Alvarez earned the promotion after three years managing Detroit's Double-A affiliate in Erie. As a player, he spent time with the Mud Hens and Tigers from 1998-2000.

They're an opportunity to identify undervalued players in Fantasy Baseball drafts ... In 51 games with the Toledo Mud Hens, Meadows slashed .292/.388/.495 with eight homers and 19 steals.

The others: Jake Rogers and Dillon Dingler in MLB with the Tigers; Tomás Nido and Stephen Scott in Triple-A with the Toledo Mud Hens. Only Rogers and Dingler are on the Tigers' 40-man roster.

The Clippers' opening series is set for March 28 on the road against the Toledo Mud Hens, the Detroit Tigers affiliate.

BLADE/JETTA FRASER Mud Hens shortstop Argenis Diaz starts a 6-4-3 double play to end the Red Wings' sixth inning. BLADE/JETTA FRASER ...