Lakeland Flying Tigers

Lakeland Flying Tigers; Founded in 1960 ; Lakeland, Florida
Minor league affiliations
Class	Low-A (2021–present)
Previous classes	Class A-Advanced (1990–2020); Class A (1962–1989); Class D (1960)
League	Low-A Southeast (2021–present)
Division	West Division
Previous leagues	Florida State League (1960–2020)
Major league affiliations
Team	Detroit Tigers (1963–present)
Previous teams	San Francisco Giants (1962); Cleveland Indians (1960)
Minor league titles
League titles (4)	1976; 1977; 1992; 2012;
Team data
Name	Lakeland Flying Tigers (2007–present)
Previous names	Lakeland Tigers (1963–2006); Lakeland Giants (1962); Lakeland Indians (1960)
Ballpark	Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium (1966–2001, 2003–2015, 2017–present)
Previous parks	Henley Field (1960, 1962–1965, 2002, 2016)
Owner(s)/; Operator(s)	Detroit Tigers
General Manager	Zach Burek
Manager	Andrew Graham

The Lakeland Flying Tigers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Low-A Southeast and the Low-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. They are located in Lakeland, Florida, and play their home games at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium.

The team was established in 1960 as the Lakeland Indians, an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. After a one-year hiatus, the team was restarted in 1962 as the Lakeland Giants, an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. They joined the Detroit Tigers' farm system in 1963 and became known as the Lakeland Tigers before becoming the Flying Tigers in 2007. Their relationship with Detroit is one of the two longest unbroken affiliate relationships currently existing.^[1]

In 1997, playing with the Flying Tigers, Gabe Kapler led the Florida State League in doubles and total bases, and tied for first in extra base hits.^[2]

In 2012, the Flying Tigers won their first FSL title in 20 years by defeating the Jupiter Hammerheads, three games to two. It was the fourth league title in club history.^[3]

Team name[]

In 2006, the team introduced a new name and colors to pay homage to the Lakeland School of Aeronautics, later the Lodwick School of Aeronautics. The school trained over 8,000 pilots between 1940 and 1945, some of whom later flew with the Flying Tigers in China during World War II,^[4] and was actually located at the current site of Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium.^[5]

Roster[]

Lakeland Flying Tigers roster
v
t
Players				Coaches/Other
Pitchers -- Gio Arriera -- Drew Crosby ‡ 38 Nick Davila -- Jack Dellinger 44 Wilmer Flores -- Dario Gardea 20 Carlos Guzman 34 Aaron Haase 39 Xavier Javier -- Marco Jimenez 47 Sam Kessler 12 Carson King 41 Williander Moreno 19 Carlos Pena -- Cleiverth Perez 30 Erick Pinales 14 Gabriel Sequeira 22 Luke Sommerfield 24 Ted Stuka 25 Matt Walker 6 Robbie Welhaf ‡		Catchers 21 Josh Crouch -- Cordell Dunn -- Sam McMillan 34 Mike Rothenberg 37 Gresuan Silverio 51 Sergio Tapia 18 Eduardo Valencia Infielders 27 Trei Cruz 1 Alvaro Gonzalez 7 Carlos Irigoyen 35 Chris Meyers Outfielders 26 Esney Chacon 9 Kingston Liniak 29 Ben Malgeri 8 J.D. McLaughlin		Manager 17 Andrew Graham Coaches -- Carlos Bohorquez (pitching) -- John Murrian (hitting) -- Ollie Kadey (developmental) 7-day injured list * On Detroit Tigers 40-man roster ~ Development list # Rehab assignment ∞ Reserve list ‡ Restricted list § Suspended list ± Taxi squad † Temporarily inactive list Roster updated November 3, 2021 Transactions → More rosters: MiLB • Low-A Southeast → Detroit Tigers minor league players

Notable alumni[]

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

Jack Morris (1989) Inducted 2018

John Smoltz (1986) Inducted, 2015

Notable former ballplayers

Tony Clark (1993) MLB All-Star

Francisco Cordero (1998) 3 x MLB All-Star

Juan Encarnacion (1994, 1996)
Mark Fidrych (1975, 1978) 2 x MLB All-Star; 1976 AL ERA Leader; 1976 AL Rookie of the Year

Tito Fuentes (1962)

Kirk Gibson (1978) 1986 NL Most Valuable Player; 2011 NL Manager of the Year
Curtis Granderson, 3 x MLB All-Star; Member of the 20-20-20-20 Club

Jerry Grote (1985-MGR) 2 x MLB All-Star

Carlos Guillén (2011) 3 x MLB All-Star

Bill Gullickson (1993) 1991 AL Wins Leader

Omar Infante (2000) MLB All-Star

Howard Johnson (1979-1980) 2 x MLB All-Star

Gabe Kapler (1997), Outfielder and manager

Ron Leflore (1974) MLB All-Star; 2 x AL Stolen Base Leader

Rick Leach (1979)

Jim Leyland (1964, 1969, 1976-1978-MGR) 3 x MLB Manager of the Year; Manager: 1997 World Series Champion - Florida Marlins

Jose Lima (1991-1992, 1995) MLB All-Star

Sam McDowell (1960) 6 x MLB All-Star; 1965 AL ERA Leader
Elliott Maddox (1968)

Jerry Manuel (1973) 2000 AL Manager of the Year

Andrew Miller (2007) 2 x MLB All-Star

Phil Nevin (1997) MLB All-Star

Lance Parrish (1975) 8 x MLB All-Star

Dan Petry (1977, 1986) MLB All-Star

Rick Porcello (2008) 2016 AL Cy Young Award

Fernando Rodney (1999, 2001) 3 x MLB All-Star
Cody Ross

Vern Ruhle (1973)
Chuck Scrivener

Gary Sheffield (2008) 9 x MLB All-Star; 1992 NL Batting Title

Drew Smyly

Walt Terrell (1988)
Pat Underwood

Ugueth Urbina (2004) 2 x MLB All-Star
Justin Verlander (2005) 6 x MLB All-Star; 2006 AL Rookie of the Year; 2011 AL Cy Young Award; 2011 AL Most Valuable Player; etc.

David Wells (1994) 3 x MLB All-Star; 1998-Pitched Perfect Game

Lou Whitaker (1976) 5 x MLB All-Star; 1978 AL Rookie of the Year

Dontrelle Willis (2009) 2 x MLB All-Star; 2003 NL Rookie of the Year

John Wockenfuss (1987)

Dmitri Young (2006) 2 x MLB All-Star

Playoffs[]

2012: Defeated Dunedin 2–0 in semifinals; defeated Jupiter 3–2 to win championship.
2005: Defeated Dunedin 2–0 in semifinals; lost to Palm Beach 3–2 in finals.
2002: Defeated Jupiter 2–0 in semifinals; lost to Charlotte 3–2 in finals.
1997: Lost to St. Petersburg 2–0 in semifinals.
1993: Lost to St. Lucie 2–1 in semifinals.
1992: Defeated West Palm Beach 2–0 in quarterfinals; defeated Clearwater 2–0 in semifinals; defeated Baseball City 2–0 to win championship.
1991: Lost to West Palm Beach 2–0 in semifinals.
1990: Lost to West Palm Beach 2–1 in semifinals.
1989: Lost to St. Petersburg 2–1 in semifinals.
1988: Lost to St. Lucie 2–1 in quarterfinals.
1987: Lost to Fort Lauderdale 2–0 in semifinals.
1978: Defeated St. Petersburg 1–0 in semifinals; lost to Miami 2–1 in finals.
1977: Defeated Miami 2–0 in semifinals; defeated St. Petersburg 3–1 to win championship.
1976: Defeated Miami 2–0 in semifinals; defeated Tampa 2–0 to win championship.
1974: Lost to Fort Lauderdale 2–0 in semifinals.
1973: Lost to West Palm Beach 2–1 in semifinals.
1970: Lost to Miami 2–0 in semifinals.

References[]

^ Hill, Benjamin. "PDC's make everything old new again, www.milb.com". Web.minorleaguebaseball.com. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
^ "1997 Florida State League - Season Review". www.thebaseballcube.com. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
^ http://www.theledger.com/article/20120912/NEWS/120919715/1002/sports?Title=Flying-Tigers-Scrape-Two-Runs-Across-in-The-Eight-to-Win-FSL-Championship-Series
^ Benjamin Hill (November 13, 2006). "Article | Lakeland Flying Tigers News". Minorleaguebaseball.com. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
^ [1] Archived February 25, 2007, at the Wayback Machine

External links[]

[1] Hill, Benjamin. "PDC's make everything old new again, www.milb.com". Web.minorleaguebaseball.com. Retrieved February 17, 2011.

[2] "1997 Florida State League - Season Review". www.thebaseballcube.com. Retrieved November 2, 2017.

[3] ttp://www.theledger.com/article/20120912/NEWS/120919715/1002/sports?Title=Flying-Tigers-Scrape-Two-Runs-Across-in-The-Eight-to-Win-FSL-Championship-Series

[4] Benjamin Hill (November 13, 2006). "Article | Lakeland Flying Tigers News". Minorleaguebaseball.com. Retrieved February 17, 2011.

[5] [1] Archived February 25, 2007, at the Wayback Machine

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v t Low-A Southeast
East Division	Daytona Tortugas Jupiter Hammerheads Palm Beach Cardinals St. Lucie Mets
West Division	Bradenton Marauders Clearwater Threshers Dunedin Blue Jays Fort Myers Mighty Mussels Lakeland Flying Tigers Tampa Tarpons
Rosters Stadiums

v t Sports teams in Florida
Baseball	MLB Miami Marlins Tampa Bay Rays TAE Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp DAS Pensacola Blue Wahoos LAS Bradenton Marauders Clearwater Threshers Daytona Tortugas Dunedin Blue Jays Fort Myers Mighty Mussels Jupiter Hammerheads Lakeland Flying Tigers Palm Beach Cardinals St. Lucie Mets Tampa Tarpons FCL 20 teams
Basketball	NBA Miami Heat Orlando Magic G League Lakeland Magic ABA Jacksonville Giants Miami Midnites South Florida Gold
Esports	CDL Florida Mutineers OWL Florida Mayhem
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Roller derby	WFTDA Fort Myers Roller Derby Gainesville Roller Rebels Gold Coast Derby Grrls Jacksonville Roller Derby Tallahassee RollerGirls Tampa Roller Derby MRDA Magic City Misfits
Rugby league	USARL Central Florida Warriors Jacksonville Axemen Lakeland Renegades Tampa Mayhem Southwest Florida Copperheads
Rugby union	FRU Bay Area Pelicans Boca Raton RFC Jacksonville RFC Miami Rugby Club Tampa Bay Krewe
Soccer	MLS Inter Miami CF Orlando City SC NWSL Orlando Pride USLC Miami FC Tampa Bay Rowdies USL1 Fort Lauderdale CF USL2 Daytona Rush SC Florida Elite SA Lakeland Tropics FC Miami City Sarasota Metropolis FC Tampa Bay United Treasure Coast Tritons The Villages SC Weston FC NPSL Boca Raton FC Central Florida Panthers SC Jacksonville Armada U-23 Miami Dutch Lions FC Miami United FC Naples United FC Pensacola FC Storm FC Tallahassee SC
Soccer (indoor)	MASL Florida Tropics SC Orlando SeaWolves
Softball	NPF USSSA Pride
Ultimate	AUDL Tampa Bay Cannons
Australian Rules Football	USAFL Fort Lauderdale Fighting Squids
College Sports in Florida