Former Tech skater Kerry Carpenter grew into a Tiger

BLACKSBURG – Projected as the No. 22 prospect in the Detroit Tigers organization this season, former Virginia Tech slugger Kerry Carpenter received his major league promotion Tuesday night in anticipation of making his MLB debut Wednesday night against Detroit at Comerica Park (7:10 p.m. EDT, Bally Sports Affiliates). .

Until Tuesday night, Carpenter had hit 22 homers against the Erie SeaWolves (Class AA) before getting a June 25 call-up to the Toledo Mud Hens, leading all levels of minor league baseball with 30 combined home runs this year. Class AAA). After 34 Triple-A games, the left-handed bat has a .331 batting average with a 1.064 OPS, 11 doubles, a triple and eight home runs. Drawing 17 walks on 17 strikeouts.

After spending his freshman and sophomore seasons at St. Johns River State College in Palatka, Florida, Carpenter transferred to Virginia Tech prior to the 2019 season. Synchronization with the hockey players during the head coach John SzefcIn his sophomore season at Biskeburg, the 6-foot-2 native of Eustis, Florida went on to start every one of the team’s 53 games, leading Tech’s senior offense in doubles (13), home runs (10) and RBIs (45).

Leading the Hokies’ 2019 MLB draft class, Carpenter was selected in the 19th round by the Detroit Tigers, raising his batting average from .272 at Tech to .319 at the rookie level with the Tigers of the Gulf Coast League. Following the cancellation of the 2020 minor league baseball season due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he began the 2021 campaign at Double-A with Erie, recording 24 doubles, 15 home runs, 57 runs and 74 RBI in 112 games in the Eastern League. .

Finding a new gear for the game in 2022, Carpenter improved significantly in his second Double-A campaign in Erie, hitting .411 with 13 home runs and a 1.393 OPS in May. With the pro club stumbling through June, the Mud Hens (.474 batting average) struggled, striking out nine in the first six games before joining Toledo in the final week of June.

Detroit appears to be picking up Carpenter’s contract at the right time. On Sunday in Iowa, he connected on a second-inning grand slam that sent Toledo to an early, 8-0 lead over the Iowa Cubs.

Carpenter is looking to become the 22nd Virginia Tech baseball player to make his MLB debut, following reliever Packy Naughton (2021 draft, Los Angeles Angels).