Tigers Minor League Recap – 4/23

Toledo Mud Hens (Triple-A)

Final: Omaha 1 – Toledo 6

Top Performer(s):

Ben Malgeri, CF — 2-for-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI
Corey Julks, RF — 2-for-3, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB
Cal Stevenson, LF — 2-for-2, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB

Dylan File — 5.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K. Dylan had a pretty good outing. He was able to get a 28% Whiff% to go with a 78% first pitch strike rate. He allowed 6 hard hit balls, but that was on 15 batted balls so it was pretty good. He got 3 of his 6 Ks on the fastball, 2 on his changeup, and the last on his curveball, which averaged 2613 RPMs.

Game notes:

Like all of the affiliates tonight, the offense got off to a quick start with their run scoring. 4 runs in the 3rd, 2 more in the 4th, all runs scored via a home run. It started with Cal Stevenson and Ben Malgeri hitting back-to-back solo shots in the 3rd inning. Then after Tyler Gentry gets on base from a passed ball after a strike out, Corey Julks would hit a 2-run shot. The next inning Ben Malgeri would get his 2nd of the game, a 2-run shot, after Cal Stevenson gets hit by the first pitch of the inning.

109.3mph 445ft blast off the bat of Ben Malgeri. He has homered on back to back nights pic.twitter.com/J6JUjRSwSB

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) April 23, 2026

The staff would be pretty good themselves. Dylan File started the game, going 5.1 IP, and get 6 Ks on 84 pitches. Drew Sommers, Sean Guenther, and Tanner Rainey would be the bullpen arms used — they’d strike out 7 of the 15 batters they’d face. Drew Sommers got the majority of the bullpen innings with 1.2, and would allow just 1 base runner on a walk.

Tomorrow’s projected starters:

Lael Lockhart (1-1, 4.91 ERA) vs TBD

Erie SeaWolves (Double-A)

Final: Binghamton 1 – Erie 3

Top Performer(s):

Brett Callahan, CF — 2-for-5, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB
EJ Exposito, 3B — 2-for-5, 2 RBI
Aaron Antonini, DH — 2-for-5, HR, R, RBI

Carlos Peña — 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K. Second straight 5.0 IP, 8 K, 0 BB performance for Carlos Pena, this one better than the last since he gave up just the 1 run. Pena continues to dominate the AA level this year, hopefully we see him get a longer chance in Toledo before the end of the season.

Game Notes:

Erie would see their first 7 hitters put the ball in play and get on base, scoring 2 runs. That could have been higher if not for Peyton Graham getting thrown out at second base trying to advance after an error by the 3B and then John Peck getting caught stealing 2B. Luckily, it wouldn’t make an difference as the 2 runs would be all the Erie Seawolves would need. They would drive in 1 more in the 5th on an Izaac Pacheco sacrifice fly.

The Seawolves bullpen would follow in the footsteps of the starter, Carlos Pena. They’d combine for 8 more Ks and allow just 3 base runners, 2 of which came in the bottom of the 8th, in their 4.0 IP. The 8th inning was the Rumble Ponies best chance of a comeback as Wandison Charles gave up a walk and then a single to get 2 men on with just 1 out. Charles would settle in and finish his night with 2 more Ks to end the inning. Luke Taggart would come in and get his 2nd save of season.

Tomorrow’s projected starters:

Dariel Fregio (0-0, 1.17 ERA) vs Brendan Girton (0-1, 5.06 ERA)

West Michigan Whitecaps (High-A)

Final: Lake County 7  – West Michigan 1

Top Performer(s):

Ricardo Hurtado, C — 2-for-4, HR, R, RBI, BB
Nolan McCarthy, RF — 1-for-2, 2 BB
Juan Hernandez, 2B — 2-for-4, 2B

Jalen Evans — 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K. Setting a career high in Ks, Jalen had arguably the best outing of his brief career. He was efficient (23 pitches need for 5 outs) and allowed just the 2 base runners while stranding the 1 inherited runner.

Game Notes:

The offense peaked with the solo shot form Ricardo Hurtado in the first inning. Despite having 12 guys reach base, that 1 run would be all they could muster. And it was Juan Hernandez’s ground rule double in the 5th that would be the only other extra base hit the team would get.

Lucas Elissalt got the start and got his 2nd loss on the season as he gave up 3 runs in 4.1 IP. The strikeouts continue to be there (5 today), but today there was a lot of extra base hits off of him including giving up the first HR of the year. Jalen Evans did a great job coming in for Lucas and it was he and Inohan Paniagua who would keep Lake County off the board. Combined, they allowed just 2 base runners and struck out 6 in 3 IP.

Tomorrow’s projected starters:

Rayner Castillo (0-2, 7.84 ERA) vs Rafe Schlesinger (1-1, 2.53 ERA)

Lakeland Flying Tigers (Single-A)

Final: Tampa 11  – Lakeland 8

Top Performer(s):

Javier Osorio, 3B — 2-for-3, HR, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI
Jesus Pinto, RF — 2-for-5, 3B, RBI
Anibal Salas, LF — 1-for-4, 2B, R, RBI

Malachi Witherspoon — 3.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K. Malachi continues to show the stuff that made the Tigers take him in the 2nd round in last years draft. 3 pitches averaging over 2600 RPMs, 30% Whiff%, 96.9 MPH 4-seam fastball. The outing wasn’t his best on the young season, but it’s very encouraging to see these metrics and his Ks growing.

Game Notes:

The offense would score in 5 of the 9 innings tonight, including 4 runs in the 1st when they sent 10 batters up. 4 of their first 5 batters had BIP that were 99+ MPH, which were a triple, sac fly, single, double. On the game, the Flying Tigers would have 5 XBH. Javier Osorio would have 2 of them with his double and HR. All 9 batters would get on-base at least 1 time. Not mentioned above, but impressive no less, Jude Warwick would get on base 3 times and all 3 were via walks.

Pitching on the other hand would struggle this game. There would be 6 Lakeland pitchers. Witherspoon started the game and would be followed up by (in order) Jan Caraballo, Cash Kuiper, Pedro Garcia, Andrew Pogue, Jatnk Diaz. Cash Kuiper got hit around the worst, giving up 5 hits and allowing 5 runs pitching the 5th and part of the 6th inning, seeing his ERA skyrocket to 33.75 on the young season. The only pitcher to not allow a run was Jatnk Diaz, but his night was not really much better as he walked the bases loaded and needed 26 pitches to get through his inning. Combined, the staff gave up 13 hard hits in the game.

Tomorrow’s projected starters: TBD vs TBD

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