9 days ago
The Erie SeaWolves have become a model of consistency in the Eastern League.
After missing the playoffs for eight straight years, the 'Wolves are headed back to the postseason for the fifth straight year.
"I'm super proud of our organization and getting guys here that want to win ballgames," said Erie manager Tony Cappuccilli. "We know winning isn't emphasized as much as player development but it's also important to learn how to win games. We want to have guys competing for wins at the highest level after winning games in the minors and know what it takes."
More: Peyton Graham breaks SeaWolves record for stolen bases in one season
More: SeaWolves reach milestone during a furious rally to get a comeback win
#seawolves #eastern
After missing the playoffs for eight straight years, the 'Wolves are headed back to the postseason for the fifth straight year.
"I'm super proud of our organization and getting guys here that want to win ballgames," said Erie manager Tony Cappuccilli. "We know winning isn't emphasized as much as player development but it's also important to learn how to win games. We want to have guys competing for wins at the highest level after winning games in the minors and know what it takes."
More: Peyton Graham breaks SeaWolves record for stolen bases in one season
More: SeaWolves reach milestone during a furious rally to get a comeback win
#seawolves #eastern
24 days ago
Left-hander Andrew Sears is reportedly on his way to Detroit. The Tigers 11th ranked prospect on our preseason rankings, Sears has shown out in two Triple-A appearances since being promoted from Double-A Erie back on August 11. The X account Dr. Degenerate, apparently the burner account for someone with good sources, reported on Saturday that Sears is being promoted to Detroit. That account has nailed several recent promotions in the Tigers' system. The report has been circulated by both Emily Waldon as well as the MiLB Central official account on X, and Chris McCosky of the Detroit News confirmed that Sears is with the team in Kansas City and will be used as a bulk reliever in Sunday's bullpen game.
The 23-year-old Sears, he'll turn 24 on August 30, was the Tigers 10th round pick in the 2023 draft out of Connecticut. That makes him the first pitching prospect drafted by Scott Harris to reach Detroit, and another later round success story to go with Brett Callahan. Sears received a $167,500 bonus to sign, just barely over the base bonus of $150,000.
Sears made his full season pro debut in 2024 at the Low-A Lakeland level, where his strikeout rate was good and he was rarely hit hard, but had some control issues. Those were resolved by 2025, and the southpaw continued to rack up good strikeout numbers and prevent home runs while throwing a lot more strikes for High-A West Michigan. Left-handers often thrive in A-ball and then struggle as more advanced hitters get used to seeing more southpaws against them, but Sears didn't miss a beat moving into the upper levels. He closed out the season with a nice run over six starts at Double-A Erie. The hope this year was that Sears would refine his changeup and overall command a bit more, reach Triple-A and become available in the second half of this season to help the major league club.
Ultimately, this all came to pass, but it was a wild ride for Sears this year. He had a bone spur fracture in his throwing elbow to begin the season, and spent a few months recovering and rehabbing, returning to Erie in mid-June. He made nine starts for the SeaWolves, compiling a 2.57 ERA/3.44 FIP combination, with a 24.3 percent strikeout rate and a 7.6 percent walk rate. In two starts for the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens, Sears has been a strikeout machine, punching out 41.2 percent of hitters he's faced. His walk rate has ticked up to 11.8 percent, but he also hasn't allowed a home run.
We've pegged Sears for two seasons now as the next lefty swingman for the Tigers. He can start, but he makes plenty of sense as a long reliever and spot starter who also works out of the bullpen. His deception, built on a bit of funky, crossfire delivery and a quick arm from a low slot, makes him tricky to deal with, and his stuff has routinely played up compared to the raw stuff metrics. The big task this season was to refine his changeup and get to using the offspeed more often to take pressure off his good sinker-slider combination, and
The 23-year-old Sears, he'll turn 24 on August 30, was the Tigers 10th round pick in the 2023 draft out of Connecticut. That makes him the first pitching prospect drafted by Scott Harris to reach Detroit, and another later round success story to go with Brett Callahan. Sears received a $167,500 bonus to sign, just barely over the base bonus of $150,000.
Sears made his full season pro debut in 2024 at the Low-A Lakeland level, where his strikeout rate was good and he was rarely hit hard, but had some control issues. Those were resolved by 2025, and the southpaw continued to rack up good strikeout numbers and prevent home runs while throwing a lot more strikes for High-A West Michigan. Left-handers often thrive in A-ball and then struggle as more advanced hitters get used to seeing more southpaws against them, but Sears didn't miss a beat moving into the upper levels. He closed out the season with a nice run over six starts at Double-A Erie. The hope this year was that Sears would refine his changeup and overall command a bit more, reach Triple-A and become available in the second half of this season to help the major league club.
Ultimately, this all came to pass, but it was a wild ride for Sears this year. He had a bone spur fracture in his throwing elbow to begin the season, and spent a few months recovering and rehabbing, returning to Erie in mid-June. He made nine starts for the SeaWolves, compiling a 2.57 ERA/3.44 FIP combination, with a 24.3 percent strikeout rate and a 7.6 percent walk rate. In two starts for the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens, Sears has been a strikeout machine, punching out 41.2 percent of hitters he's faced. His walk rate has ticked up to 11.8 percent, but he also hasn't allowed a home run.
We've pegged Sears for two seasons now as the next lefty swingman for the Tigers. He can start, but he makes plenty of sense as a long reliever and spot starter who also works out of the bullpen. His deception, built on a bit of funky, crossfire delivery and a quick arm from a low slot, makes him tricky to deal with, and his stuff has routinely played up compared to the raw stuff metrics. The big task this season was to refine his changeup and get to using the offspeed more often to take pressure off his good sinker-slider combination, and
2 months ago
Eliezer Alfonzo Jr. spent nearly a decade making his way through the minor leagues.
He spent parts of three seasons with the Erie SeaWolves in his journey, collecting Eastern League championship rings after the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
The Los Angeles Dodgers signed him as a free agent in November and he earned his way to make his major-league debut on Sunday, July 5.
It was a day filled with mixed emotions as a decade of hard work paid off, but he also just learned about the death of his sister Eliana and his stepmother, Patricia, during the devastating earthquakes on June 24 in Venezuela.El
More: Back-to-back! Erie SeaWolves sweep Somerset to win another Eastern League championship
He spent parts of three seasons with the Erie SeaWolves in his journey, collecting Eastern League championship rings after the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
The Los Angeles Dodgers signed him as a free agent in November and he earned his way to make his major-league debut on Sunday, July 5.
It was a day filled with mixed emotions as a decade of hard work paid off, but he also just learned about the death of his sister Eliana and his stepmother, Patricia, during the devastating earthquakes on June 24 in Venezuela.El
More: Back-to-back! Erie SeaWolves sweep Somerset to win another Eastern League championship
2 months ago
Clippers 6, Bats 2
Petey Halpin had a triple, a homer and four RBI, Ralphy Velazquez went 2 for 5 with a double and two strikeouts, Angel Genao had a double and a walk, while Logan Allen allowed 2 runs in 6 strong innings and Daniel Espino pitched a scoreless ninth. See you in Cleveland again soon, Daniel.
SeaWolves 4, Rubber Ducks 3
Bennett Thompson continued his strong start in Triple-A with another home run and a walk, and Alfonsin Rosario hit another homer, his 16th of the year. Rafe Schlesinger struckout six in six innings without walking anyone, and Matt Jahec struck out four in two innings and seems like he might need a promotion soon, with a 2.38 ERA.
Captains 6, Whitecaps 4
Petey Halpin had a triple, a homer and four RBI, Ralphy Velazquez went 2 for 5 with a double and two strikeouts, Angel Genao had a double and a walk, while Logan Allen allowed 2 runs in 6 strong innings and Daniel Espino pitched a scoreless ninth. See you in Cleveland again soon, Daniel.
SeaWolves 4, Rubber Ducks 3
Bennett Thompson continued his strong start in Triple-A with another home run and a walk, and Alfonsin Rosario hit another homer, his 16th of the year. Rafe Schlesinger struckout six in six innings without walking anyone, and Matt Jahec struck out four in two innings and seems like he might need a promotion soon, with a 2.38 ERA.
Captains 6, Whitecaps 4
3 months ago
Rosters were announced on Wednesday for the All-Star Futures Game, featuring top prospects from all around the league in a showcase game as part of All-Star Week. The Detroit Tigers' representative will be catching prospect Thayron Liranzo, currently working at the Double-A level. He'll be behind the plate for part of the Sunday, July 12 contest at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The game will be broadcast at noon E.T. on NBC.
The sole selection of Liranzo was a little bit of a surprise. The All-Star Futures Game tends to draw on prospects that haven't reached the Triple-A level yet. So it was expected that neither Max Clark or Max Anderson would be selected for the midseason battle of top prospects. On the other hand, the lack of Bryce Rainer is an oversight. The young shortstop is scorching hot with 8 homers, 10 stolen bases, and a .394 on-base percentage for the West Michigan Whitecaps, and generally draws 55 FV grades from national prospect rankings. Instead, Liranzo will be the Tigers only representative.
The switch-hitting, 22-year-old catcher—he'll turn 23 in a week's time— has really come on strong in his second season with the Erie SeaWolves. Most of that development has come behind the plate, so he's not exactly lighting it up offensively, but right now that defensive progress is more important anyway. Liranzo has nine homers and a .337 on-base percentage in 44 games this season. He's still walking a ton, holding a 16.3 percent walk rate in the Eastern League. Of course, while he's starting to trim the strikeouts, he's still holding a 28.6 K-rate as well.
It took Dillon Dingler three tries to really break out of Double-A, so there's still plenty of time for Liranzo, and his defensive improvements now have him looking like much more of a lock to catch at the major league level, even if he's still tracking like a backup who plays some first base, and gets looks at DH and as a pinch-hitter to access his raw power.
The Dominican born catcher was the key piece of the trade that sent Jack Flaherty to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the 2024 trade deadline. With Trey Sweeney largely flaming out, Liranzo is both the key piece, and potentially the only piece acquired in that deadline selloff that looks like it could work out very well for the Tigers. Of course, Sweeney already contributed by helping get the Tigers into the playoffs that year with Javier Báez down for surgery on his hip. It's been bleak since for Sweeney, and he's out for the year after shoulder surgery.
The sole selection of Liranzo was a little bit of a surprise. The All-Star Futures Game tends to draw on prospects that haven't reached the Triple-A level yet. So it was expected that neither Max Clark or Max Anderson would be selected for the midseason battle of top prospects. On the other hand, the lack of Bryce Rainer is an oversight. The young shortstop is scorching hot with 8 homers, 10 stolen bases, and a .394 on-base percentage for the West Michigan Whitecaps, and generally draws 55 FV grades from national prospect rankings. Instead, Liranzo will be the Tigers only representative.
The switch-hitting, 22-year-old catcher—he'll turn 23 in a week's time— has really come on strong in his second season with the Erie SeaWolves. Most of that development has come behind the plate, so he's not exactly lighting it up offensively, but right now that defensive progress is more important anyway. Liranzo has nine homers and a .337 on-base percentage in 44 games this season. He's still walking a ton, holding a 16.3 percent walk rate in the Eastern League. Of course, while he's starting to trim the strikeouts, he's still holding a 28.6 K-rate as well.
It took Dillon Dingler three tries to really break out of Double-A, so there's still plenty of time for Liranzo, and his defensive improvements now have him looking like much more of a lock to catch at the major league level, even if he's still tracking like a backup who plays some first base, and gets looks at DH and as a pinch-hitter to access his raw power.
The Dominican born catcher was the key piece of the trade that sent Jack Flaherty to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the 2024 trade deadline. With Trey Sweeney largely flaming out, Liranzo is both the key piece, and potentially the only piece acquired in that deadline selloff that looks like it could work out very well for the Tigers. Of course, Sweeney already contributed by helping get the Tigers into the playoffs that year with Javier Báez down for surgery on his hip. It's been bleak since for Sweeney, and he's out for the year after shoulder surgery.
