Tigers Minor League Recap – 5/7

Toledo Mud Hens (Triple-A)

Final: Memphis 11 – Toledo 4

Top Performer(s):

Cal Stevenson, RF — 1-for-4, 3B, R, RBI
Corey Julks, LF — 1-for-3, R, RBI, BB
Gage Workman, 3B — 2-for-4, 2 R, SB

Matt Seelinger — 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K. 4 whiffs on 5 swings tonight and a total of 12 pitches, he was by far the best pitcher for the Mud Hens tonight. And it’s the only the second outing out of his last 6 that he hasn’t allowed a run.

Game notes:

What a game this was. The Mud Hens had the lead after the 6th, 3-2. Memphis got the scoring started in the 2nd with a 2-run home run, but Cal Stevenson would help bring the Mud Hens back in the bottom of the inning with a triple to drive in the 1st run and then scoring on a Luke Ritter single a few batters later. Then they’d take the lead in the 6th on a Corey Julks single. And that’s where it would all fall apart for the Mud Hens.

The Redbirds would send all 9 guys up to bat in the 7th, scoring 6 runs on a pair of 3-run shots. The first one given up by Eric Silva, the second of Tyler Mattison with 4 of the 6 runs being charged to Silva. But Tyler Mattison wouldn’t be done as he gives up his 2nd 3-run home run the next inning giving the Redbirds an 11-3 lead and leaving the Mud Hens far behind.

Tomorrow’s projected starters:

Sawyer Gipson-Long (1-2, 4.86 ERA) vs Pete Hansen (0-0, 1.32 ERA)

Erie SeaWolves (Double-A)

Final: Harrisburg 2 – Erie 4

Top Performer(s):

Peyton Graham, LF — 2-for-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI
E.J. Exposito, 2B — 1-for-4, HR, R, RBI
Brett Callahan, CF — 3-for-4, R, BB, 2 SB

Wandisson Charles — 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K. Wandisson’s statline looked really good tonight. Gave up a single and a double, but didn’t give up any runs. He was able to get 20 strikes on 25 pitches tonight facing 8 batters. It’s his second straight outing of 2.0 IP and no runs allowed.

Game Notes:

It was the Peyton Graham show tonight as he hits home runs 1 and 2 on the season and home runs 1 and 2 for his AA career. They were the first 2 runs scored for the Seawolves coming in the 2nd and the 4th innings. Both of them came in 2-2 counts and 1 out. In the 7th, E.J. Exposito decided to join in on the 2 strike home run fun with a solo shot himself, which would prove to be the winning run. However, it would not be the final run for the Seawolves. That came courtesy of an Izaac Pacheco triple in the 8th.

Peyton Graham launches his first home run of the year to give Erie an early lead. pic.twitter.com/5UkbXR0Frw

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) May 7, 2026

Peyton Graham waits on a breaking ball and smashes it out to the Rally Gally to put Erie up 2-1. It’s his 2nd home run of the game, and his 2nd of the year. pic.twitter.com/61knVzEwTJ

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) May 7, 2026

In the 2nd and 7th innings, the Harrisburg hitters would strike back to keep the game close. Sam Petersen got their first run on a solo shot himself in the 2nd with their second run coming on a Leandro Pineda double in the 7th. Those were the primary blemishes on the Erie pitching staff who gave up a total of 11 base runners on 6 hits and 5 walks. Sean Hunley started the game going 3.1 IP giving up the solo shot, walking 3 and striking out 3.

Tomorrow’s projected starters:

Joe Miller (0-1, 6.97 ERA) vs Kyle Luckham (2-1, 5.34 ERA)

West Michigan Whitecaps (High-A)

Final: Dayton 8  – West Michigan 5

Top Performer(s):

Garrett Pennington, 1B — 1-for-3, HR, RBI, 2 R, BB
Andrew Sojka, CF — 1-for-3, 2 RBI, R, BB
Caleb Shpur, LF — 1-for-3, 2 RBI

Jalen Evans — 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K. It took just 20 pitches for Jalen Evans to make it through the 8th and 9th innings and he was the only Whitecaps pitcher today to not give up a run. He was also super efficient with more of the batters he faced with 2 of 7 batters he faced taking up 10 of the pitches he threw.

Game Notes:

This game was a lot of fun if you like runs. Less so if you are a Whitecaps fan like we as they come out on the losing end of this one to bring the losing streak to 11 in a row now. The lone XBH by the Whitecaps came in the form of a 2 out solo home run from Garrett Pennington. Beyond that they had 3 singles (Andrew Sojka, Caleb Shpur, Clayton Campbell) where they were 3-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

On the flip side, pitching was not great. Lucas Elissalt started the game and gave up 4 runs (all earned) in 3.2 IP, all 4 runs allowed came via HRs. He did walk just 1 and strike out 5, but his ERA has now risen to 5.96 on the season.

Zack Lee came in the 4th to get the final out right away on a strike out and the Whitecaps offense would storm back to take the lead 5-4. Then a double with a guy on 2nd in the top 5th would allowed Dayton to tie the game.

The very next inning, Lee would let the first 2 base runners get on and then get 2 more outs before getting replaced by Ethan Sloan. The first batter he faced, second pitch, was sent out for a 3-run shot to give Dayton the final runs it would need.

Jalen Evans would eventually come in and get the 8th and 9th, pitching very well to end the game.

Tomorrow’s projected starters:

TBD vs Nestor Lorant (1-2, 2.66 ERA)

Lakeland Flying Tigers (Single-A)

Final: St. Lucie 1  – Lakeland 4

Top Performer(s):

Zach MacDonald, CF — 2-for-4, HR, 2B, R, RBI
Jack Goodman, 2B — 1-for-3, HR, R, RBI BB, SB
Javier Osorio, 3B — 1-for-4, 2 RBI, SB

Malachi Witherspoon — 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 10 K. What an outing for Malachi. He got his first win while striking out 10 batters in his longest outing of his brief career. He got 22 whiffs tonight which would be tied for 6th most in a tracked minor league game for the Tigers.

Game Notes:

The Flying Tigers hitters flexed their power early this game. Zach MacDonald and Jack Goodman would both hit their solo home runs in the bottom of the 1st inning. To take the lead and never give it back. There would be no more scoring until the bottom of the 6th when a Javier Osorio single would score 2 more runs.

Adding to his HR, Zach MacDonald added a double to his stat line giving him 19 XBH in 26 games played. He’s got more HRs and as many doubles as he does singles right now.

Zach MacDonald flops a double down the right field line. It’s his 19th extra-base hit on the season. pic.twitter.com/55f3nFdV0q

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) May 7, 2026

Zach MacDonald with another massive blast for his 9th home run of the year. This one left his bat at 105.5 MPH and went 439 feet to right center. @AaronArnstein on the call. pic.twitter.com/2gnLvZrcCN

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) May 7, 2026

But really, the pitching were the stars here tonight. Especially Malachi Witherspoon. His dominance tonight earned him the pitcher of the game for me. On top of the above notes, his 47% CSW% ranked 3rd among Tigers minor leaguers that have been measured. An insane outing for him.

Pedro Garcia and Jatnk Diaz also had great outings tonight. 33% and 43% Whiff% respectively, 4 Ks, 3 baserunners combined in their 4.0 IP. They all did an amazing job.

Tomorrow’s projected starters: TBD vs Cam Tilly (2-0, 4.64 ERA)

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