Single-A · Florida State League · Jupiter, Florida, US · Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium
Jupiter Hammerheads
The Jupiter Hammerheads are the Single-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins, sharing Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium with the Palm Beach Cardinals and developing talent in the Florida sunshine since 1998.
1998–2001
A New Home in Jupiter
From West Palm Beach to Roger Dean Stadium
The Jupiter Hammerheads were born in 1998 when the franchise — previously the West Palm Beach Expos — relocated to the newly constructed Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida. The move ended decades of baseball in West Palm Beach and gave the team a modern facility shared with the St. Louis Cardinals' spring training and minor league operations.
Under the Montreal Expos affiliation, the Hammerheads played four seasons in Jupiter, establishing the team's identity in a new market. Roger Dean Stadium, with its 6,871-seat capacity, provided an intimate setting for fans to watch future major leaguers develop in the Florida State League. The facility's dual-use design — hosting both minor league games and spring training — made it one of the most active baseball venues in the state.
The Expos years in Jupiter were brief but laid the groundwork for what would become a long-term home for minor league baseball in Palm Beach County. The franchise's hammerhead shark mascot, inspired by the species found in nearby Atlantic waters, gave the team a distinctive regional identity.
Key Facts
- Relocated from West Palm Beach to Jupiter in 1998
- Roger Dean Stadium opened as the team's new home
- Montreal Expos affiliate from 1998-2001
- Shared facility with Cardinals' minor league operations
2002–2014
Becoming the Marlins' Pipeline
A new affiliation and competitive growth
The Miami Marlins (then Florida Marlins) began their affiliation with the Hammerheads in 2002, a partnership that continues to the present day. The switch aligned the Jupiter franchise with the parent club's spring training home, creating a seamless development environment where young players could train and compete in the same facility year-round.
The early Marlins years saw the Hammerheads develop into a competitive Florida State League franchise. The 2012 season was a breakthrough: Jupiter won the second-half division title and defeated the St. Lucie Mets in the division championship series before falling to the Lakeland Flying Tigers in the FSL Championship. The run showed that the Hammerheads were capable of contending, even as the parent club prioritized development over winning.
During this era, a parade of future Marlins stars passed through Jupiter, honing their skills in the FSL before moving up the organizational ladder. The proximity to the Marlins' major league spring training complex allowed top prospects to receive instruction from big-league coaches while playing competitive games at the Single-A level.
Key Facts
- Marlins affiliation began in 2002
- 2012: Won division series, lost FSL Championship
- Shared facility with Marlins spring training
- Numerous future major leaguers developed in Jupiter
2015–Present
Championships and Continued Development
A title at last and a new era of baseball
The modern era of Hammerheads baseball has been defined by the 2021 MiLB reorganization, which reclassified Jupiter from High-A to Single-A, and the franchise's first championship in its Jupiter incarnation. The reclassification changed the competitive landscape but not the Hammerheads' core mission: developing Marlins talent in one of baseball's most player-friendly environments.
The 2023 season delivered the breakthrough Jupiter fans had been waiting for, as the Hammerheads captured the Florida State League championship — the franchise's first title since relocating to Jupiter 25 years earlier. The championship validated the Marlins' development approach and gave the community a moment of pure celebration after years of competitive seasons that fell short.
Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium received a naming rights update as part of ongoing investment in the facility, which remains one of the busiest baseball venues in Florida. Under first-year manager Kyle Stahlberg for 2026, the Hammerheads continue to serve as the first full-season stop for Marlins prospects, providing the competitive reps and coaching infrastructure that young players need to advance through the system.
Key Facts
- Reclassified from High-A to Single-A in 2021
- Won 2023 FSL Championship — first title in Jupiter
- Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium naming rights updated
- Kyle Stahlberg named manager for 2026