Nippon Professional Baseball is a professional baseball league and the highest level of baseball in Japan. Locally, it is often called Puro Yakyū (プロ野球), meaning simply Professional Baseball; outside of Japan, NPB is often referred to as "Japanese baseball".
The West Michigan Whitecaps are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. They are located in Comstock Park, Michigan, a suburb of Grand Rapids, and play their home games at LMCU Ballpark.
Hiram Gabriel Bocachica Colón is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Detroit Tigers, Seattle Mariners, Oakland Athletics, and San Diego Padres. Bocachica also played for the Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Micheal Yoshihide Nakamura also call as "MICHAEL" in NPB, is a Japanese-born Australian former professional baseball pitcher who played for the Minnesota Twins and Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, Yomiuri Giants and Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Christopher John "C. J." Nitkowski is an American left-handed former professional baseball pitcher and current baseball broadcaster. A first-round draft choice of the Cincinnati Reds in 1994, he played in the major leagues for the Reds, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, New York Mets, Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, and Washington Nationals. He also played in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, and in the KBO League for the SK Wyverns, Doosan Bears, and Nexen Heroes. Nitkowski currently works as a broadcaster for the Atlanta Braves and SiriusXM's MLB Network Radio.
Henricus "Rick" Nicolas van den Hurk is a Dutch former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Florida Marlins, Baltimore Orioles, and Pittsburgh Pirates, in the KBO League for the Samsung Lions and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and Tokyo Yakult Swallows. In international play, he was a member of the Netherlands national baseball team.
Phillip Benjamin Clark is an American former professional baseball outfielder and coach. He most recently served as the assistant hitting coach for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Detroit Tigers, San Diego Padres, and Boston Red Sox. He also played four seasons in Japan with the Kintetsu Buffaloes.
Takayuki Kishi is a Japanese professional baseball player for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He previously played for the Saitama Seibu Lions.
Brandon Michael Knight is an American professional baseball pitcher and coach. Knight played Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees and the New York Mets, Nippon Professional Baseball for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks and the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, and in the KBO League for the Nexen Heroes. He is the current pitching coach for the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO.
Below is a partial list of minor league baseball players in the Detroit Tigers system.
Alfredo Fígaro is a Dominican former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers and Milwaukee Brewers. He also played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Orix Buffaloes, the KBO League for the Samsung Lions, and the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the Uni-President Lions.
Duane Arthur Below is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Miami Marlins and Detroit Tigers. Below has also played in the KBO League for the Kia Tigers and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars.
Kazuhisa Makita is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher, and current the third squad pitching coach for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
José Alfredo Valdez is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels, San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants. He has also played in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the CTBC Brothers and Fubon Guardians.
Daniel Casey Dorn is an American former professional baseball right fielder and first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks and in KBO League for the Nexen Heroes.
Jacob Daniel Brigham is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2015 with the Atlanta Braves, and has also played for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and Nexen / Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO League and for the Wei Chuan Dragons in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL).
Miguel Mejía is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball pitcher. He played in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the Brother Elephants and Lamigo Monkeys, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Saitama Seibu Lions.
Reed Garrett is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, and Baltimore Orioles and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Saitama Seibu Lions.
Elvin Miguel Rodríguez is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers and Tampa Bay Rays.
Keider Eduardo Montero is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024.
