It’s a well-known fact that the second half roster of a minor league club rarely looks the way it did in the first half.
The Whitecaps have been no exception.
After welcoming back infielder Jack Penney from the Injured List, the Whitecaps promoted pitchers Micah Ashman and Max Alba to Erie to join Josue Briceño, Max Clark, and Kevin McGonigle. Despite the changing of the guard in West Michigan, the cultural resiliency that manager Tony Cappuccilli has referenced all season long has hardly missed a step.
Since transferring the largest grouping of promotions, the Whitecaps have still taken 10 of their last 15 games and will enter this week at 64-31, the most wins of any branch within the Tigers organization.
While the key contributors early in the season were undeniable, the remainder of the roster continues to prove that it takes the contribution of an entire team, and they’re finding ways to prove it time and again.
GAME 1 – West Michigan: 6, Peoria: 5
Kicking off the series at Dozer Park, righthander Hayden Minton got the nod for West Michigan, and unfortunately for the 24-year-old, the Peoria lineup came ready to play. Over his 3 2/3 frames, Minton was tagged for five earned runs, while walking three and striking out five. Multi-hit nights for Austin Murr and Seth Stephenson contributed four of the eight West Michigan hits of the evening, including Murr’s sixth home run of the year to score Izaac Pacheco in the second inning. In the fifth, Andrew Jenkins tacked on his seventh home run of the year, Seth Stephenson added an RBI single to bring the Whitecaps within one run, and then proceeded to steal home to mark his 30th stolen base of the season. Fast forward to the eighth, and it was once again Austin Murr who stepped up for the ‘Caps with an RBI-double to give West Michigan an eventual 6-5 victory.
Austin Murr hits the go ahead double as West Michigan takes a 6-5 lead. pic.twitter.com/BKFyCWdErR
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) July 23, 2025
GAME 2 – West Michigan: 9, Peoria: 4
Some smart base running and solid work by a few of the usual offensive contributors led to a classic night for the West Michigan offense. Izaac Pacheco started the night with an RBI single, and thanks to a fielding error by the Peoria defense, Austin Murr reached successfully, and the Whitecaps plated another pair of runs. At the top of the third, the ‘Caps were at it again. Austin Murr tacked on two more RBI to his resume with his seventh double of the year, and RBI-singles from Woody Hadeen and Bennett Lee gave the West Michigan offense a 7-0 advantage. To cap off the third, Seth Stephenson booked his fifth triple of the season, plating another pair of runs for the ‘Caps. A pair of scoreless relief innings for Freddy Pacheco landed the righthander his first win of the season with West Michigan.
Woody Hadeen with a RBI single and West Michigan is up 6-0 pic.twitter.com/8nIwbdo1Cq
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) July 24, 2025
GAME 3 – Peoria: 9, West Michigan: 5
In typical West Michigan offensive fashion, it was a quick start to the night at the plate for the ‘Caps. Patrick Lee began the second inning with an RBI single, a sacrifice fly from Archer Brookman plated another run, and just a handful of days returned to West Michigan after his stint on the Injured List, Jack Penney punched his third home run of the season for the ‘Caps to score three. Unfortunately for West Michigan, those would be the only runs of the day, and the Peoria offense zeroed in on the Whitecaps’ pitching staff. West Michigan starter Joe Miller and relievers Joe Adametz and Dariel Fregio were tagged for a combined nine earned runs over seven innings, handing the ‘Caps their first series loss against the Chiefs.
Jack Penney saw 13 pitches in his first AB, and now he crushes a 3-run homer to right to put the Whitecaps up 5-0. pic.twitter.com/2oIyCZIMRV
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) July 25, 2025
GAME 4 – West Michigan: 8, Peoria: 3
It’s not a true Midwest League series without at least one tantrum from Mother Nature. A balmy 87 degrees at gametime, the ‘Caps struck first in game four, thanks to Izaac Pacheco’s 21st double of the season and Andrew Jenkins knocking his eighth home run of the year to score a pair. Jump ahead to the top of the fifth, and the ‘Caps were able to plate one more before a weather delay forced the game to be postponed until the following day. Thanks to more favorable conditions on Saturday, West Michigan got to work again. Austin Murr knocked his ninth double of the year to score a pair, and an RBI single from Patrick Lee lifted the Whitecaps to an 8-0 lead. The West Michigan pitching staff collected eight scoreless frames, and despite a shaky three-run frame from Carlos Lequerica, West Michigan was able to hold on for an 8-3 win over Peoria.
Andrew Jenkins crushes a 3-run homer to left to give the Whitecaps an early lead. pic.twitter.com/Ppfu9705Rj
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) July 26, 2025
GAME 5 – Peoria: 6, West Michigan: 1
In the second half of the Saturday double feature, the West Michigan offense struggled to find its footing. At the top of the first inning, Peyton Graham knocked his 18th double of the year to score Seth Stephenson, and that would end up being the only West Michigan offense that day. Stephenson contributed his 14th double of the year to combine with Graham for two of the only three West Michigan hits for the day. West Michigan lefty Andrew Sears and reliever CJ Weins were tagged for six runs over 5 1/3 innings and proved to be more than the West Michigan offense was able to overcome.
GAME 6 – West Michigan: 7, Peoria: 6
To wrap up the series, West Michigan looked to 22-year-old righthander Josh Randall to make his High-A debut against the Chiefs. The 2024 third-round draft pick was fluid, working five frames without issuing a walk, striking out six, and allowing one unearned run. Izaac Pacheco began the offensive push for West Michigan with an RBI-double, his 22nd of the year, and Andrew Jenkins followed up with an RBI-single to give West Michigan a quick 2-0 lead. The ‘Caps carried a 5-1 lead into the 6th, but a shaky 2/3 of an inning from reliever Hayden Minton handed Minton his first blown save of the year and secured four runs for the Chiefs. In the seventh, it was once again Andrew Jenkins coming through for the ‘Caps with a two-run blast, his ninth of the year, to give West Michigan the edge they needed to take the series finale.
Izaac Pacheco with a 2-out RBI double high off the wall in left to give West Michigan an early lead. pic.twitter.com/QTmwLx9fS5
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) July 27, 2025
Up Next: Tonight, West Michigan returns home for an extended stretch of back-to-back homestands at LMCU Ballpark. Starting with a six-game campaign against the Dayton Dragons, the Whitecaps will then welcome the Cedar Rapids Kernels for another six games in Comstock Park.
Pitcher of the Week: RHP Josh Randall
Roughly a week into his promotion to West Michigan and already the Tigers’ 2024 third-round pick is beginning to stir up conversation. The 6’4, 240-pound right-hander out of San Diego debuted against the Peoria Chiefs and did not disappointment. With the benefit of plenty of natural downhill plane from his 6’4 frame, Randall, 22 is best knwn for his sinker/slider combination with a changeup mixed in that still desires some development. Following the promotion of several of the key arms for West Michigan, Randall is positioned to be a valued contributor as the Midwest League season progresses.
Player of the Week: INF Andrew Jenkins
The newly crowned Midwest League Player of the Week has been one of the most unassuming and enjoyable stories to follow with West Michigan this season. The Tigers’ 9th-round pick in 2022 ended the 2024 season with the Whitecaps, but a 14-game stretch didn’t give him much of an opportunity to show what he was capable of offensively. The 24-year-old has set offensive career-highs in nearly every category, including nine home runs after knocking a combined five home runs over his first three seasons. Over his active eight-game hit streak, Jenkins has booked 13 hits, seven runs, four doubles, one triple, three home runs, and 10 RBI.
Whitecap to Watch: INF Izaac Pacheco
Izaac Pacheco is simply playing at a different level this season. After overcoming a string of injuries, the 22-year-old has caught the eye of scouts across the league with noticeable confidence defensively and a tighter, more fluid swing at the plate. Hitting in his last 10 straight outings for the Whitecaps, Pacheco has collected 13 hits, 13 runs, five doubles, one home run, and five RBI. With his growing confidence and willingness to try any method for athletic growth, the results speak for themselves. For the first time in a long time, the Tigers’ 2021 second-round pick is in an uninterrupted rhythm, and it shows.
Chris Brown 
Rogelio Castillo 
Jerry McKennan