Flying Tigers Announce Opening Day Roster

Lakeland, FL - The Lakeland Flying Tigers have announced their tentative 2019 Opening Day roster. It will feature nine top 10 draft picks and 16 players who appeared in games for the Flying Tigers in 2018. The roster includes 13 pitchers, 3 catchers, 5 infielders, 4 outfielders and 2 players on the disabled list.

Flying Tigers Opening Day Roster Announced
Lakeland, FL - The Lakeland Flying Tigers have announced their tentative 2019 Opening Day roster. It will feature nine top 10 draft picks and 16 players who appeared in games for the Flying Tigers in 2018. The roster includes 13 pitchers, 3 catchers, 5 infielders, 4 outfielders and 2 players on the disabled list.
Starting pitcher Casey Mize headlines a list of prospects. Mize is currently rated the top prospect in the Detroit Tigers organization by MLB.com. He is also rated as the #18 prospect in Minor League Baseball and the 3^rd best right-handed pitching prospect. He was selected by the Tigers as the first overall selection of the June 2018 draft from Auburn University. Mize became just the second two-time All-American and consensus All-American in Auburn history. He earned first-team All-SEC honors and was a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award and Dick Howser Trophy in 2018.
The rotation will also include Dane Myers, Tarik Skubal, Elvin Rodriguez and Jesus Rodriguez. Elvin Rodriguez was the West Michigan Whitecaps Pitcher of the Year in 2018.
Infielder Kody Clemens leads the Flying Tigers offensive firepower. Clemens is currently rated the sixteenth-best prospect in the Tigers organization by MLB.com and was selected by the Tigers in the third round of the June 2018 draft out of the University of Texas.
The Flying Tigers 25-man Opening Day roster is as follows:
PITCHERS (13): Ethan DeCaster, Jason Foley, Max Green, Casey Mize, Dane Myers, Joe Navilhon, Wladimir Pinto, Elvin Rodriguez, Jesus Rodriguez, Brandyn Sittinger, Tarik Skubal, Will Vest, Burris Warner
CATCHERS (3): Austin Athmann, Joey Morgan, Brady Policelli
INFIELDERS (5): Kody Clemens, Cole Peterson, Reynaldo Rivera, Zac Shepherd, A.J. Simcox
OUTFIELDERS (4): Luke Burch, Brock Deatherage, Danny Reyes, Dylan Rosa
Andrew Graham begins his second season as manager of the Flying Tigers after managing the Erie Seawolves in 2018. He previously managed Lakeland in 2017. This season will mark Graham's ninth season as a minor league manager in the Tigers organization. He guided the West Michigan Whitecaps to the Midwest League's championship in 2015.
            Tim Garland (hitting), Jorge Cordova (pitching), Francisco Contreras (coach), Jason Schwartzman (Athletic Trainer), Dax Fiore (strength and conditioning) and Austin Reed (video coordinator) round out the coaching and on-field staff.
The Flying Tigers open the 2019 season on Thursday, April 4 against the Tampa Tarpons (Yankees). First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and gates to Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium will open at 5:00 p.m. The first 2,000 fans that enter the ballpark will receive a 2019 Flying Tigers magnet schedule.
The Flying Tigers are the Class A Advanced Affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. For more information please visit the Flying Tigers online at www.LakelandFlyingTigers.com or call (863) 686-8075.