Lakeland Manager Barkett Leaves Tigers

After successfully serving as the Lakeland manager for the last three seasons, Andy Barkett will be leaving the Tigers organization for another opportunity in 2011.

After three season managing in the Florida State League for the Tigers, Barkett is taking a promotion to manage the Double-A Jacksonville Suns in the Florida Marlins organization. The Tigers brought Barkett on board to manage their High-A affilliate in 2008, where he led the then Lakeland Tigers to a 67-70 record in his debut season as a manager. Barkett finished his tenure with the Tigers organization by guiding the Flying Tigers to a 71-67 mark last season, despite an amazing amount of roster turnover. His 2010 winning record brought his minor league career mark to 193-212. Prior to managing, Barkett played one year in the minor leagues for the Tigers in 2004, before retiring in 2005 after a summer in the Braves organization. After eleven seasons, Barkett finished with a career .273/.354/.421 line, with parts of seven seasons at the Triple-A level. Barkett also saw 17 games in the big leagues with the Pirates in 2001, hitting .304 in 51 plate appearances.