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Tigers minor league managers: Lance Parrish to West Michigan Whitecaps

Former Tigers great Lance Parrish, who has managed Double-A Erie for the past four seasons, will be managing the White Caps this season.
Detroit Tigers minor league coach Lance Parrish at a spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Lakeland, Fla., Monday, March 9, 2015.

The Detroit Tigers’ minor-league managers appear to be in place.

And there could be a new face leading each of the team’s farm affiliates.

Former Tigers great Lance Parrish, who has managed Double-A Erie for the past four seasons, will be managing at Class A West Michigan this upcoming season, according to multiple people with knowledge of the situation.

The move is surprising in that Parrish seemed like a candidate for promotion to Triple-A Toledo, and the Tigers announced Doug Mientkiewicz as the Mud Hens' new manager on Tuesday. With an added emphasis on player development at the lower levels of the minor leagues, the front office could have decided on Parrish’s experience as a plus in West Michigan.

Parrish, 61, has six seasons of minor-league managing experience. He played 19 seasons in the major leagues, spending 10 of them with the Tigers, including winning the 1984 World Series. A product of the team’s sub-par farm systems of the past, Parrish didn’t finish with a winning record in four seasons with the SeaWolves.

His assignment is expected to be announced on Tuesday afternoon.

It could put in motion a pair of promotions within the organization, with Andrew Graham possibly moving from Class A Lakeland to Erie and Mike Rabelo moving from West Michigan to Lakeland.

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