Tigers pitcher Waguespack got his start with Battle Creek Bombers
· Yahoo Sports
BATTLE CREEK - For Jacob Waguespack, the road from Battle Creek to Detroit has been a long one. One that took 12 years to travel.
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Waguespack was an ace pitcher for the Battle Creek Bombers in 2014. Now you can see him in a Detroit Tigers uniform as the former Northwoods League standout hears the cheers from fans at Comerica Park.
A couple of Battle Creek fans have been cheering for Waguespack all of those 12 years as his former Battle Creek Bombers host family is proud of their adopted baseball son.
"Jacob was the first player we had as a host family. Him and Spencer Thornton stayed with us that first summer," said Loraine Fahling. "I remember the first time I met him. I said I'm Loraine and I need a hug because it's a mom thing and he gave me a big hug and the rest is history."
Fahling and her husband Ron recently met up with Waguespack in Detroit to watch him play.
"We have followed him ever since he was in Battle Creek. We say him play in college at Ole Miss, saw him play for Tampa Bay when he made it to the Major Leagues and he was playing against Detroit. We went to Toronto to see him when he was up there," Fahling said. "He met us just last week in Detroit for a Tigers game. It was a travel day so he said he could only spend a few minutes with us after the game, but he came out and spent like 20 minutes with us. He has always been just a great kid.
"Still to this day, it's hard to imagine our very first college boy has made it to the Major Leagues."
Along for the ride that day for the Tigers game was the Battle Creek Bombers general manager from that 2014 season in Tony Iovieno.
"I remember that season he played for us. He was the undisputed ace for us. He was Northwoods League pitcher of the year. He is one of the few from here that has made it and him going to our hometown Tigers, certainly makes it cool," Iovieno said. "He was a leader for us. A guy everyone respected. I know I appreciated him when he was here because you could always count on him. When you needed an early morning player appearance after a late game the night before, you go see Wags and he would be there to do what he needed to for the team."
Waguespack has pitched in 16 games in relief for the Tigers, since being called up, with a 1.80 ERA. In recent seasons he has played for Toronto, Tampa Bay and spent two seasons in Japan.
Seemingly, those days in Battle Creek meant a lot to Waguespack. He invited the Fahlings to his recent wedding. And, Waguespack certainly made an impression on the people he met in Battle Creek.
"We still have his Bombers jersey, a bat, some balls. He is part of our wall of fame we have here at the house," said Fahling, who added that another former Battle Creek player they hosted just recently was called up to the Major Leagues in Alex Fernandez with Oakland. "We are going to lend some of that stuff to the Hall of Fame they have now at the ballpark so people can see that Jacob made history here," Fahling said.
Battle Jacks - Week of July 27-Aug. 2
The Battle Jacks have struggled in the second half of the season. Battle Creek was 9-21 coming out of the weekend after going 4-6 in the last 10 games. The Jacks are 10 games behind first place as Royal Oak and Traverse City are tied for the top of the Great Lakes East Division at 19-11.
What's Next?
Battle Creek has just six games left in the regular season. The last two home games are Wednesday-Thursday against Royal Oak at MCCU Field at C.O. Brown Stadium. The Jacks end the 2026 campaign on Saturday at Traverse City.
For Wednesday's game, the Battle Jacks will host former Major League Baseball manager Terry Collins. Collins will be the honorary manager for the Jacks for the game. Collins will also be signing autographs during pregame. Collins is in town as eh will be inducted into the Michigan Baseball Hall of Fame this week in Lansing. The Battle Jacks have an ongoing partnership with the Michigan Baseball Hall of Fame.
Contact Bill Broderick at [email protected]. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick.
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Tigers pitcher Waguespack got his start with Battle Creek Bombers