The Minor League Ballpark Guides series spotlights each stadium across baseball’s affiliated ranks. Each edition provides ballpark highlights, from concessions to seating options to in-game entertainment to mascots. Ballpark Guides also take travelers through each facility’s surrounding area, encompassing the best places in town to eat or drink, nearby tourist attractions and more. Plan your Minor League Baseball road trip today!

Hop aboard Detroit's latest vehicle and trace the assembly line Tigers prospects follow on their way to the Motor City. After Single-A Lakeland in central Florida, the Tiger cubs get their first taste of the Wolverine State with High-A West Michigan. From there, it's a ride across one of the Great Lakes to Double-A Erie before settling in with Triple-A Toledo, the final step on the ladder to The Show.

Here's a useful guide for each ballpark on the journey to Detroit:

Single-A Lakeland Flying Tigers, Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium
With the exception of World War II, the Tigers have been training in Lakeland, Fla., since 1934. They have been affiliated with Detroit since 1963 and have played at Joker Marchant Stadium since 1966. Despite its status as one of the older ballparks still in use, numerous renovations -- most recently in 2017 -- provide a comfortable experience for fans. Centrally located between Orlando and Tampa, a trip to Lakeland is a prime stopover point between the Gulf Coast and the charms of Disney. Read more »

High-A West Michigan Whitecaps, LMCU Ballpark
Roughly 160 miles northwest of Comerica Park, LMCU Ballpark opened in 1994 to great fanfare and remains a jewel of the Midwest League. The Whitecaps, playing in what was then known as Old Kent Park, established Class A attendance records in each of its first three seasons. LMCU Ballpark has undergone several various upgrades and is currently in the midst of a two-phase project that will be completed in 2024 and 2025. Read more »

Double-A Erie SeaWolves, UPMC Park
Professional baseball has been a staple in Erie since the dawn of the 20th century with UPMC Park entering its 28th season in 2023. Affiliated with Detroit since 1999, when it graduated to the Double-A level, the SeaWolves' home has undergone several renovations to bring it more in line with its advanced level. UPMC Park includes a picnic garden, updated suites and a connection to the arena next door that houses the Ontario Hockey League’s Erie Otters. Read more »

Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens, Fifth Third Field
The final stop on the road to Detroit sits just south of Motown along the coast of Lake Erie in Toledo, where professional baseball debuted in 1883. A state-of-the-art facility when it opened in 2002, Fifth Third Field still holds the distinction as a fresh ballpark with an old-school feel. Nestled in Toledo's Warehouse District, the park boasts a 360-degree concourse and numerous creatively structured group areas. These attributes combine to offer many unique vantage points of both the action on the field and the surrounding area. Read more »