On this edition of the Tigers Minor League Recap, Erie is rained out once again, Toledo uses the long ball well in Worcester, and both West Michigan and Lakeland get strong pitching performances.
Toledo Mud Hens (Triple-A) 7-2 win at Worcester
Top Performer(s):
Brewer Hicklen: 2-for-3, BB
Akil Baddoo: 3-for-4, 2 HR, 2 RBI
Jahmal Jones: 1-for-4, HR
John Brebbia (Rehab) 1IP, 1K
Nick Margeviciusn (Toledo debut) 5IP 5K
Game Summary:
Akil Baddoo powered the Mud Hens to a 7–2 win over Worcester, launching two home runs and scoring three times in the process. His second home run was 461 feet, just was an absolute bomb.
Baddoo opened the scoring with a solo shot in the 2nd, then tied the game 2–2 with his second homer of the night in the 4th. That inning turned into a big one for Toledo, as Stephen Scott followed with a two-run blast.
Akil Baddoo with an absolutely monstrous solo homer that went 461 feet to dead center. Cleared the batter’s eye by a LOT. pic.twitter.com/hbeL0r8xCm
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) May 3, 2025
Jahmai Jones added a solo homer in the 5th, and Scott drove in another run in the 6th on a fielder’s choice. Carlos Mendoza capped off the scoring in the 8th with an RBI single.
John Brebbia made a rehab start for Toledo and worked a clean first inning, retiring the side on just 11 pitches with one strikeout. The veteran righty looked sharp in his first appearance since hitting the injured list.
Bailey Horn took over in the second but surrendered a two-run homer to Trayce Thompson before exiting. From there, Jordan Balazovic tossed a scoreless third, and Nick Margevicius delivered five dominant innings in long relief, allowing no runs while striking out four to earn the win.
Matt Seelinger handled the ninth, closing the door by striking out the side. Balzovic has a streak of 17 innings in which he has not allowed an earned run.
Erie SeaWolves (Double-A) PPD
Another rain out so Erie will try to play another doubleheader tomorrow.
West Michigan Whitecaps (High-A) W 1-0 at Wisconsin.
Seth Stephenson: 2-for-4, SB
Izaac Pacheco: 2-for-4, 2B
Archer Brookman: 1-for-3, R
Josue Briceño: 0-for-3, SF, RBI
Joe Miller: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K
Trevin Michael: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Preston Howey (S): 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Game Summary:
It took eight innings to break through, but Josue Briceño’s sacrifice fly was all West Michigan needed in a 1–0 win over Wisconsin.
After stranding runners early and battling through a pitcher’s duel, Archer Brookman and Seth Stephenson sparked a rally in the eighth with back-to-back singles. Briceño followed with a deep fly to right, scoring Brookman for the game’s only run.
The Whitecaps’ bullpen was superb. Trevin Michael, Preston Howey, and company worked four shutout innings in relief of Joe Miller, who tossed five scoreless with nine strikeouts. Wisconsin managed just six hits and went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.
Lakeland Flying Tigers (Single-A) W 2-1 over Palm Beach
(Top Performers):
Bryce Rainer: 1-for-3, BB, 2 RBI
Garrett Pennington: 2-for-2, 2 2B, HBP, R
Franyerber Montilla: 0-for-2, 2 BB, 2 SB, R
Josh Randall (W): 5.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
Duque Hebbert (H): 2.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Chris Williams Jr. (S): 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R
Game Summary:
Bryce Rainer’s two-run single in the third inning was all Lakeland needed in a tightly-contested 2–1 win over Palm Beach.
The Flying Tigers got to work in the third as Garrett Pennington doubled, Patrick Lee was hit by a pitch, and Franyerber Montilla worked a walk to load the bases. Rainer ripped a two-run single to center, driving in both runners for the only Lakeland scoring of the night.
On the mound, Josh Randall gave Lakeland a strong start, allowing just one run over five innings with six strikeouts. Duque Hebbert worked 2.2 scoreless innings in relief, and Chris Williams Jr. escaped a late jam in the ninth to pick up the save after Palm Beach put runners on the corners.
Lakeland’s defense turned two critical double plays, and Montilla swiped two bags—including third—in the eighth to help preserve the narrow lead.
FCL Opener: Tigers 3-Yankees 1
Enrique Jimenez: 2-for-4, 3B, RBI, R
Jesus Pinto: 1-for-4, R, SB
Maikol Orozco: 1-for-3, BB, R, SB, HBP
Ronald Ramirez: 0-for-3, R, HBP
Anibal Salas: 1-for-4, 3B
Kelvis Salcedo: 4IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
Ethan Schiefelbein (W): 3IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K
Antonio Florido (S) 2 IP, 1H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Game Summary:
The reigning Complex League champs opened their 2025 title defense with a gritty 3–1 win over the Yankees in Tampa.
Enrique Jimenez drove in the first run of the year with a third-inning RBI single, scoring Jesus Pinto, who had singled and swiped second. In a 1–1 tie in the seventh, Maikol Orozco drew a walk and came around to score the go-ahead run after a strikeout, passed ball, and error on a fielder’s choice.
The Tigers added insurance in the ninth as Ronald Ramirez was hit by a pitch, advanced on two wild pitches, and scored on a Juan Hernandez sac fly.
On the mound, Kelvis Salcedo battled through four frames, walking four and striking out four and Ethan Schiefelbein tossed three scoreless innings in relief with four strikeouts.
Chris Brown 
Joe Rampe 
Emily Waldon