Tampere Tigers

Tampere Tigers is a baseball and softball club from Tampere, Finland. The club competes in the two Finnish Baseball Leagues, Suomi Sarja and SM Sarja. Tampere Tigers were founded in 2004 by Arni Hukari and Lassi Autio. The Tigers have also a female softball team and a juniors program for kids 7-13.

Founding Years and Initial Growth (2005-2008)

The Tigers, named after the Japanese Hanshin Tigers, began in 2005, entering the Finnish Baseball League with 18 players. Despite finishing 5th in their debut season, they celebrated Rookie of the Year honors for Tomi Krogerus. In 2006, the Tigers aimed for a top-3 spot, narrowly missing it but showing marked improvement, with Tuomo Mesimäki and Niko Wirgentius earning league awards. By 2008, they had qualified for their first postseason, proving themselves in hard-fought games against the dominant Espoo Expos.

Key Individual Performances and League Progression (2009-2012)

Despite challenging seasons, the Tigers boasted standout individual achievements, including Tommi Harala’s league-best .514 batting average in 2009 and a league-high fielding percentage in 2010. Shifting to Suomi Sarja (First Division) in 2011, they achieved a solid 3-1-1 record before returning to SM Sarja in 2012, with Andres Mena leading the league with a .512 average.

Consistent Improvement and Suomi Sarja Playoff Success (2013-2015)

The Tigers continued to rise in the standings, with Andres Mena and Yoan Martinez consistently topping the league in batting averages. In 2015, the Tigers returned to Suomi Sarja, earning their second playoff appearance and finishing the season as runners-up, marking another high point in their early history.

Historic Championship and New Horizons (2016-2018)

2016 was a landmark year for the Tigers, who clinched their first Suomi Sarja title following an exceptional 13-2 regular season. In 2017, they expanded to both SM Sarja and Suomi Sarja, achieving a strong 3rd place in SM Sarja and back-to-back Suomi Sarja championships. They also established their first women’s softball team, playing three exhibition games and underscoring the club’s growth in both performance and structure. By 2018, the Tigers’ roster was at a record high, and they reached the Suomi Sarja playoffs once more, only to fall in the semifinals to rivals Espoo XL5.

First SM Sarja Finals and Continued Success (2019-2021)

In 2019, the Tigers reached the SM Sarja finals for the first time, finishing as runners-up in a hard-fought five-game series. While they opted out of the SM Sarja finals in 2020 due to disputes with league management, they returned in 2021 to claim their first SM Sarja title, defeating the Espoo Expos. The Tigers’ softball team also won the Finnish national title, earning both baseball and softball championships in a single season—a club milestone.

European Representation and Record-Breaking Seasons (2022-2023)

2022 was a record-breaking year with a 14-1 regular season, though the Tigers fell in the SM Sarja finals. Their first appearance in the European Cup Qualifiers in Poland highlighted the club's growing international presence. In 2023, they returned to the European Cup in Budapest, achieving their first international win against Sofia Leaders. Both Superbaseball and Fat Lizard teams topped the regular season in Finland, though both fell just short in the finals. A notable 11-game win streak in Superbaseball underscored their continued local dominance.

Strengthened Juniors and International Play (2024)

The Tigers faced a challenging Superbaseball season in 2024, finishing 3rd due to bullpen gaps, but they advanced to the Suomi Sarja semifinals with a mid-season roster boost. Competing in their third European Cup Qualifier in Stockholm, they faced some of Europe’s strongest teams. Meanwhile, the Tigers’ juniors program celebrated its second year in the Baltic Junior Games in Estonia, marking their first international win—a promising step for the next generation of Tigers players.

A combination of experienced players and talented young faces have brought strength and confidence to the team.

• Roynet Perez
• Jose Mesa
• Sergio Fernandez
• Mauricio Rosales
• Niko Mäki
• Gabriel Rosell
• Willys Reyes
• Jose Gonzales
• Juan Carlos Mendez
• Corey Niemi
• Adunais Perez
• Leodanys Ramos
• Jyri Portin
• Janne Pihlajaniemi
• Sakari Keskitalo
• Israel Perez
• Raynel Corporan
• Samuel Figueroa
• Emiliano Rivero
• Yi-Chen Li
• Danis Garcia
• Aleksandr Igitov
• Ergo Rohi
• Tauno Koppel
• Aleks Koppel
• Silvio Quevedo
• Yoan Martinez

On DL:

Henri Santala

The Tigers have had a great selection of managers and coaches. Working together with the Club's board, their main objectives have always been the development of new talents and building up a competitive team for each season.

• 2004 Lassi Autio
• 2005 Lassi Autio
• 2006 Lassi Autio
• 2007 Oliver Paredes
• 2008 Tuomo Mesimäki
• 2009 Lassi Autio
• 2010 Aki Ropo
• 2011 Lassi Autio
• 2012 Aki Ropo
• 2013 Andres Mena
• 2014 Luis Noyola
• 2015 Lassi Autio
• 2016 Mauricio Rosales
• 2017 Mauricio Rosales
• 2018 Mauricio Rosales
• 2019 Mauricio Rosales
• 2020 Mauricio Rosales
• 2021 Mauricio Rosales
• 2022 Mauricio Rosales
• 2023 Mauricio Rosales
• 2024 Mauricio Rosales
• 2025 Mauricio Rosales

Throughout its history, the team has had an array of extra ordinary players. Some are still active in other teams in Finland and some are playing overseas. Some of the players have had previous experience playing baseball while some others learned to play in the club.

• Yendrys Serrano Pasi Tulonen Tuomas Virtanen Luis Diaz Janne Ylänkö Miikka Aaltonen Juha-Pekka Niemi Tommi Harala Einieri Mainegra Luis Noyola Andres Mena Williams Kelly Remberto Martinez Niklas Palander Santeri Heino Toni Kemppainen Duviel Fernandez Harvey Fernandez Severi Lehtimäki Tuomo Vestola Simon Visser Cassie Andersen Anssi Rämä Riku Sjöroos Tuomas Lemmetty Markus Blommendahl Jarkko Vilkkilä Otto Nojonen Jarkko Juutilainen Tomi Krogerus Tommi Harala Arni Hukari Akira Ropo Aki Ropo Toni Sjöman Oliver Paredes Juha Kurki Mikko Salmensuo Mauno Ahlgren Jarmo Rintala Aarne Juutilainen Olli Mehtonen Klaus Tamminen Niko Wirgentius Tuomo Mesimäki Abel Maranon Julian Hasegawa Ton Sjöman Jyrki Nummenmaa Samuli Ikola Tomi Karppinen Kari Harjunniemi Jarkko Kettunen Carlos Ardila Tommi Tuominen Juha Antikainen Alberto Martinez Tommi Sakki Victor Viloria Simopekka Vänskä Marc Phillipe Tomi Mäntymaa Tuomas Miskala Jarkko Mällinen Harri Moisio Edvin Suarez Konsta Eskelinen Otto Eskelinen Victor Maso Antony De la Cruz Atro-Matti Puruskainen Heikki Valkama Toivo Aaltonen Dayron Lester Markku Tikka Teemu Takala Antti Kiviniemi Markus Kailanto Don Kilpela Jake Binney Markku Tikka Henri Virinsalo Juuso Valkeala Jarmo Rintala Jarkko Vilkkilä Mikko Helin Joni Holmberg Dennys King Roope Korhonen Mikko Siltanen Samuel Kivi Narender Kumar Rafael Espinal Gilberto Ruiz Silvio Guarat Jeremi Rannikko Riku Katajamäki Eemi Huhtinen Jani Aaltonen Wilmer Wilson Elwin Rosario Martin Magris Lassi Autio Teo Scheepstra Tauno Koppel Camilla Lehtimäki Roberto Martinez Sidney Kitchen Vicente Herrera Heidi Rimpi Yuber Fajardo Petteri Peijonen Tuomas Virtanen Patrick Carney Christian Camacho
• Some of the players in this list become available and return to the team to play in a particular season while some others have already retired from the sport.

The team won its first final in 2016.

2008:

SM Sarja playoff

Lost playoff series 0-2 vs Espoo Expos

2015:

Suomi Sarja final

Lost single final game 14-5 vs Espoo XL5

2016:

Suomi Sarja Final

Win single final game 8-5 vs Helsinki City

Note: In 2017 there was no post-season scheduled. The team won the title by winning more games (14) than the rest of the teams in the regular season

2018:

Suomi Sarja Playoffs

Win wildcard game 15-5 vs Nokia White Sox

Lost final series 0-2 vs Espoo XL5

2019:

Suomi Sarja final series

Lost final series 0-2 vs Espoo XL5

SM Sarja final series

Lost final series 1-3 vs Espoo Expos

2020:

SM Sarja final series

Lost final series 0-3 vs Espoo Expos (Forfeiting games 2 and 3)

2021:

SM Sarja final series

Win final series 3-1 vs Espoo Expos

Suomi Sarja final series

Lost final series 0-2 vs Espoo XL5

Softball Championship game

Win final game 14-9 against Helsinki Sandstorm

2022:

SM Sarja final series

Lost final series 0-3 vs Espoo Expos

2023:

SM Sarja final series (Superbaseball)

Lost final series 2-3 vs Espoo Expos

2024:

Quarter Final single game win 14-4 vs Helsinki Mets

Semi Final single game lost 2-4 vs Espoo XL5

• 2016: Suomi Sarja Champions
• 2017: Suomi Sarja Champions
• 2021: SM Sarja Champions
• 2021: Softball National Champions

• fi:Baseballin SM-sarja

Finnish Baseball Federation (info, scores, statistics)

https://finland.wbsc.org/en/events/2022-sm-sarja/teams

Official website

• Official website
• Finnish Baseball Federation (info, scores, statistics)
• https://finland.wbsc.org/en/events/2022-sm-sarja/teams
• https://finland.wbsc.org/en/events/2022-fat-lizard-league/schedule-and-results