CLEARWATER, Fla. >> It’s starting to feel real now.

With the exception of catcher Tomas Nido, who is expected to start the season at Triple-A Toledo, every player remaining in Tigers’ camp either has a roster spot or is still fighting for one.

“The last week of camp should feel different,” said manager AJ Hinch after announcing Saturday morning that eight players were assigned to minor league camp. “You should see more recognizable names. You should play deeper in games. You should be in a room and every single person is trying to get on this roster.

“It’s a team. It’s not a camp anymore. It’s a team.”

In this recent wave of cuts were right-handed pitchers Jordan Balazovic and Brendan White; left-handed pitchers Dietrich Enns and Matt Gage; infielder Andrew Navigato; outfielders Bligh Madris and Akil Baddoo; and catcher Brian Serven.

All of those players are expected to start the season in Toledo. Enns and Balazovic will compete to be in the Mud Hens’ rotation.

Navigato opened up some eyes, hitting .417 with a 1.148 OPS this spring.

“He hit about how we expected,” Hinch said. “He’s always hit. The power has been there. It’s a pretty good at-bat. He’s a threat.”

The Tigers are trying to make him a multi-positional defensive player and that’s still a work in progress.

“The defensive versatility is something we’re trying to work into his skill-set,” Hinch said. “He can do it. He needs more time in left field and at various infield positions. The best chance for him to impact this roster is to be that four- or five-position right-handed bat.”

There are three non-roster invitees left in camp: Outfielder Jahmai Jones, lefty reliever Andrew Chafin and Nido.

Maeda scratched

Right-hander Kenta Maeda was expected to follow Tarik Skubal Saturday, but he informed Hinch Friday night that he was battling a stomach bug.

“He’s beat up a little bit,” Hinch said. “He had a rough night.”

Hinch said Maeda will be down Saturday and Sunday and then hopefully be able to make up his innings on the back field early next week.