Detroit Tigers Weekly Minor League Report: Welcome the class of 2021

Double-A Erie SeaWolves 41-37 8GB Double-A Northeast-Southwest Division.

The SeaWolves lost their home series to Akron one game to five as they dropped the final four games of the series.  In the 10-2 win on Wednesday, Brady Policelli and Ryan Kreidler went deep and Riley Greene had an RBI double.   AJ Ladwig tossed six innings, allowing one run over four hits, and struck out five.

For the week, Policelli hit .409/.458./.955 with three home runs (9-for-22) and Spencer Torkelson also finished 8-for-22 (.364). Kreidler finished the month of July strong with an OPS of .967 against the Ducks and hit .286 (6-for-21). For the good week Policelli had, he earned a player of the week award.

A scary moment for Tigers fans this week as Riley Greene was hit in the helmet on Saturday night but was back in the lineup on Sunday.

Erie SeaWolves Hitters of the Month:

The SeaWolves were hot and cold offensively all month but nevertheless, Spencer Torkelson led the team in home runs with six followed by Kreilder with five. He was tied with Greene for batting average, batting .274, and slugged at a nice .500 clip.

Erie SeaWolves Pitchers of the Month:

As far as starters go, Joey Wentz in five starts pitched 19 innings, allowed 8 earned runs over 13 hits. He did strike out 25 but walks were an issue as he yielded 17.

Billy Lescher had a strong month of July as the right-hander struck out 15 in 9.2 innings of work, allowing just three walks and two earned runs over five hits.

For anyone growing up in the ’90s and watched the movie “That Thing You Do”, the SeaWolves announced a cool night coming up at the ballpark on Saturday, September 4 for the 25th anniversary as The Wonders come home.

The Seawolves hit the road to take on Harrisburg this week.

High-A West Michigan Whitecaps: 36-41 6.5 GB High-A Central-East Division

The Whitecaps split their series on the road against the Great Lakes Loons 3-3 as both teams took turns winning, starting with the Whitecaps on Tuesday, winning 6-3.

Rey Rivera hit about 800 feet worth of home runs as he hit one in the fourth inning and one in the eighth inning. Gage Workman and Jimmy Kerr both hit doubles and Parker Meadows went 2-for-4. Zach Hess picked up his seventh save on the season.

After losing 16-9 on Wednesday, the Whitecaps bounced back on Thursday with an 8-2 victory. Garrett Hill pitched well, going five innings, allowing one run over two hits, walking four but struck out eight. Zac Houston, who is making his way back up, pitched a scoreless inning and so far in five appearances for the Whitecaps, has allowed one run over five hits in 6.2 innings of work and striking out 13 to just three walks.

On Saturday, Adam Wolf pitched five innings, allowing two runs over six hits, and struck out five and Hess picked up his eighth save on the season. Jimmy Kerr had a pair of doubles and Gresuan Silverio, a catcher called up from Lakeland on July 26th along with Cooper Johnson, had doubles.

Friday’s trade deadline saw a new pitcher on the West Michigan roster as Reese Olson comes over from the Brewers in exchange for left-handed pitcher Daniel Norris.

West Michigan Hitters of the Month:

Eric De La Rosa had a fantastic month, hitting .355/.388/.527 with an OPS of .915 with seven doubles, three triples, and seven stolen bases. (33-for-93). Parker Meadows has picked it up as of late in the power department, hitting four home runs to lead the team in the month of July. The batting average of .255 for the month is an improvement as Meadows has been better since returning from the IL.

West Michigan Pitchers of the Month:

Garrett Hill led the rotation for the month of July. He threw 18.2 innings in five starts, allowing three runs over 14 hits, striking out 28, and walking 9. He finished with an ERA of 1.45 and a FIP of 2.25.

Low-A Lakeland Flying Tigers 29-47 24.5 GB Low-A Southeast-West Division.

The Flying Tigers split their series 3-3 with Jupiter, who is the Miami Marlins affiliate.  They won Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday.

On Tuesday, Jack O” Loughlin, who has been the Flying Tigers’ most consistent starter as of late, pitched five shutout innings, allowing five hits and striking out five.

Thursday’s game included an appearance from Dane Myers, who is coming back from injury playing third, and Joseph Salazar getting his first win of the season.

Sunday’s game featured three home runs as Jake Holton, Elizar Alfonzo, and Alvaro Gonzalez all went yard for the Flying Tigers and O’ Loughlin pitched 4.1 innings of work, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out five.

Lakeland Flying Tigers Hitters of the Month:

Nick Quintana has had one of the best months in a Tigers uniform, putting up a slash line of .273/.402/.576 with five home runs and 15 RBI (18-for-66) and showing patience at the plate with 13 walks to 18 strikeouts.  Eliezer Alfonzo adjusted to Lakeland well, hitting .291 with five home runs for the month of July.

Lakeland Flying Tigers Pitchers of the Month:

Jack O’Loughlin in five starts pitched twenty-six innings, allowing 25 hits in 26 innings of work, struck out 27 over five walks.

Florida Complex League Tigers East and West

Outside of the updates from our friends over at Tigers Minor League Tracker as Terri is out there every day in the complex, we can highlight a few items among both teams for Tigers East and Tigers West.

• Lazaro Benitez, who plays for Tigers East, is batting .373 (19-for-51) He is an international free agent signing out of Cuba who is 21 years old
• Carlos Mendoza, a 5’9 third baseman from Miami is hitting .385 (19-for-52)
• Ben Malgeri and Justice Bigbie, both of who were drafted just weeks ago, hit home runs today in complex action.