Florida Complex League Tigers Explained

Florida Complex League Tigers
Allyears:1968, 1995–present
City:Lakeland, Florida
Uniformlogo:Detroit Tigers Insignia.svg
Class Level:Rookie
Current League:Florida Complex League
Division:North Division
Past League:Gulf Coast League (1968, 1995–2020)
Majorleague:Detroit Tigers
Nickname:FCL Tigers East & West
Ballpark:Joker Marchant Stadium
Leaguenum:2
Divnum:5
Owner:Detroit Tigers

The Florida Complex League Tigers are a Rookie-level affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, competing in the Florida Complex League of Minor League Baseball. Prior to 2021, the team was known as the Gulf Coast League Tigers. The team plays its home games at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida. The team is composed mainly of players who are in their first year of professional baseball either as draftees or non-drafted free agents from the United States, Canada, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and various other countries.

History

The team first played in the Gulf Coast League (GCL) during the 1968 season. After then being absent for over 25 years, the team returned to the league in 1995 and has competed continuously since then.

Starting with the 2016 season, the team has fielded two squads in the league, differentiated with "East" and "West" suffixes. The second team was created due to the cancellation of the Venezuelan Summer League, which left the Tigers with a roster full of players with no team. Most of these players were assigned to one of the two GCL squads, although some were assigned to the Tigers affiliate in the Dominican Summer League.

Prior to the 2021 season, the Gulf Coast League was renamed as the Florida Complex League (FCL).

Season-by-season

YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs
1968 27-36 7th No playoffs until 1983
1995 33-24 6th Lost League Finals
vs. GCL Royals (2 games to 0)
Won in first round
vs. GCL Marlins (1 game to 0)
1996 26-34 12th Kevin Bradshaw
1997 31-29 7th Kevin Bradshaw
1998 28-32 8th(t) Kevin Bradshaw
1999 29-31 8th(t)
2000 34-26 5th(t) Kevin Bradshaw
2001 34-26 5th
2002 23-37 13th Howard Bushong
2003 28-29 5th Howard Bushong
2004 24-36 9th Kevin Bradshaw
2005 24-30 9th(t) Kevin Bradshaw
2006 32-18 2nd Kevin Bradshaw Lost in 1st round
vs. GCL Dodgers (1 game to 0)
2007 28-32 9th(t)
2008 27-31 12th Basilio Cabrera
2009 29-31 9th Basilio Cabrera
2010 29-30 9th Basilio Cabrera
2011 29-31 7th Basilio Cabrera
2012 36-24 1st(t) Basilio Cabrera Lost in 1st round
vs. GCL Red Sox (1 game to 0)
2013 32-28 5th Basilio Cabrera
2014 34-25 6th Basilio Cabrera
2015 36-23 3rd Basilio Cabrera Lost in 1st round
vs. GCL Blue Jays (1 game to 0)

GCL Tigers East

YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs
2016 21-37 16th Rafael Gil
2017 14-45 17th Jesus Garces
2018 26-28 10th
2019 19-29 14th Luis López Playoffs cancelled due to Hurricane Dorian

GCL Tigers West

YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs
2016 30-28 7th Rafael Martinez
2017 29-28 9th Rafael Gil
2018 37-16 2nd League Champions
vs. GCL Cardinals(2 games to 1)
Won in first round
vs. GCL Red Sox (1 game to 0)
2019 30-20 3rd Gary Cathcart Playoffs cancelled due to Hurricane Dorian

External links