CHICAGO -- Right-handed pitcher Matt Manning will be the Opening Day starter for the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens when they start their season on Friday afternoon at Fifth Third Field.
Manning was one of the final players cut by the Tigers this spring. He was optioned to Toledo after losing out to Casey Mize and Reese Olson in the race for the final two spots in the Tigers’ rotation.
“We sent down players who made very compelling cases that they should be on this roster tomorrow,” Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said Wednesday. “And that’s a good thing. It made for some really tough decisions.
“There’s a group of players heading to Toledo now with chips on their shoulders. And by the way, they should have chips on their shoulders.”
In addition to Manning, there are 13 other pitchers on the active roster: Drew Anderson, Beau Brieske, Mason Englert, Wilmer Flores, Sean Guenther, Brenan Hanifee, Brant Hurter, Keider Montero, Bryan Sammons, Devin Sweet, Andrew Vasquez, Brendan White, and Trey Wingenter.
The 13 position players are: catchers Anthony Bemboom and Dillon Dingler; infielders Keston Hiura, Jace Jung, Buddy Kennedy, Ryan Kreidler, Eddys Leonard, and Wenceel Perez; and outfielders Akil Baddoo, Justice Bigbie, Bligh Madris, Justyn-Henry Malloy, and Ryan Vilade.
Pitchers Garrett Hill and Freddy Pacheco will open the season on the injured list.
The most notable name absent from the list is right-handed pitcher Ty Madden, who will return to start the season in Double-A Erie.
Madden, 24, was selected by the Tigers in the first round (32nd overall) in 2021 out of the University of Texas. He earned an invitation to big-league spring training after a strong 2023 campaign for the Seawolves. He made 25 starts, striking out 146 in 118 innings.
Outfielder TJ Hopkins, 27, will also start his Tigers’ tenure in Erie.
Hopkins was claimed by the Tigers off waivers from the San Francisco Giants in February and then put back on waivers 48 hours later after the signing of third baseman Gio Urshela.
He cleared waivers the second time around and remained in the organization.
Hopkins, 27, was selected by the Cincinnati Reds out of the University of South Carolina in the ninth round in 2019. He had a strong season with Triple-A Louisville in 2023 but went 7-for-41 with 17 strikeouts during a brief look with the Reds at the big-league level.
The Seawolves are expected to formally announce their roster later this week.