Mike Rabelo Named Flying Tigers Manager for 2018 Season

November 7, 2017

Lakeland, FL - The Detroit Tigers have named Mike Rabelo manager of the Lakeland Flying Tigers for the 2018 season. Rabelo, 37, will be entering his first season as manager for the Lakeland Flying Tigers after spending the 2017 season as the manager at Single A West Michigan. The 2017

Lakeland, FL - The Detroit Tigers have named Mike Rabelo manager of the Lakeland Flying Tigers for the 2018 season.
Rabelo, 37, will be entering his first season as manager for the Lakeland Flying Tigers after spending the 2017 season as the manager at Single A West Michigan. The 2017 Midwest League Manager of the Year, Rabelo helped guide the Whitecaps to a Midwest League-leading 91 wins, marking the second time in West Michigan's 24-year history they won 90-plus games. Prior to his time as the Whitecaps manager, Rabelo spent three seasons as the manager at Rookie-level Connecticut (2014-2016), including a playoff berth in 2014. He also served as a coach with Connecticut for two seasons (2012-2013) and was a coach for the Gulf Coast League Tigers in 2011.

A fourth round selection by the Tigers in the 2001 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, Rabelo played professionally for 10 seasons, seeing action at the Minor League level with both the Tigers (2001-2006, 2010) and Florida Marlins (2008-2009). He also played parts of three seasons at the Major League level with the Tigers (2006-2007) and Marlins (2008), seeing action in 86 games.
Rabelo played for the Lakeland Tigers in 2004 appearing in 92 games. He hit .287 with 20 doubles and 2 triples. He knocked in 38 runs and scored 36.
The 2018 Flying Tigers season kicks off on April 5 at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. The complete schedule and promotional calendar will be released at a later date.