The Brevard County Manatees were a
minor league baseball team of the
Class A-Advanced
High-A (officially Class High-A, formerly known as Class A-Advanced, and sometimes abbreviated "A+" in writing) is the third-highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States and Canada, below Triple-A and Double-A, and abov ...
Florida State League
The Florida State League (FSL) is a Minor League Baseball league based in the state of Florida. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 until its demotion to Single-A following ...
from 1994 to 2016. They were based in
Viera,
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
, and played their home games at
Space Coast Stadium
USSSA Space Coast Complex is a baseball stadium and 13 diamond multi-sports facility in Viera, Florida, owned by Brevard County, Florida. Under its original name, Space Coast Stadium, it served as the spring training facility for the Florida Mar ...
. The team left
Brevard County
Brevard County ( ) is a county located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 606,612, making it the 10th-most populated county in Florida. The official county seat is located in ...
after the 2016 season for
Kissimmee
Kissimmee ( ) is the largest city and county seat of Osceola County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 79,226. It is a Principal City of the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Florida, Metropolitan Statistical Area, wh ...
, Florida, where they began play in 2017 as the
Florida Fire Frogs
The Florida Fire Frogs were a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League from 2017 to 2020. They were located in North Port, Florida, and served as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Atlanta Braves.
Founded in 2017, the Fire Frog ...
.
The team′s
mascot
A mascot is any human, animal, or object thought to bring luck, or anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name. Mascots are also used as fi ...
was a
manatee
Manatees (family Trichechidae, genus ''Trichechus'') are large, fully aquatic, mostly herbivorous marine mammals sometimes known as sea cows. There are three accepted living species of Trichechidae, representing three of the four living species ...
. From 1994 to 2001, he was named Hugh Manatee (a
pun
A pun, also known as paronomasia, is a form of word play that exploits multiple meanings of a term, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect. These ambiguities can arise from the intentional use of homophoni ...
on "humanity"), and from 2002 to 2016 he was known as Manny Manatee.
Team history
In 1994, the Manatees won the East Division title, but lost the Florida State League championship series to the
Tampa Yankees
Tampa () is a city on the Gulf Coast of the United States, Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The city's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and ...
in four games. They won the East Division again in 2001, but due to the
September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks
The September 11 attacks, commonly known as 9/11, were four coordinated suicide terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. That morning, nineteen terrorists hijacked four commerci ...
the league championship series was canceled and the Manatees and the West Division champion, the Tampa Yankees, were declared co-champions. In 2007, the Manatees won the North Division title but lost in the league championship series to the
Clearwater Threshers
The Clearwater Threshers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Single-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. They are located in Clearwater, Florida, and have played their home games at BayCare Ballpark since 2 ...
in four games.
On August 12, 2009, the Manatees recorded the 1,000th win in franchise history with an 8–2 win over the
Dunedin Blue Jays
The Dunedin Blue Jays are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and are the Single-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays Major League Baseball club. They are located in Dunedin, Florida, and play their home games at TD Ballpark, ...
.
The Manatees were affiliated with the
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park.
The franc ...
from 1994 to 2001 and with the
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos (french: link=no, Les Expos de Montréal) were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal, Quebec. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in t ...
from 2002 through 2004. From 2005 through 2016, they were an affiliate of the
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division. The Brewers are named for t ...
.
The Manatees played their last game on September 4, 2016, losing to the
Daytona Tortugas
The Daytona Tortugas are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Single-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. They are located in Daytona Beach, Florida, and play their home games at Jackie Robinson Ballpark; opened in ...
6–4 before a crowd of 1,573 at Space Coast Stadium. After the 2016 season, the team relocated to
Kissimmee
Kissimmee ( ) is the largest city and county seat of Osceola County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 79,226. It is a Principal City of the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Florida, Metropolitan Statistical Area, wh ...
, Florida, to play its home games at
Osceola County Stadium
Osceola County Stadium is an outdoor sports venue located in Kissimmee, Florida, part of the wider Orlando City SC Training Ground at Osceola Heritage Park.
Originally a baseball park, it was converted into a soccer-specific stadium by Orland ...
. The name of the team changed to the
Florida Fire Frogs
The Florida Fire Frogs were a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League from 2017 to 2020. They were located in North Port, Florida, and served as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Atlanta Braves.
Founded in 2017, the Fire Frog ...
and its affiliation switched from the Brewers to the
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. The Braves ...
.
Notable promotions
In April 2007, on "World Record First Pitch Attempt Day" the stadium was opened at 6:00 a.m. for the 7:00 p.m. game to allow each fan to throw a ceremonial first pitch. They were still short of the world record by several hundred pitches.
Notable alumni
Baseball Hall of Fame
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests. It serves as the central point of the history of baseball in the United States and displays baseball-r ...
alumni
*
Andre Dawson
Andre Nolan Dawson (born July 10, 1954), nicknamed "The Hawk" and "Awesome Dawson", is an American former professional baseball player and inductee into the Baseball Hall of Fame. During a 21-year baseball career, he played for four different te ...
(1995) 2010 Inductee
*
Tim Raines
Timothy Raines Sr. (born September 16, 1959), nicknamed "Rock",Raines received this nickname at an Expo rookie camp when he was seventeen, based on his physique. is an American professional baseball coach and former player. He played as a left ...
(2004 as manager) 2017 Inductee
Notable alumni
*
Orlando Arcia
Orlando Jesús Arcia (born August 4, 1994) is a Venezuelan professional baseball shortstop for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Milwaukee Brewers signed Arcia as an international free agent in 2010. He made his MLB debut in ...
*
John Axford
John Berton Axford (born April 1, 1983), nicknamed "Ax Man", is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Cleveland Indians, Pitts ...
*
Josh Beckett
Joshua Patrick Beckett (born May 15, 1980) is an American former professional baseball pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). A three-time MLB All-Star, he played for the Florida Marlins, the Boston Red Sox, and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
After ...
*
Ryan Braun
Ryan Joseph Braun (born November 17, 1983) is an American former professional baseball left fielder who played his entire career for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2007 to 2020. Braun also played right field and f ...
*
Hiram Burgos
Hiram Burgos (born August 4, 1987) is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Early life
When he was three years old his parents, Hiram Burgos Delgado and Ivette I ...
*
Josh Butler
Joshua James Butler (born December 11, 1984 in Auburn, California) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2009.
College career
Butler attended the University of San Diego, where he played college base ...
*
Lorenzo Cain
Lorenzo Lamar Cain (born April 13, 1986) is an American professional baseball center fielder who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers and the Kansas City Royals. The Brewers drafted him in the ...
*
Chad Cordero
*
Tyler Cravy
*
Khris Davis
Khristopher Adrian Davis (born December 21, 1987), nicknamed “Khrush”, is an American professional baseball left fielder and designated hitter who is currently a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Bre ...
*
Ryan Dempster
Ryan Scott Dempster (born May 3, 1977), is a Canadian former professional baseball pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Florida Marlins, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, and Boston Red Sox. Dempster batted and t ...
*
Alcides Escobar
Alcides Escobar () (born December 16, 1986), is a Venezuelan professional baseball infielder who is currently a free agent. He previously played in MLB with the Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals and Washington Nationals, and the Tokyo Ya ...
*
Yovani Gallardo
Yovani Gallardo (pronounced gah-YAR-doh; born February 27, 1986) is a Mexican former professional baseball pitcher. He was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the second round of the 2004 Major League Baseball draft out of Trimble Technical High ...
*
Mat Gamel
Mathew Lawrence Gamel (born July 26, 1985) is an American former professional baseball first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball for the Milwaukee Brewers across the 2008 through 2012 seasons. Once considered among the best prospects in ...
*
Scooter Gennett
Ryan Joseph "Scooter" Gennett (born May 1, 1990) is an American former professional baseball second baseman. He previously played for the Milwaukee Brewers, Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants. On June 6, 2017, he became the 17th player ...
*
David Goforth
David Paul Goforth (born October 11, 1988) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers from 2015 through 2017.
Career Amateur career
Goforth attended Neshoba Central ...
*
Tom Gorzelanny
Thomas Stephen Gorzelanny (born July 12, 1982) is a former American professional baseball pitcher who is currently the pitching coach for the minor league Amarillo Sod Poodles. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, C ...
*
Jim Henderson
*
Félix Heredia
Félix Heredia Pérez (born June 18, 1975) is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. On October 18, 2005, he became the 11th MLB player to be suspended for testing positive for steroids. He is also known as "El Gato Flaco" (Skinny Cat in ...
*
Shawn Hill
Shawn Richard Hill (born April 28, 1981) is a Canadian former professional baseball pitcher. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals, San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays. He was part of Team Can ...
*
Jeremy Jeffress
Jeremy Ross Jeffress (born September 21, 1987) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays, Texas Rangers, Milwaukee Brewers, and C ...
*
Taylor Jungmann
Taylor Heath Jungmann (born December 18, 1989) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers and for the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Prior to pla ...
*
Jonathan Lucroy
Jonathan Charles Lucroy (born June 13, 1986) is a former American professional baseball catcher. Between 2010 and 2021, he spent 12 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) playing for the Milwaukee Brewers, Texas Rangers, Colorado Rockies, Oakl ...
*
Jorge Lopez
*
Damien Magnifico
Damien Jack Magnifico (born May 24, 1991) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Angels and the Milwaukee Brewers.
Career
Magnifico was drafted by the New York Mets in ...
*
Matt Mantei
Matthew Bruce Mantei AN-tie(born July 7, 1973) is an American former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. In his career, Mantei played with the Florida Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks and Boston Red Sox. He batted and threw right-handed.
Career
M ...
*
Mike McClendon
*
Brian Meadows
Matthew Brian Meadows (born November 21, 1975) is a retired Major League Baseball relief pitcher.
Meadows pitched with the Florida Marlins for two years. He won 11 games in back to back seasons (1998, 1999) despite having an ERA over 5.00 in thos ...
*
Randy Messenger
Randall Jerome Messenger (born August 13, 1981) is an American former professional baseball pitcher, best known for his time with the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball. He is tall and weighs . He made his Major League debut on June 2 ...
*
Kevin Millar
Kevin Charles Millar (; born September 24, 1971) is an American former professional baseball first baseman and outfielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) and is a current analyst for MLB Network. He played in MLB for the Florida Marli ...
*
Jimmy Nelson
*
Manny Parra
Manuel Alex Parra (born October 30, 1982) is an American professional baseball player who is a free agent. He has played as a pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds.
Early life
Parra graduated from Ca ...
*
Scott Podsednik
Scott Eric Podsednik (; born March 18, 1976) is an American former professional baseball outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Best known for his baserunning, Podsednik led the major leagues in stolen bases in with 70, in times caught stea ...
*
Jay Powell
*
Darrell Rasner
Darrell Wayne Rasner, Jr. (born January 13, 1981) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Nationals and New York Yankees and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Toh ...
*
Mike Redmond
Michael Patrick Redmond (born May 5, 1971) is an American former professional baseball catcher and manager. He is currently the bench coach for the Colorado Rockies. He played for 13 seasons in Major League Baseball with the Florida Marlins, ...
*
Michael Reed
*
Édgar Rentería
Édgar Enrique Rentería Herazo (; born August 7, 1975), nicknamed "The Barranquilla Baby", is a Colombian former professional baseball shortstop. He threw and batted right-handed. He played for the Florida Marlins, the St. Louis Cardinals, th ...
*
Yadiel Rivera
Yadiel Rivera (born May 2, 1992) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball infielder who is currently a free agent. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers, Miami Marlins and Texas Rangers (baseball), Texas Rang ...
*
Nate Robertson
Nathan Daniel Robertson, (born September 3, 1977) is a former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball for the Florida Marlins, Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies.
Career
Florida Marlins
Robertson attended Wichi ...
*
Tony Saunders
Anthony Scott Saunders (born April 29, 1974) is a retired American professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1997 to 1999. He was the first player selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 1997 MLB expansion ...
*
Logan Schafer
Logan Edward Schafer (born September 8, 1986) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers and Minnesota Twins.
Professional career Milwaukee Brewers
Schafer was drafte ...
*
Grady Sizemore
Grady Sizemore (born August 2, 1982) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians from 2004 through 2011, but did not play in the majors for the following two years aft ...
*
Brent Suter
*
Joe Thatcher
Joseph Andrew Thatcher (born October 4, 1981) is an American college baseball coach and former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim an ...
*
Luis Ugueto
Luis Enrique Ugueto o-geh-to(born February 15, 1979 in Caracas, Venezuela) is a former Major League Baseball second baseman and switch-hitter who played for the Seattle Mariners in 2002 and 2003.
Originally signed by the Florida Marlins as an ...
*
Carlos Villanueva
*
Tyler Wagner
Tyler Joseph Wagner (born January 24, 1991) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers and Arizona Diamondbacks.
College career
Wagner played college baseball at the Un ...
*
Kelley Washington
James Kelley Washington (born August 21, 1979) is a former American Football wide receiver and special teamer. He was drafted 65th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tennesse ...
[Wide Receiver, New England Patriots, was a prospect for the Florida Marlins and played in Brevard in 1998 and 1999]
*
Randy Winn
Dwight Randolph Winn (born June 9, 1974) is an American former professional baseball player. He played all or parts of 13 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), primarily as an outfielder. Winn was a switch hitter, and threw right-handed. He mad ...
*
Chris Young
Season-by-season results
References
External links
Brevard County Manatees official websiteBrevard County Manatees statistics at The Baseball Cube
{{Florida State League
Baseball teams established in 1994
Baseball teams disestablished in 2016
Defunct Florida State League teams
Sports in Brevard County, Florida
Professional baseball teams in Florida
Milwaukee Brewers minor league affiliates
1994 establishments in Florida
2016 disestablishments in Florida