PITTSBURGH -- Outfielder Mike Gerber got a brief taste of the Major Leagues as the Tigers' 26th man in last Friday's doubleheader, but he returned to Triple-A Toledo knowing he'd soon see familiar faces. The Mud Hens were headed to play a four-game series in Pawtucket, and most of his family lives in Rhode Island and Connecticut.
Gerber's family had just traveled to Detroit to see his first Major League action, but another contingent would be waiting for him at McCoy Stadium. Both his mom and aunt work for the school district of Pawtucket, and they planned to bring their entire office to cheer him on.