Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are the reigning Triple-A National Champions, having captured the title in 2025 in their first season as the Miami Marlins' Triple-A affiliate. The championship capped a remarkable transformation for a franchise that was once best known for its polarizing name change from the Jacksonville Suns in 2016 but has since become one of the most vibrant organizations in minor league baseball.

The franchise's roots stretch back to 1970, when Jacksonville first hosted a minor league team in the Southern League. After decades as a Double-A club under various names — the Suns from 1991 through 2016 — the team rebranded as the Jumbo Shrimp for the 2017 season and moved up to Triple-A in 2021 as part of MLB's reorganization of the minor leagues. The name change, initially controversial, has become a marketing phenomenon and a beloved part of Jacksonville's sports identity.

VyStar Ballpark, which opened in 2003 as the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville before undergoing a naming rights change, provides a modern downtown setting along the St. Johns River. The 11,000-seat facility has hosted multiple league all-star games and serves as the anchor of Jacksonville's sports district.

Manager David Carpenter led the Jumbo Shrimp to their historic 2025 championship and returns for 2026 to defend the title. In December 2025, Prospector Baseball Group acquired the franchise from Ken Babby's Fast Forward Sports Group, bringing fresh investment backed by Arctos Sports Partners. The new ownership group, co-founded by John Abbamondi and Ben Boyer, has committed to continuing the team's "Affordable Family Fun" philosophy.