Detroit Tigers Minor League Report: Austin Murr causes a stir

Low-A Lakeland Flying Tigers Low-A Southeast-West Division (43-59)

The Flying Tigers went 4-2 last week against the Dunedin Blue Jays at home. They started by crushing the Jays in the first game on Tuesday 12 to 2. Ben Malgeri, the Tigers 18th round draft pick from this year, had a home run and Kingston Linak went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs.

Then on Wednesday, Lakeland swept the doubleheader 3 to 1 and 7 to 4.  Mike Rothenberg, the catcher the Tigers drafted in the 12th round of this year’s draft out of Duke, hit his first professional home run in the first game. Kenon Carter, our friend over at Tigers Minor League Tracker, had a good look at both Malgeri and Rothenberg and came away impressed.

In the second game, Williander Moreno pitched four innings, allowing three runs on three hits and striking out six. Moreno has assumed the ace role for the Flying Tigers.

He throws a fastball, sinker, slider, and a changeup with his four-seam fastball generating the most swings and misses at 28% CSW (Called strikes & whiffs) but does better against right-handed hitters than left-handed hitters. So far on the season, he has a K per 9 of 11.1.

Lakeland hosts Clearwater this week.

Florida Complex League

For the FCL Tigers East team, infielder Manuel Sequera continues his all-or-nothing approach, as he hit his 8th homer in the 8-2 victory over the Phillies. He has struck out 45 times and is hitting.218 on the season, Sequera is tied for second overall in the Complex League in home runs, and right behind him is Roberto Campos, who plays on Tigers West, with 7.

Speaking of FCL East, two 2021 draft picks RJ Petit, a 14th round draft pick out of Charleston Southern, and Aaron Haase, a 17th draft pick out of Wichita State, made their pro debuts and both pitched a scoreless inning, striking out a pair.