Simcox latest to step up for Flying Tigers
Class A Advanced Lakeland lost two of its major offensive contributors recently, but A.J. Simcox and his teammates are showing that they can still hold their own.
"Guys are just stepping up and making the most of their opportunities," Simcox said. "We've got a couple of guys that are swinging it really well lately and stepping up. It just seems like a different guy every night is having a big game."
Simcox was that player Wednesday. Detroit's No. 19 prospect collected a season-high four hits while scoring three times to help the Flying Tigers top the Brevard County Manatees, 14-6, at Space Coast Stadium.
Lakeland set a season high in hits with 18 and tied one in runs a day after its parent club traded catcher Kade Scivicque to the Braves as part of a deal for shortstop Erick Aybar. Scivicque slashed .282/.325/.380 with six home runs and 41 RBIs with Lakeland.
A little over a week ago, the third-ranked Tigers prospect Christin Stewart -- also a teammate of Simcox's at the University of Tennessee -- was promoted to Double-A Erie. Stewart belted 23 home runs and plated 67 runs prior to his Aug. 9 promotion.
But the Flying Tigers have rolled on with a 6-3 record since Stewart departed. They've scored at least eight runs in four of those wins.
On Wednesday, Lakeland took advantage of command struggles for Milwaukee's No. 13 prospect Kodi Medeiros by scoring four runs and chased the 20-year-old southpaw from the game after just one out. Simcox drew one of Medeiros' four walks.
"He was making some good pitches, but we were just fouling them off and working counts," Simcox said. "I thought we had a pretty good approach toward him and a lot of guys had some good at-bats. They drew their walks, had a couple of guys that squared some balls up and we just took advantage of the opportunities that were given."
The next inning, the 22-year-old shortstop collected an RBI double to left off reliever Clint Terry, then lined a single to center off the southpaw in the following frame.
Simcox struck out in the fifth against Bubba Derby. But he came back with a single up the middle to lead off the seventh against the right-hander. He finished his night with a single to left off righty Jon Olczak in the eighth.
"For the most parts, I stayed with my same approach," Simcox said. "I tried to be patient, get a pitch that I can drive. Later in the game, I kind of realized how they were pitching me a little bit, so I tried to focus on that a little bit more and be more aggressive. I just tried to see the ball and stay behind it and just slow everything down at the plate, I think it benefited me a little bit."
It was Simcox's first four-hit game since Sept. 7, 2015 with Class A West Michigan. He also racked up four knocks last Aug. 24 against South Bend. The 2015 14th-round pick has hit safely in five straight games and 10 of his previous 11.
"I went back to my routine that I used in West Michigan," he said. "It got me in a comfortable position with my swing and it got me that feeling back. ... I did that a little bit earlier in the year and it had been working, but just playing every single day, I started to lose feeling of it. So I went away with it and tried some other things. Then I lost feeling with that, so I went back to see what I've been doing and tried to focus on it before the game, carry it over to batting practice and then carry it over to the game."
Ben Verlander, who went 4-for-4 with four doubles Tuesday, went 3-for-5 with three RBIs.
"It's always a good feeling when your whole team is swinging the bat well," Simcox said. "It makes it easier on our pitching staff to go out and pitch with a lead. You always want to see your guys on the team succeed, and it's a lot better clubhouse when everyone is playing well and everyone is happy. It's just makes baseball a little easier and a little more fun."
Righty A.J. Ladwig (10-9) hit double-digits in the win column. He gave up four runs on seven hits over seven innings. He struck out four and didn't issue a walk.
Michael Peng is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @MichaelXPeng
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring