TAMPA, Fla— Generations of fans came together on Tuesday to watch their Detroit Tigers take on the New York Yankees at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland Florida.
There’s a magnetism to spring training. Fans of all ages from all corners of the world are drawn to the sun soaked ballparks of Florida and Arizona to watch Major League Baseball’s preseason.
LAKELAND, Fla. - Most afternoons in March, Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland could easily be mistaken for any number of places in Michigan. Ask most waiting in line for the gates to open and you’ll hear the cities of Grand Rapids, Detroit, and numerous smaller towns roll off their lips.
LAKELAND, Fla.—Dominic Ficociello wanted to take his time to get to the big leagues.
Ficociello was drafted by the Detroit Tigers out of Fullerton Union high school in 2010 (23rd round). But the switch hitter needed time to mature and grow into a player that was going to be ready to compete at a high level.
So after he finished his stay at the University of Arkansas, the Tigers selected Dominic Ficociello in the 12th round of the 2013 draft.