2025 Florida State League Preview
Every April, nine of the 10 Florida State League teams become occupants of eight Florida Spring Training locations.
Since 1919, the Florida State League has played baseball from April through September, in various locations, providing a proving ground for Major League players.
Minor League Baseball provides fans an affordable evening of baseball, with plenty of regular promotions and a chance to see future Major Leaguers in a more intimate setting.
Currently, the Florida State League has 10 teams playing on the A League Level. It’s one of the first stops for players recently drafted out of high school, college or from international locations.
Here’s a look at what the 2025 season, that begins on Friday, April 4, brings between now and September. Give it a look and plan a night at the ballpark if you’re in the neighborhood.
East Division
Daytona Tortugas, Jackie Robinson Ballpark, Daytona Beach
Cincinnati Reds Affiliate, https://www.milb.com/daytona
Open the 2025 season with three-game homestand vs. Bradenton Marauders, April 4-6.
2024 Overall Record: 64-64, advanced to East Division Playoffs
Manager: Willie Harris
Top Prospect: Shortstop Sammy Stafura, ranked 8th among Reds prospects. 2nd round draft pick in 2023. Played 77 games for Daytona Beach in 2024.
Alumni: Kerry Wood (10-2 record in 1996); Javier Baez (hit a total of 21 home runs in 2012 and 2013 seasons)
Note: Baez hit four home runs in a game, for Daytona Beach, against the Fort Myers Miracle on June 10, 2013.
Jupiter Hammerheads, Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, Jupiter
Miami Marlins Affiliate, https://www.milb.com/jupiter
Open the 2025 home season with a six-game homestand vs. Dunedin Blue Jays, April 8-13.
2024 Overall Record: 65-65
Manager: Nick Weisheipl
Top Prospect: Shortstop Starlyn Caba, ranked 80th of MLB Top 100 prospects. Traded to Marlins in December 2024.
Alumni: Miguel Cabrera (75 RBI in 124 games in 2002); Christian Yelich (.330 batting average in 106 games in 2012)
Notes: For the first time, Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium will broadcast all home games for the Jupiter Hammerheads (Class-A, Miami Marlins) on MiLB.TV starting in 2025.
Hammerheads were the 2023 Florida State League Champions
Palm Beach Cardinals, Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, Jupiter
St. Louis Cardinals Affiliate, https://www.milb.com/palm-beach
Open the 2025 home season with a three-game homestand vs. Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, April 4-6.
2024 Overall Record: 83-47, franchise best record. Defending Florida State League Champions, defeated the Lakeland Flying Tigers in 2024 Championship.
Manager: Gary Kendall
Top Prospect: Pitcher Chen Li Wen, in his first full season, he dominated the Florida State League with a 2.79 ERA and 123 strikeouts in 116 innings and 10 wins.
Alumni: Randy Arozarena (first professional team in U.S. in 2017 and made Florida State League All Star team)
Notes: For the first time, Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium will broadcast all home games for the Palm Beach Cardinals (Class-A, St. Louis Cardinals) on MiLB.TV starting in 2025.
St. Lucie Mets, Clover Park, Port St. Lucie
New York Mets Affiliate, https://www.milb.com/st-lucie
Open the 2025 home season with a three-game homestand vs Jupiter Hammerheads, April 4-6.
2024 Overall Record: 45-84
Manager: Luis Rivera
Top Prospect: Outfielder Carson Benge (first round pick in 2024, hit two home runs in 15 games for Port St. Lucie in 2024)
Alumni: David Wright (hit 15 home runs in 133 games in 2003)
Notes: Mets were the 2022 Florida State League Champions. Former Mets player, Edgardo Alfonso, played the 1992 season for the St. Lucie Mets and managed the team in 2010. Gary Carter also managed the St. Lucie Mets in the 2006 season.
West Division
Bradenton Marauders, LECOM Park, Bradenton
Pittsburgh Pirates Affiliate, https://www.milb.com/bradenton
Open the 2025 season with six-game homestand vs. Palm Beach Cardinals, April 8-13.
2024 Overall Record: 54-77
Manager: Jim Horner
Top Prospect: SS/OF Konnor Griffin, Ranked 43rd of MLB Top 100 prospects Konnor Griffin. First round draft pick in 2024 and 2024 National Gatorade High School Player of the Year.
Alumni: Gerrit Cole (5-1 record in 13 starts in 2012)
Notes: Marauders were the 2021 Florida State League Champions. Tyler Glasnow, now pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers was the League Pitcher of the Year in 2014, with a 12-5 record, for the Marauders.
Clearwater Threshers, BayCare Ballpark, Clearwater
Philadelphia Phillies Affiliate, https://www.milb.com/clearwater
Open the 2025 home schedule with a six-game homestand vs. Daytona Beach Tortugas, April, 8-13.
2024 Overall Record: 64-63, advanced to West Division Playoffs
Manager: Marty Malloy
Top Prospect: Catcher Eduardo Tait, ranked 92nd of MLB Top 100 Prospects. (Played 28 games for Clearwater in 2024)
Alumni: Ryan Howard (hit .304 and 23 home runs in 2003)
Note: When the team moved into now BayCare Ballpark, in 2004, Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, was the first manager of the renamed Threshers.
Dunedin Blue Jays, TD Ballpark, Dunedin
Toronto Blue Jays Affiliate, https://www.milb.com/dunedin
Open the 2025 season with a three-game homestand vs. Clearwater Threshers, April 4-6.
2024 Overall Record: 69-61
Manager: Gil Kim
Top Prospect: Pitcher Trey Yesavage, ranked 87th of MLB Top 100 prospects. First Round Draft Pick in 2024.
Alumni: Roy Halliday (15-7 record in 1996); Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. (.333 batting average in 48 games in 2017)
Note: The Blue Jays are now in their 38th year in Dunedin. They played two seasons, 1978-79, before taking a few years respite. The Blue Jays returned in 1987 and have been in Dunedin since.
Fort Myers Might Mussels, Hammond Stadium, Fort Myers
Minnesota Twins Affiliate, https://www.milb.com/fort-myers
Open the 2025 home season with a six-game homestand vs. Tampa Tarpons, April 8-13.
2024 Overall Record: 66-59
Manager: Seth Feldman
Top Prospect: Pitcher Dasan Hill, 13th-ranked Twins prospect. Drafted in 2024.
Alumni: Joe Mauer (.335 batting average in 62 games in 2003); David Ortiz (hit .331 with 13 home runs in 61 games in 1997)
Note: While the current team has been in Fort Myers since 1992, the team lineage stretches back to 1971 in Miami, with several different MLB affiliates and team owners, including an ownership group that included Bill Murray and Jimmy Buffett, in the early 1990s.
Lakeland Flying Tigers, Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland
Detroit Tigers Affiliate, https://www.milb.com/lakeland
Open the 2025 home season with a six-game homestand vs. St. Lucie Mets, April 8-13.
2024 Overall Record: 80-50, advanced to West Division Playoffs and FSL Championship.
Top Prospect: 52nd of 100, Bryce Rainer, SS, DET — Lakeland (Single-A)
Manager: Rene Rivera
Top Prospect: 1B/C Josue Briceno, Tigers 6th-ranked prospect. Played a total of 51 games for Lakeland in last two seasons.
Alumni: John Smoltz (began his pro career in Lakeland in 1986, at 19 years old, with a 7-8 record in 14 games started); Justin Verlander (9-2 record in 13 starts in 2005)
Note: The Flying Tigers affiliated with the Detroit Tigers’ farm system in 1963 and became known as the Lakeland Tigers before becoming the Flying Tigers in 2007. The relationship with Detroit is one of the two longest unbroken affiliate relationships currently existing.[1]
Tampa Tarpons, George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa
New York Yankees Affiliate, https://www.milb.com/tampa
Open the 2025 home season with a three-game homestand vs. Lakeland Flying Tigers, April 4-6.
2024 Overall Record: 54-74
Manager: Aaron Bossi
Top Prospect: SS/2B Roderick Arias, Yankees 7th-ranked prospect. Hit 13 home runs and had 37 stolen bases for Tampa in 2024.
Alumni: Derek Jeter (.329 batting average, in 61 games, in 1994)
Notes: The team will be playing on the Community Field at GMS Field (side field next to the tennis courts). This change is a result of the team offering its main stadium to the Tampa Bay Rays for their use this season.