OFFICIAL: Tigers have announced the signing of a new first team coach amid plenty of other crucial appointment

In his first year as manager of the Toledo Mud Hens, veteran hitting coach Anthony Iapoce made a favorable impression on the Detroit Tigers organization. According to Lynn Henning of the Detroit News, the veteran hitting coach, who has previously served as major league hitting coach for both the Texas Rangers and the Chicago Cubs, will join AJ Hinch’s coaching staff in Detroit as their first base coach this season.

The Tigers announced in October that Alfredo Amezaga would not be returning in 2024, so the search has been ongoing, but the Tigers ultimately decided to stay in house. Iapoce coached for the Cubs during Scott Harris’ and new GM Jeff Greenberg’s tenures as assistant general managers, so they are well acquainted with him.

Iapoce will be joined on the Tigers’ coaching staff by new third base coach Joey Cora.

The New York Yankees hired assistant hitting coach James Rowson to be their major league hitting coach next season, so the addition of Iapoce gives the Tigers another experienced hitting coach at the major league level. His exact responsibilities have yet to be disclosed, so perhaps he’ll be busy coaching something other than hitting on top of his work at first base during games, but one would expect him to provide some veteran assistance to the Tigers’ young hitting coaches, Michael Brdar and Keith Beaurega.

Tim Federowicz, the Tigers’ catching coach in 2023, will take Iapoce’s place at Toledo. He’ll take over as Mud Hens manager from Iapoce. Federowicz retired in 2021 and immediately took over as manager of the Seattle Mariners Triple-A affiliate, the Tacoma Rainiers, for the 2022 season before joining the Tigers as catching coach for the 2023 season, so he does have some management experience at that level. Federowicz recently published a book titled “The Modern Day Catcher” in which he breaks down the modern arts of the game’s most grueling position using examples from his playing days.

This follows a report by reporter Francys Romero on November 28 that Brayan Pea, a much-loved former Tiger and manager of the West Michigan Whitecaps for the past three seasons, would leave the Whitecaps to become the Tigers minor league catching coordinator. Pea has received high praise for his work with the Tigers’ young minor leaguers in West Michigan, so he’ll be missed there, but he’ll now be tasked with traveling throughout the system to help the organization’s catchers improve.

The farm system has little to offer in the catching department other than Dillon Dingler, so there is a significant need to improve at the catcher position. Josue Briceno, a catcher prospect, impressed with his bat in his first summer in the United States as an 18-year-old in the Complex League and this season at Low-A with the Lakeland Flying Tigers. His defensive abilities, on the other hand, need a lot of work, as one would expect at that age. Next season, he’ll presumably receive a lot of Pea’s attention, as will 2023 draft picks Bennett Lee (6th round) and Brady Cerkownyk (15th round).

Tony Cappucilli will be the new Whitecaps manager in 2024. For the 2022 and 2023 seasons, he was the Mud Hens’ bench coach under both Lloyd McClendon and Iapoce. Cappucilli previously worked as a coach in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.

Finally, personnel isn’t the only area undergoing significant change within the organization. On November 20, the Lakeland City Commission unanimously approved a $33 million dormitory project to replace Fetzer Hall at the Tigers Lakeland complex. The agreement included an extension of the Tigers’ lease at the Lakeland complex through at least 2044.

Lakeland and the Tigers will each contribute $4 million to the project. The remainder will be financed by bonds or other loans, with the Tigers responsible for repaying any debt borne by the city through increased rent payments. According to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, Lakeland city manager Shawn Sherrouse, the Tigers bring $55 million in economic benefits to the area.

The renovated dorm will include a cafeteria and a recreation hall for the players, and it is part of the organization’s ongoing efforts to modernize facilities and accommodations at each of its minor league affiliates.

Modernizing their facilities at all levels of the farm system has been an organizational goal since Al Avila took over as the Tigers general manager from Dave Dombrowski, as they’d fallen far behind the times as former owner Mike Ilitch poured all of his resources into the major league club in pursuit of the World Series title that would ultimately elude him.

The Tigers debuted the first major renovation of the Lakeland complex in the spring of 2017, with improvements to Joker Marchant Stadium. This included a brand-new administration and clubhouse structure, as well as a cutting-edge strength and conditioning facility. As part of the project, the stadium’s playing field, dugouts, and scoreboard were all updated.

The Tigers’ affiliates were also under pressure to modernize their fields and facilities in tandem with Lakeland and Detroit. The Erie SeaWolves completed a $16 million renovation of UPMC Park in 2021, which included field resurfacing, upgrades to the clubhouse and training facilities, a new entrance plaza, team store, offices, and concessions, as well as a revamped concourse, a new party deck, and suites for fans in attendance. Over the last decade, similar work has been completed in Toledo and West Michigan.