LAKELAND, Fla. -- Jack Patrick wasn't really sure what to expect Monday morning as he pulled into Tigertown, got his gear and walked to the back fields. He's from Michigan, so he grew up around the Spring Training lore of Tigers baseball here. But he had never been to a tryout camp.
On the same field as Patrick was Steve Clevenger, a six-year Major League catcher who spent last year in independent ball. He has been working out at the MLB Players Association camp.
On a nearby field was Nolan Reimold, a teammate of Clevenger for three years with the Orioles and an eight-year big league veteran trying to get back in after taking off most of last year.