1997 Lakeland Tigers Roster
Team Record: 81-57
Finished 2nd in the FSL's West Division
Manager: Mark Meleski (81-57)
Affiliation: Detroit Tigers
Location: Lakeland, Florida
Ballpark: Joker Marchant Stadium
Attendance: 21,198, Avg. 348 in 61 home dates
Playoffs - St. Petersburg Devil Rays 2 games, Lakeland Tigers 0
The Lakeland Tigers of the Florida State League ended the 1997 season with a record of 81 wins and 57 losses, finishing second in the league's West Division.
The Tigers scored 650 runs and gave up 569 runs. Alejandro Freire led Lakeland with 24 home runs, while Gabe Kapler walloped 15 or more, too. Alejandro Freire accounted for 92 RBI and topped hitters with significant playing time by hitting .323. Brian Powell paced the squad with 13 wins and a team-best 2.51 ERA, best among regular hurlers.
Members of the 1997 Lakeland Tigers who played in Major League Baseball during their careers were Víctor Santos, Matt Walbeck, Brian Powell, Glen Barker, Alejandro Freire, Santiago Pérez, Phil Nevin, Orlando Miller, Javier Cardona, José Macias and Gabe Kapler.
Mark Meleski served as manager.Click on column headings to sort.
| Player | Bats | Throws | Birth Date | Height | Weight | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kurt Airoso | R | R | February 12, 1975 | 6'2" | 190 | Tulare, CA US |
| Aaron Alvord | R | R | June 21, 1977 | 6'1" | 180 | McPherson, KS US |
| Ben Bailey | R | R | August 31, 1974 | 6'2" | 220 | Goshen, IN US |
| Ryan Balfe | S | R | November 11, 1975 | 6'1" | 180 | Cornwall, NY US |
| Glen Barker | S | R | May 10, 1971 | 5'10" | 180 | Albany, NY US |
| Jayson Bass | L | L | June 22, 1974 | 5'7" | 167 | Seattle, WA US |
| Chris Bauer | R | R | December 28, 1973 | 6'1" | 180 | Joliet, IL US |
| Rayner Bautista | R | R | September 17, 1978 | 5'11" | 155 | Nizao, Peravia DO |
| Scott Bream | S | R | November 4, 1970 | 6'1" | 170 | Omaha, NE US |
| Javier Cardona | R | R | September 15, 1975 | 6'1" | 185 | Santurce, PR |
| Decomba Conner | R | R | July 17, 1973 | 5'10" | 185 | Mooresville, NC US |
| Derek Dace | L | L | April 11, 1975 | 6'7" | 200 | Rolla, MO US |
| Dave Darwin | L | L | December 19, 1973 | 6'0" | 185 | Charlotte, NC US |
| Eric Dinyar | R | R | August 13, 1973 | 6'6" | 210 | Johnstown, PA US |
| Peter Durkovic | L | L | July 9, 1973 | 6'4" | 215 | Bronx, NY US |
| Sean Freeman | L | L | September 10, 1971 | 6'3" | 205 | Ashtabula, OH US |
| Alejandro Freire | R | R | August 23, 1974 | 6'2" | 225 | Caracas, Distrito Federal VE |
| Brian Fuller | R | R | November 5, 1972 | 6'2" | 205 | Richland Center, WI US |
| Juan Hernaiz | R | R | February 15, 1975 | 5'10" | 192 | San Juan, PR |
| Justin Jensen | L | L | December 19, 1973 | 6'3" | 210 | Santa Cruz, CA US |
| Gabe Kapler | R | R | July 31, 1975 | 6'2" | 190 | Hollywood, CA US |
| Keith Kimsey | R | R | August 15, 1972 | 6'7" | 200 | Lakeland, FL US |
| Steve Lackey | R | R | September 25, 1974 | 5'11" | 159 | Corona, CA US |
| Dave Lindstrom | R | R | August 6, 1974 | 5'10" | 185 | St. Paul, MN US |
| José Macias | S | R | January 25, 1972 | 5'10" | 173 | Panama, Panama PA |
| David Malenfant | R | R | April 30, 1975 | 6'3" | 205 | Flint, MI US |
| Dave Melendez | S | R | June 25, 1976 | 6'0" | 170 | Caguas, PR |
| Orlando Miller | R | R | January 13, 1969 | 6'1" | 180 | Changuinola, PA |
| Phil Nevin | R | R | January 19, 1971 | 6'2" | 180 | Fullerton, CA US |
| Matt Oakley | R | R | July 12, 1973 | 6'2" | 225 | Watford, Hertfordshire GB |
| Leonardo Patino | L | L | November 24, 1973 | 6'2" | 190 | Cali, Valle del Cauca CO |
| Santiago Pérez | S | R | December 30, 1975 | 6'2" | 185 | Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional DO |
| Brian Powell | R | R | October 10, 1973 | 6'2" | 205 | Bainbridge, GA US |
| Jerry Salzano | R | R | October 27, 1974 | 6'0" | 170 | Trenton, NJ US |
| Víctor Santos | R | R | October 2, 1976 | 6'2" | 205 | San Pedro de Macoris, San Pedro de Macoris DO |
| Chad Schroeder | R | R | September 21, 1973 | 6'1" | 195 | Grand Rapids, MI US |
| Keilan Smith | R | R | December 20, 1973 | 6'4" | 185 | Memphis, TN US |
| Trad Sobik | R | R | January 29, 1976 | 6'2" | 175 | Elgin, IL US |
| Carlos Villalobos | R | R | April 5, 1975 | 5'11" | 182 | Cartagena, Bolivar CO |
| Matt Walbeck | S | R | October 2, 1969 | 5'11" | 195 | Sacramento, CA US |
| Mark Zamarripa | R | R | July 28, 1974 | 6'0" | 175 | Los Angeles, CA US |
Average attendance is based upon the number of actual home dates where known (most leagues from 1992 and later). Where the number of home dates is not known, the average is calculated using half the team's total games.
