/py59xD86BH

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) May 21, 2025

GAME 2 Final Score: 7-1

Getting to know the West Michigan Whitecaps, one thing you learn pretty quickly is they don’t like being doubted. Back to their offensive shenanigans, Izaac Pacheco posted a multi-hit night, including his ninth double of the season. Combining for seven runs off eight hits, Max Clark found a way to add some flare in a way he’s become so well-known for with a grand slam. This marked the second time this season that Clark has posted four RBI in a single game. West Michigan starter Max Alba held Great Lakes to one earned run over four frames, striking out seven.

That slam was Max-imum damage 💥

Max Clark (@Tigers) clears ’em all for the @wmwhitecaps. pic.twitter.com/bQfeE5YPFz

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) May 23, 2025

GAME 3 Final Score: 3-2

It wasn’t long before the matchup between the Whitecaps and Loons quickly turned into a pitching duel that stretched throughout the remainder of the series. Knuckleballer Kenny Serwa had the hill for West Michigan, holding the Loons to one earned run over five frames, while striking out four without a walk. In return, Loons starter Eriq Swan generated four scoreless frames, walking three and striking out six.

Another combined five-hit day for West Michigan was spearheaded by Peyton Graham, who finished 3-for-4 with a double and a homer, his first home run of the year. At the top of the ninth inning, Great Lakes capitalized off a West Michigan fielding error, giving the Loons a 3-2 win over West Michigan in a rare home loss for the Whitecaps. With 1 ⅓ flawless frames for Great Lakes closer Carson Hobbs, the 23-year-old moved to 3-0 on the year for the Loons.

The elusive Kevin McGonigle in his natural habitat. pic.twitter.com/zBCwl85vnX

— Emily Waldon (@EmilyCWaldon) May 23, 2025

GAME 4 Final Score: 4-0

Keeping with the tradition of a pitching-heavy series, the Great Lakes pitching staff once again found a way to limit a generally strong West Michigan offense. Finishing a combined 4-for-24 at the plate, Kevin McGonigle and Peyton Graham each contributed a two-hit night, with both of McGonigle’s hits coming by way of doubles. This marked the second multi-double game for McGonigle already this season. West Michigan starter Andrew Sears surrendered three runs to the Loons lineup, although only one was earned, giving Sears his second loss of the season and moving to 2-2 on the year.

There he is. Double to start the day for #Tigers Kevin McGonigle. pic.twitter.com/wOr023Fivs

— Emily Waldon (@EmilyCWaldon) May 24, 2025

GAME 5 Final Score: 4-3

Over the course of the season, the West Michigan Whitecaps have picked up the nickname, “The cardiac ‘Caps.” And the remainder of the series would turn out to be the perfect example of how that nickname was applied. With the Loons carrying a 1-0 lead into the fifth inning, it was West Michigan outfielder Patrick Lee who pushed the Whitecaps on the board with an RBI double. Following a home run from Loons’ Zyhir Hope, it was Patrick Lee again, this time with a solo home run in the seventh inning, his first of the season, to tie up the night at three a piece.

With the game being the back half of a doubleheader, the regulation seven innings was stretched to eight, meaning yet another extra-innings contest for the ‘Caps this season. A sacrifice fly from Whitecaps backstop Bennett Lee would prove to be enough to score Luke Gold and West Michigan squeaked out their 29th win of the season.

West Michigan was down to their final strike. Patrick Lee, on a 0-2 count, goes yard. pic.twitter.com/mQdWMppeUu

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) May 25, 2025

GAME 6 Final Score: 5-2

Factoring in the unpredictability of how the series had gone so far, Sunday’s finale was sure to not disappoint. The Loons looked to Peyton Martin to face the West Michigan lineup and he came as advertised, tossing five scoreless frames, walking one and striking out six. Behind Martin, the Great Lakes bullpen held West Michigan hitless going into the eighth inning. As he’s done in multiple clutch situations already this season, Seth Stephenson fired off his fourth home run, a solo shot to break up the Loons’ no-hit bid.

At the top of the ninth inning, Loons’ Mike Sirota, who had proven to be a head ache for West Michigan already in the series, knocked an RBI-double to give the Loons a 2-1 lead. At the bottom of the ninth, a double for Kevin McGonigle, a walk to Josue Briceño and a single for Peyton Graham set the table for reigning Midwest League Player of the Week, Izaac Pacheco. Sending a cutter out over the right field wall, Pacheco gave the Whitecaps their first ever walk-off grand slam in franchise history.

IZAAC PACHECO, ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!

Walks it off in style with a grand slam!

ANOTHER @wmwhitecaps walk off in the final minutes of this evening.

I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again. This team is different. pic.twitter.com/boA7xrxZRP

— Emily Waldon (@EmilyCWaldon) May 26, 2025

Up Next: Tonight, West Michigan is back on the road for their third meeting with the Dayton Dragons. After the six-game road stand, the Whitecaps return home to host Lake County at LMCU Ballpark.

Pitcher of the Week: RHP Carlos Lequerica

Signed as a free agent in July, 2023, Carlos Lequerica is quickly becoming a relief fixture for the West Michigan pitching staff this season. Over a combined 18 innings of relief, Lequerica has held opposition to one earned run, resulting in a 0.50 ERA on the year. The 6’1 righthander is currently through six consecutive scoreless relief appearances. Although one of the most unassuming arms at first glance, Lequerica’s consistent production is forcing his name into conversation as we near the end of the first half of the season.

Player of the Week: INF Peyton Graham

Since his selection as the Tigers’ second-round pick in 2022, Peyton Graham has had to battle his way to this point before the fan base could truly get a look at what he’s capable of. The Oklahoma product played a key role in the series against a strong Great Lakes pitching staff, including seven hits, a pair of multi-hit games and his first home run of the season. With Graham finally on a healthy trejectory, we should be able to expect more of the same from the 24-year-old going forward.

Whitecap to Watch: OF Seth Stephenson

As a player on a constant mission to produce the best swing he’s capable of, Seth Stephenson is already being labeled, “different” in the best way. Among several adjustments at the plate, Stephenson has accepted change doesn’t always happen right away, but the 24-year-old is proving he’ll take the growing pains, if that he means bringing himself one step closer to the well-rounded player he hopes to become.

Week Eight Notes:
Following the return of Josue Briceño and Kevin McGonigle off the Injured List, West Michigan was forced to move infielder Jack Penney to the 7-day IL shortly after.
Triple-A outfielder Brewer Hicklen joined the West Michigan roster over the weekend, in an effort to obtain more at-bats after suffering some hamstring discomfort with Toledo. If all goes well, Hicklen is expected to rejoin Toledo this week.