Tigers Minor League Recap – 8/27

Toledo Mud Hens (Triple-A)

Final: St. Paul 3 – Toledo 1

Top Performer(s):

Hao-Yu Lee, 2B — 2-for-4, 2B, RBI, SB
Eduardo Valencia, 1B — 0-for-2, 2 BB
Justyn-Henry Malloy, RF — 0-for-3, 2 BB

Troy Watson — 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 K. 2 IP Troy was dialed in tonight. He threw 70 pitches that generated 36 swings and 18 whiffs. His sweeper alone got 5 whiffs on 6 swings followed by his cutter that had 6 whiffs on 9 swings. He toped out at 96.4 MPH with his 4-seamer and averaged 2741 RPMs with his slider. A great start.

Game notes:

This was a pitching for the first 6 innings where both teams were allowing no runs. That was until Hao-Yu Lee hit his 20th double to score Gage Workman. Not to be outdone, St. Paul would hit a 2-run HR off Bailey Horn in the top of the 8th and tack on another run with a solo shot off of Alex Lange.

Troy Watson did a terrific job this game. The bullpen not quite as much. Combined they allowed 3 runs in their 4 innings and 6 of the 8 base runners.

The offense would make their attempt at a comeback though getting 2 on with just 1 out, but a force out and a line out would put an end to that.

Tomorrow’s projected starters:

TBD vs Andrew Morris (3-4, 4.22 ERA)

Erie SeaWolves (Double-A)

Final: New Hampshire 2 – Erie 3

Top Performer(s):

Eliezer Alfonzo , C — 1-for-2, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB, R
Josue Briceño, DH — 2-for-4
Danny Serretti, 3B — 2-for-4, RBI, SB

Andrew Sears — 6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K. Longest start of the season for him and his first AA win. He allowed 8 base runners, he really only got hit up bad in the 4th inning, where he gave up a 2-run shot.

Game Notes:

3 runs got the win tonight vs New Hampshire. All 3 came in the 7th inning thanks to a 2-run double by Eliezer Alfonzo followed by a single from Danny Serretti.

Erie used 3 pitchers tonight. Sears with the start and 6 innings followed by Travis Kuhn for an inning and Trevin Michael with 2 innings and the save, his first with Erie. Combined they only got 5 Ks, but were able to keep New Hampshire off the board enough to get the win.

Tomorrow’s projected starters:

Game 1: Max Alba (0-1, 6.97 ERA) vs Grant Rogers (6-7, 3.47 ERA)

West Michigan Whitecaps (High-A)

Final: Great Lakes 6 – West Michigan 2

Top Performer(s):

Brett Callahan, CF — 1-for-4, 2 RBI, BB, SB
Austin Murr, DH — 1-for-2, 2B, R, 2 BB
Jack Penney, 2B — 1-for-3, BB

Freddy Pacheco — 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K. Freddy has quietly put together a good stretch of appearances, including today. He allowed just the 1 base runner via a walk and struck out 3.

Game Notes:

Great Lakes came out ready to score some runs tonight putting up 3 in the 1st inning and another 1 in the 4th, 2 in the 5th. Rayner Castillo and Duque Hebbert combined for 5 innings and allowed 13 base runners and ER in those 5 innings.

West Michigan would score 2 runs on a Brett Callahan single in in the 6th and threatened again in the 8th, but came out with no runs scored.

Tomorrow’s projected starters:

Hayden Minton (6-2, 4.03 ERA) vs Maddux Bruns (2-3, 5.77 ERA)

Lakeland Flying Tigers (Single-A)

Final: St. Lucie 1 – Lakeland 3

Top Performer(s):

Cristian Santana, 1B — 2-for-2, 2 BB, 3 RBI
Nick Dumesnil, DH — 0-for-2, 2 BB, 2 SB
Jack Goodman, SS — 0-for-2, 2 BB

Gabriel Reyes — 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K. Gabriel’s outing was cut short today as he was hit by a 104.8 MPH line drive. Before that he was having a pretty good day. He got 8 whiffs on 24 swings and allowed just 1 hard hit ball, the one that hit him. Touched 95 with his 4-seam.

Game Notes:

It took a bases loaded double in the 6th inning by Cristian Santana to bring Lakeland the win today. Santana was on-base 4 times today. Junior Tilien, Nick Dumesnil, and Jack Goodman all would get on-base 2 times a piece. Dumesnil would add 2 stolen bases as well.

Cristian Santana rips a 3-run double into the left corner to give Lakeland the lead in the 6th. pic.twitter.com/FpMqEYo8DJ

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

Not only was Gabriel Reyes removed early after getting hit by a line drive, Jack Goodman would get some cramping that would get him removed from the game as well.

Ugh, we’ve seen way too much of this in 2025. Lakeland pitcher Gabriel Reyes gets hit by a 105 MPH line drive. Fortunately it didn’t hit him in the head, but he leaves the game. pic.twitter.com/lPED8iD8OE

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

The pitching was fantastic. Ignacio Briceno and Eliseo Mota would each get 2 innings while Jatnk Diaz and Ethan Sloan (who picked up the save) would get 1 IP a piece to close out the game and together they’d allow just 2 base runners.

Eliseo Mota continues to impress dropping his ERA to 1.86. In doing so, he got 3 whiffs on 3 swings vs his slider to bring his Whiff% vs his slider to 42.9% on the season.

Ethan Sloan was able to get the save today. He was our Player Profile this week, be sure to check it out.

Tomorrow’s projected starters: TBD vs TBD

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