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Detroit Tigers set 27-player prospect roster for first-ever Spring Breakout game
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- Detroit Tigers set 27-player prospect roster for first-ever Spring Breakout game
LAKELAND, Fla. — The roster has been finalized ... for the prospects, that is.
One of the most anticipated games of spring training is the inaugural Spring Breakout showcase. The Detroit Tigers are playing against the Philadelphia Phillies in a prospect-only matchup, scheduled for 1:05 p.m. March 16 at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland.
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Hall of Fame shortstop Alan Trammell , who was drafted by the Tigers, played 20 MLB seasons for the franchise and managed the big-league team from 2003-05, will manage the Tigers' squad of prospects.
"A lot of pressure on Tram," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said, trying his best to act serious. "We handed him as good of a roster as we can hand him, with the exception of a few who aren't going to play. We've got a lot of talent, but all eyes on Tram. Let's make sure he uses the roster the way it was built. We'll see."
Hinch broke out in laughter.
Of course, he was joking around.
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"I can't say it with a straight face," Hinch said.
Hinch then tipped his cap to Trammell, a special assistant in the front office who has spent the past decade training young players in the organization.
"It's great for him," Hinch said, "and it'll be great for the kids, too. He's amazing. Getting him with our guys was a perfect fit."
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The Spring Breakout roster has 27 players, headlined by 15 prospects on the Tigers' top-30 list (as ranked by MLB Pipeline ): Max Clark (No. 1), Jace Jung (No. 4), Ty Madden (No. 5), Kevin McGonigle (No. 7), Wilmer Flores (No. 10), Troy Melton (No. 12), Justice Bigbie (No. 13), Dillon Dingler (No. 14), Hao-Yu Lee (No. 15), Brant Hurter (No. 16), Max Anderson (No. 18), Josue Briceno (No. 19), Wenceel Pérez (No. 21), Roberto Campos (No. 25) and Cristian Santana (No. 27).
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Two of those prospects made MLB Pipeline's most recent top-100 prospects list : Clark (No. 13) and Jung (No. 60).
"We have an opportunity to let players that aren't going to play together at affiliates play together on the same field," Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said. "We have Flying Tigers playing with SeaWolves playing with Mud Hens, all on the same field. It gives us an opportunity to create some culture within our farm system and allow these guys to play together."
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Detroit Tigers catching coach Ryan Sienko, left, talks to catcher Dillon Dingler during spring training at Tigertown in Lakeland, Fla. on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024.
Top pitching prospects Jackson Jobe (No. 3) and Keider Montero (No. 9) won't be available for the Spring Breakout game because of assignments in MLB spring training games.
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Jobe is pitching Tuesday against the Minnesota Twins ; Montero is pitching March 15 against the Toronto Blue Jays .
The Spring Breakout game between the Tigers and Phillies can be watched for free in several ways: MLB Digital (MLB.TV, MLB.com, MLB App), Tigers.com and ESPN+. The game is also available to listeners on Phillies radio, via the MLB app.
"I know Major League Baseball is trying to get even more exposure for these guys," Hinch said. "Young players that are in the minor leagues on their way to the big leagues are getting more and more attention. They're getting more love. They're getting featured in so many ways. That's good for the game. These guys are going to be the next great players, so the faster that our industry can get to know them and our fans can get to know, it's pretty awesome.
"I'm glad it's pushed back a little bit into the spring. The only thing that is nerve-racking is the game-readiness of players who are not in big-league camp, specifically the pitchers. We've known for a long time that this game is going, and we want to make sure we feature really talented players across the organization for our fans to see, sometimes for the first time."
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Spring Breakout roster
Right-handed pitchers (5):Max Alba, Wilmer Flores , Ty Madden, Troy Melton, RJ Petit.
Left-handed pitchers (4):Jake Higginbotham, Brant Hurter, Andrew Magno, Adam Wolf.
Catchers (3):Eliezer Alfonzo, Josue Briceno, Dillon Dingler
Infielders (9):Max Anderson, Trei Cruz, Luke Gold, Jake Holton, Jace Jung, Hao-Yu Lee, Kevin McGonigle, Wenceel Pérez, Cristian Santana.
Outfielders (6):Brady Allen, Justice Bigbie, Brett Callahan, Roberto Campos, Max Clark, Seth Stephenson.
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Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold .
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers set 27-player prospect roster for Spring Breakout game
