The Florida State League (FSL) is a Minor League Baseball league based in the state of Florida. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 until its demotion to Single-A following Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganization of the minor leagues. The league temporarily operated for the 2021 season as the Low-A Southeast before reassuming its original moniker in 2022.
Davenport is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 9,043 at the 2020 Census. The city's population has increased dramatically since the 2010 Census, when the population was 2,888.
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. Located along Interstate 4 east of Tampa and west of Orlando, it is the most populous city in Polk County. As of the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau release, the city had a population of 112,641. Lakeland is a principal city of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town is sometimes locally referred to by the nickname "Swan City" due to its sizeable population of swans, all of whom are descendants of two mute swans given to Lakeland by Queen Elizabeth II in 1957.
Winter Haven is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. Neighboring Lakeland to its east, Winter Haven is located about 51 miles (82 km) east of Tampa and about 47 miles (76 km) southwest of Orlando. The city's population was 49,219 at the 2020 census, making it the second most populated city in Polk County after Lakeland. It is a principal city of the Lakeland-Winter Haven, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The Lakeland Flying Tigers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Single-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. They are located in Lakeland, Florida, and play their home games at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium.
Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium is a baseball field in Lakeland, Florida. The 8,500-seat stadium was opened in 1966 and has had multiple renovations, most recently in 2017. It was named after local resident and former Lakeland Parks and Recreation Director Marcus "Joker" Marchant. It is the spring training home of the Detroit Tigers and the regular-season home of the minor league affiliates Lakeland Flying Tigers and Gulf Coast 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.
Jordan Arthur Tata (TAY-ta) is a retired major league pitcher. Tata made his major league debut on April 6, 2006 against the Texas Rangers in a 10-6 win. For college he attended Sam Houston State. He is 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m) tall and weighs 220 pounds (100 kg). Tata bats and throws right-handed.
Lakeland Senior High School, opened in 1902, is the oldest public high school in Lakeland, Florida, United States. The school was originally located on North Florida Avenue and was destroyed by fire in 1927. It is part of Polk County Public Schools. Lakeland Senior High School was the original high school in the city. It also shares its campus with Lois Cowles Harrison Center for the Visual and Performing Arts. Harrison students attend academic classes at Lakeland Senior High School.
Henley Field is a historic site in Lakeland, Florida. Built in 1922, it is located at 1125 North Florida Avenue. Clare Henley, for whom the park was named in 1942, encouraged its construction in an effort to persuade a professional baseball team to train there. On May 23, 1997, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Henley Field is located adjacent to Bryant Stadium, a football stadium.
Michael Gregory Rabelo is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played with the Detroit Tigers and Florida Marlins from 2006 to 2008. He is currently the Third Base Coach and Major League Field Coordinator for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Nathan John Cornejo is an American former professional baseball pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2001 to 2004 for the Detroit Tigers.
David Blain Huppert is an American former professional baseball catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) and former manager of the Lakeland Flying Tigers of Minor League Baseball's Florida State League (FSL) in the Detroit Tigers organization.
Below is a partial list of minor league baseball players in the Detroit Tigers system.
Andrew Graham is an Australian baseball manager and former player who played with the Detroit Tigers organization from 2003–2007. Graham is currently the manager of the Lakeland Flying Tigers, a minor league affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. Growing up in Australia he played baseball for the Ku-ring-gai Stealers Baseball Club.
The Lakeland Pilots were a Florida International League and Florida State League (1953-1955) baseball team based in Lakeland, Florida, United States. They played their home games at Henley Field.
The Florida Southern Moccasins are the athletic teams that represent Florida Southern College, located in Lakeland, Florida, in NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports. The Moccasins compete as members of the Sunshine State Conference in 17 varsity sports. Florida Southern has been a member of the conference since its founding in 1975. Florida Southern also competes as independents six other sports.
Alec Edward Asher is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, Baltimore Orioles, and Milwaukee Brewers and the Uni-President Lions of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL).
Sean Michael Barber is an American professional baseball umpire in Major League Baseball (MLB). He began working in MLB as a call-up umpire in 2014 and was hired as a full-time umpire before the 2022 season.
