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BREAKING NEWS

JACKSONVILLE JUMBO SHRIMP

Jumbo Shrimp stadium is Marlins’ alternate training site

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp’s May 4 Opening Day approaches, 121 Financial Ballpark will serve as the alternate training site for the Miami Marlins once Major League Baseball Spring Training camps conclude. The Jumbo Shrimp’s home stadium is one of just 11 Triple-A venues across the country to receive a nod as an alternate training site. AdThe group of players reporting to the Marlins’ alternate training site at 121 Financial Ballpark is expected to be determined and announced prior to Miami’s Opening Day game on Thursday, April 1. Season tickets, mini plans, and group outings for the 2021 Jumbo Shrimp season are on sale now. Visit www.jaxshrimp.com or call the Jumbo Shrimp at 904-358-2846 for more information.

Jumbo Shrimp GM Harold Craw named to MiLB diversity committee

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp general manager Harold Craw continues to make an impact in his position. Craw’s next task: making an impact on Minor League Baseball’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. On Wednesday, Craw was one of seven people chosen for the committee. He has been with the Jumbo Shrimp since 2015. It also includes Emily Jaenson of the Reno Aces, Martie Cordaro of the Omaha Storm Chasers, Chuck Greenberg of the Frisco RoughRiders and Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Allan Benavides of the Eugene Emeralds and Michele Meyer-Shipp of Major League Baseball.

Jumbo Shrimp finalize deal to move up to Triple-A level

The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp’s move to Triple-A is complete. The Jumbo Shrimp will play in the Triple-A East league and in the Southeast Division. Minor league baseball underwent a massive overhaul last offseason to reduce the number of teams from 162 to 120 and provide four affiliates for each Major League Baseball team. The full leagues were released Friday as well, with the Triple-A league replaced what was the International League and the Pacific Coast League. “This is a momentous day for Jumbo Shrimp fans to officially bring the top level of Minor League Baseball to 121 Financial Ballpark,” said Jumbo Shrimp owner and CEO Ken Babby.

Raines, Ribault to play in 2nd annual High School Heritage Classic at 121 Financial Ballpark

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As part of the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp’s salute to Black History Month, the club will be hosting the second annual High School Heritage Classic exhibition game between Raines and Ribault high schools at 121 Financial Ballpark. The Raines and Ribault players will wear custom Jacksonville Red Caps uniforms in a tribute to the Negro Leagues team from 1938 to 1942. Throughout the exhibition game, there will be historical references to Negro Leagues players and teams. “Personally, this is a dream come true,” said Andrea Williams, the Jumbo Shrimp’s director of community relations. The Raines Vikings defeated the Ribault Trojans 8-4 in the inaugural High School Heritage Classic in February 2020.

Jumbo Shrimp get promoted: Jacksonville’s baseball team is moving up to Triple A

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are moving up. Jacksonville’s baseball team is moving from Double A to Triple A, a move announced Wednesday afternoon. “We are incredibly excited about the prospects of bringing the top level of Minor League Baseball to the excellent Jumbo Shrimp fans in Jacksonville and throughout Northeast Florida,” said Jumbo Shrimp owner & CEO Ken Babby. The Jumbo Shrimp didn’t play in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Jumbo Shrimp played in Triple A from 1962-68 when they were known as the Suns and were in the International League.

EWC will face Savannah State in Jumbo Shrimp’s JAX Diamond Classic

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are building off of a successful high school baseball classic and branching out into college. The Jumbo Shrimp are partnering with BCSG 360 to host Historically Black Colleges and University programs Edward Waters and Savannah State in the inaugural JAX Diamond Classic on March 22, 2021 at 121 Financial Ballpark. “We are excited and honored to host the JAX Diamond Classic,” said Jumbo Shrimp executive vice president/general manager Harold Craw. “It is with great pride we showcase our facility to not only the teams from Edward Waters and Savannah State, but also to their fans, alumni and supporters.”Last February, the Jumbo Shrimp hosted the inaugural High School Heritage Classic between Raines and Ribault at the Ballpark. Part of the proceeds from the game between EWC and Savannah State will be donated to bolster programs for college admittance, scholarships and college preparation for students.

Couple gets hitched on field at Jacksonvilles baseball grounds

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. There was love in the air Friday night at 121 Financial Ball Park, the home of the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, where a couple took the leap. Annie Hartley, the bride, arrived at the main gate wearing white with daisies in her hair and an elegant beaded mask. One of their first dates was at the baseball grounds, specifically a Jacksonville Suns game before the team changed its name. And our wedding date passed, and our honeymoon week passed and he said, Lets just get married, Harley said. So they did, on the field -- ahead of a 9 p.m. showing on Horror Movie Night at the ballpark.

Small businesses and nonprofits in Jacksonville to receive funding for COVID-19 relief

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Jacksonville City Council has approved two bills to provide more than $7.2 million in COVID-19 relief to local non-profits and small businesses who are negatively impacted by the response measures. Its just one of more than 60 small businesses and nonprofits to receive COVID-19 relief funding. City Council approved the two bills for COVID-19 relief this week. More than $3.4 million comes from the federal CARES Act and about $3.7 million from the COVID-19 small business relief grant program. This is the second round of funding for nonprofits and small businesses.

Despite canceled season, Jumbo Shrimp keeping all full-time employees on staff

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. On Tuesday, we told you about the season being canceled for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp and all of Minor League Baseball. Now were learning that despite the cancelation, the Jumbo Shrimp will not layoff any full-time employees. Were committed. And that allows us to keep our staff on board and thats exactly what weve committed to do. Our entire full staff is it full-time staff is completely intactThis was supposed to be the first year of a new naming rights deal on the stadium. 121 Financial Ballpark never saw a Jumbo Shrimp game played in the newly named stadium.

Jumbo Shrimp baseball season officially canceled due to coronavirus

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The minor league baseball season was officially canceled Tuesday afternoon, ending the seasons of teams like the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp before they began and shifting focus to the next phase of planning for teams. “The news that we will not have Jumbo Shrimp baseball at 121 Financial Ballpark is devastating,” Jumbo Shrimp owner/CEO Ken Babby said in a statement. The Jumbo Shrimp have ranked in the top 25 of minor league baseball merchandise sales in back-to-back seasons, a first for the franchise. “We are incredibly disappointed and crushed to not have a Jumbo Shrimp baseball season at 121 Financial Ballpark in 2020,” said Jumbo Shrimp executive vice president/general manager Harold Craw said in a statement. We will hopefully await Jumbo Shrimp baseball to return in 2021.”

Jumbo Shrimp still on hold as team awaits word from Major League Baseball

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Major League Baseball is coming back, but what about the minor leagues, and more importantly, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp? When Major League Baseball returns in late July with a 60-game schedule, it will put baseball back on TV for fans. “I wish I could do an interview and say if we were going to play or not,” said Jumbo Shrimp general manager Harold Craw. While the expectation is that the minor league season will be canceled, no official announcement has come down yet. Even without baseball, the Jumbo Shrimp have come up with creative events to bring fans to the ballpark.

Jumbo Shrimp to host Independence Day Fireworks Celebration on July 3

The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are hosting an Independence Day Fireworks Celebration at 9:15 p.m. Friday, July 3. The Jumbo Shrimp are capping capacity at 2,000 attendees, who will be placed in accordance with social distancing guidelines in the 121 Financial Ballpark seating bowl and bleachers. Tickets for the Jumbo Shrimps Independence Day Fireworks Celebration must be either printed in advance or displayed on a mobile device. We are thrilled to safely host guests for our annual Independence Day Fireworks Celebration at 121 Financial Ballpark, said Jumbo Shrimp executive vice president and general manager Harold Craw. All Jumbo Shrimp staff will be wearing face coverings, and guests are also strongly encouraged to wear face coverings.

Jumbo Shrimp getting creative to fill gap without games

The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp have a reputation for being creative in promotions and entertainment at the ballpark. Now, theyre doing it without games on the field. With opening day already more than two months past due, theyve had to exercise their collective creative minds. We love the food, beverage service that you might get coming to a regular Jumbo Shrimp game, and were gonna turn this one up a notch, said Neil Blaha, Jumbo Shrimp assistant general manager. Seating is limited to 40 tables, and of course, Cajun Jumbo Shrimp N Grits is on the menu.

Report: Jumbo Shrimp players to be paid through August

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp players will continue to be paid through August, according to a report from Baseball America on Wednesday, ensuring that most minor leaguers here will earn the majority of their paychecks despite not playing. The Jumbo Shrimp are the Double-A minor league affiliate of the Miami Marlins. According to The Athletic, the average salary for minor league players was $15,000 in Triple-A, $9,350 in Double-A and $6,000 in Single-A. Players are only paid during the season and don’t get paid during spring training or the offseason. The news that the Marlins will pay minor leaguers is a 180 from how Oakland is handling paying its minor leaguers.

Jumbo Shrimp eye June 15 as potential date to start season

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp won’t start their baseball season until at least June 15 as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to keep the sport under wraps. The season was scheduled to start on April 9 but the pandemic scrapped not only that, but games across the Major League Baseball level, too. Tickets for Jumbo Shrimp home games that had already been purchased may be exchanged for future games this year. Jumbo shrimp general manager Harold Craw says he still believes that the Shrimp will take the field here in Jacksonville and he hopes it will be on June 15. Baseball as a whole has been hit hard, although minor league baseball was already facing a potential significant change.

Dream comes true: Jumbo Shrimp stadium cleared for father-son duo

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Imagine going with a friend to watch the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp baseball game, and you're the only two people in the stadium! Josh Riberio, nicknamed Junior, and his father, Josh Riberio Sr., were excited to see the Jumbo Shrimp take on the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. It's -- I don't really have words for it," Josh Riberio said. Josh Riberio had to stop playing baseball two years ago to undergo treatment. All Jumbo Shrimp fans were welcomed into the ball park at the end of the fifth inning to share Josh Riberio's night at the ballpark.

Jumbo Shrimp make top 25 list for merchandise sales again

Jumbo Shrimp sales have never been better. The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp have merchandising 101 down to an art. For the second consecutive season the Jumbo Shrimp were ranked in the top 25 in licensed merchandise sales across minor league baseball. That name has since caught on, as evidenced by being top 25 in licensed merchandise sales in both 2017 and ’18. In all, the 160 minor league teams pulled in more than $73.8 million in merchandise sales.

Opening Day & First Wednesday Art Walk going on this week

Jacksonville Baseball Grounds | www.jaxshrimp.com4) First Wednesday Art WalkAnother springtime favorite for me is the First Wednesday Art Walk. The theme for April’s First Wednesday Art Walk is “Speak from the heART!" It’s also the kick-off event for the Jax Poetry Fest that takes place at the library. The First Wednesday Art walk takes place on Wednesday, April 3, 5 - 9 p.m. rain or shine. Sea Walk Pavilion, Jacksonville Beach | www.springingtheblues.comThose are the events on my top list for the week April 1 -7.