As the temperature in Metro Detroit hovers in the single digits, thoughts turn to warmer things such as spring training.
The Tigers announced Wednesday that pitchers and catchers will report to Lakeland, Fla., on Feb. 19 and then have their first workout Feb. 20. The first full-squad workout will be Feb 24.
In addition to Tigers manager Brad Ausmus and his staff, there will be several other members of the Tigers organization in uniform this spring.
Among them are Alan Trammell, Al Kaline and Willie Horton, all special assistants to president and general manager Dave Dombrowski.
Also in uniform will be Manny Crespo, director of Latin American player development; Bill Dancy, minor league field coordinator; Joe DePastino, catching coordinator; Dave Owen, director of player development; Larry Parrish, Toledo Mud Hens (AAA) manager; Leon "Bull" Durham, Mud Hens (AAA) hitting coach; Mike Maroth, Mud Hens pitching coach; Lance Parrish, Erie Seawolves (AA) manager; Mike Henneman, Seawolves pitching coach; Gerald Perry, Seawolves hitting coach; Brian Peterson, performance enhancement instructor; Gene Roof, outfield and base running coordinator; and A.J. Sager, pitching coordinator.
The Tigers will start their spring exhibition schedule with the annual Florida Southern College game on March 2.
Individual tickets for spring games will go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Joker Marchant Stadium box office, by calling 866-66-TIGER or through www.tigers.com.
Five of the Tigers' spring games will be televised on FOX Sports Detroit: March 22 (vs. Atlanta Braves), March 25 (vs. Miami Marlins), March 26 (vs. Baltimore Orioles), March 30 (vs. Atlanta Braves) and April 3 (vs. the Tampa Bay Rays).
This spring will be the Tigers' 50th consecutive season of exhibition baseball at Joker Marchant Stadium.
The Tigers are also celebrating their 79th season at TigerTown in Lakeland, which is the longest standing relationship between a major league team and a current spring training host city.
