Charlotte Stone Crabs

The Charlotte Stone Crabs are a minor league baseball team based in Port Charlotte, Florida. They are members of the Florida State League and are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays Major League Baseball (MLB) team.

Charlotte Stone Crabs
Founded in 1980
Port Charlotte, Florida
Based in Port Charlotte since 2009
Team logoCap insignia
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass A Advanced (1980–present)
LeagueFlorida State League (1980–present)
DivisionSouth Division
Major league affiliations
TeamTampa Bay Rays (2007–present)
Previous teamsLos Angeles Dodgers (1980–2006)
Minor league titles
League titles (3)
  • 1983
  • 1990
  • 2015
Division titles (6)
  • 1983
  • 1990
  • 2009
  • 2010
  • 2013
  • 2015
Team data
NicknameCharlotte Stone Crabs (2009–present)
Previous names
Vero Beach Devil Rays (2007–2008)
Vero Beach Dodgers (1980–2006)
MascotClawford (2017–present)
Stoney (2009–2016)
Squeeze The Grapefruit (2006–2008)
BallparkCharlotte Sports Park (2009–present)
Previous parks
Holman Stadium (1980–2008)
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
CBI, LLC.[1]
ManagerJeff Smith
General ManagerJeff Cook

The Stone Crabs were originally the Vero Beach Dodgers (later Vero Beach Devil Rays), who played in Vero Beach, Florida, from 1980 to 2008. The team relocated to Port Charlotte after being purchased by Ripken Baseball. They play their home games at Charlotte Sports Park and are named for the Florida stone crab, which is indigenous to the Charlotte County region.

The team has been affiliated with two different Major League Baseball teams during their existence: the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1980 to 2006 and the Tampa Bay Rays from 2007 to present day.

History

Founded in 1980, the Vero Beach Dodgers were the Advanced A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1980–2006. Their games were played at Holman Stadium, which also hosted Dodgers spring training from 1953–2008.

In 2007 the franchise's affiliation changed to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the team was renamed the Vero Beach Devil Rays. Under their new name they won the 2007 Florida State League championship. On August 25, 2008, it was announced that the Vero Beach franchise was sold to Ripken Baseball, which resulted in a relocation of the franchise to Port Charlotte, and another name change, becoming the Charlotte Stone Crabs.

In preparation for the new team's arrival, Charlotte County Stadium, which last housed the Charlotte County Redfish of the now defunct South Coast League, underwent a $27 million renovation, which was completed in January 2009. Renamed Charlotte Sports Park, it became the spring training home of the Tampa Bay Rays as well as the regular season home of the Stone Crabs.

On April 9, 2009, with the Ft. Myers Miracle as opponents, Alex Cobb threw the first pitch in Stone Crabs history. A rehabbing B.J. Upton was the first Stone Crabs batter, but Matt Fields belted a homerun to lead off the 2nd inning, laying claim to the first Stone Crabs hit, homerun, and RBI. After starting the season 0–3, the franchise notched its first win on April 13 in Ft. Myers.

The Stone Crabs won the Florida State League South Division title in 2009, but lost the league championship to the Tampa Yankees three games to two. In 2010 and 2013, they again won the FSL South and returned to the league championship series, but lost to the Tampa Yankees ('10) and Daytona Cubs ('13).

In 2012, the Stone Crabs hosted the Florida State League All-Star Game. The South came from behind for a 6–3 win over the North with Stone Crabs pitchers bookending the game. C.J. Riefenhauser started the evening with a perfect inning and Chris Rearick threw a scoreless 9th for the save.[2] St. Lucie Mets third baseman Wilmer Flores took home MVP honors and Lakeland Flying Tigers outfielder Avisaíl García won the Homerun Derby.

Uniform

The Stone Crabs have four jerseys and two hats that they wear during the season. The uniforms are manufactured by Rawlings and the hats are made by New Era. Navy socks are worn high with all uniforms, per team policy. Player names are not worn on the jersey backs.

Jerseys

The home white has "Stone Crabs" across the chest with navy piping around the neck, down the center of the jersey, and around the two sleeves. There is also a thin navy line down both white pant legs. The number on the back is navy with a light blue outline.

The road grays have "Charlotte" written across the chest with navy piping around the neck, down the center of the jersey, and around the two sleeves. There is also a thin navy line down both gray pant legs. The number on the back is navy with a white outline. There is also a crab patch on the left sleeve.

The alternate uniform is light blue with the alternate logo (a crab claw grasping a capital C) on the left side of the chest. Parallel navy stripes run along the shoulders, navy piping circles each sleeve, and navy bars run from the armpits down the side of the jersey to the base. The number on the back is navy with a white outline. New for the 2014 season and made of a lightweight material, these jerseys were worn nearly every game. As of 2018 these jerseys are no longer worn.

The fourth jersey was the alternate prior to 2014, but is now used exclusively for warm-ups. Made of a mesh material, these navy blue, two button pullovers have "Stone Crabs" across the chest with light blue piping that runs from the collar bone down both sleeves. There is also a light blue semi-circle that runs from the shoulders under each armpit. The numbers on the back are light blue with a white outline. These jerseys are only used for Batting practice.

As of 2017, the Stone crabs introduced another Jersey. The Jersey is navy blue with the SC stone crabs logo on the front of the Jersey. The Jersey features a crab logo on the sleeve of the jersey. These jerseys are worn on select home week days.

Hats

The primary hat is navy blue with a matching navy brim and button, the "SC" logo on the front, and a white New Era flag logo on the left side.

The alternate hat is light blue with a navy blue brim and button, the alternate crab claw logo on the front, and a navy New Era flag logo on the left side.

2014 saw a new hat added to the rotation, which is used exclusively for warm-ups. It is made of a navy blue, lightweight material with the crab logo on the front, a light blue brim and button, and a light blue New Era flag logo on the left side.

Team managers and coaches

On December 20, 2008, the team announced that current Vero Beach manager Jim Morrison would follow the team to Port Charlotte and become the first skipper of the Stone Crabs, a position he would retain through the 2012 season. In 2013, managing duties were passed to Brady Williams, who had managed the class A affiliate Bowling Green Hot Rods for the previous 3 seasons. Williams was promoted to the AA Montgomery Biscuits for the 2014 season and a Hot Rods manager was again called on to fill the vacancy, this time former Tampa Bay Devil Ray Jared Sandberg.

Season-by-season
League champions † Finals appearance * Division winner ^ Wild card berth ¤
Year League Division Regular season Post-season
1st half 2nd half
Finish Wins Losses Win% GB Finish Wins Losses Win% GB
2009 FSL South 2nd 37 31 .544 5.5 2nd ¤ 34 35 .493 3 Won semifinals (Fort Myers) 2–1
Lost finals (Tampa) 1–3 *
2010 FSL South 1st ^ 43 26 .623 — 3rd 37 33 .529 1 Won semifinals (Bradenton) 2–1
Lost finals (Tampa) 1–3 *
2011 FSL South 4th 30 39 .435 7.5 3rd 34 36 .486 11.5
2012 FSL South 4th 29 38 .433 19.5 6th 26 41 .388 12.5
2013 FSL South 4th 29 38 .433 16 1st ^ 38 27 .585 — Won semifinals (Fort Myers) 2–0
Lost finals Daytona) 1–3*
2014 FSL South 5th 31 36 .463 9 5th 32 34 .485 9
2015 FSL South 1st ^ 45 25 .643 — 6th 24 41 .369 17.5 Won semifinals (Palm Beach) 2–0
Won finals (Daytona) 3–1 †
2016 FSL South 4th 33 36 .478 5.5 5th 31 35 .471 7
2017 FSL South 6th 31 37 .456 9.5 2nd 38 29 .567 4
2018 FSL South 4th 34 33 .507 6.5 2nd 40 29 .580 —[a]
2019 FSL South 4th 35 31 .530 4 1st ^ 47 22 .681 — No playoffs[b]
  • a The Stone Crabs finished with the same record as the Fort Myers Miracle, but since the Miracle had the better head-to-head record in the second half (4–2), the Stone Crabs did not win the division.
  • b The playoffs were canceled due to the impending threat from Hurricane Dorian.[3]

All-time records
Statistic Wins Losses Win %
Regular season record (2009–2019) 758 732 .509
Postseason record (2009–2019) 14 12 .538
All-time regular and postseason record 772 744 .509

Noteworthy games

No-hitter
  • Blake Snell, August 2, 2014: The first no-hitter in Stone Crabs history was a rain shortened one, as lefty Blake Snell stumped the Daytona Cubs for 5.1 innings before heavy rains washed away the final frames at Charlotte Sports Park. The Stone Crabs won 10–0.[4]

Single-season records

Offensive

Hits: 145.....Tyler Bortnick '11
Doubles: 38.....Mike Sheridan '11
Triples: 11.....Hak-Ju Lee '11
Homeruns: 14.....Alejandro Segovia & Jeff Malm '13
RBIs: 73.....Richie Shaffer '13
Walks: 79.....Tyler Bortnick '11
Stolen Bases: 43.....Tyler Bortnick '11

Pitching

Wins: 14.....Jeremy Hall '09
Strikeouts: 208.....Matt Moore '10
Saves: 25.....Zach Quate '10

Florida State League All-Stars

The following players were named to the Florida State All-Star team in each particular season. An asterisk (*) indicates the player participated in the Homerun Derby. A cross (†) indicates the player won the Homerun Derby.

2009

  • Nevin Ashley (C)
  • Cody Cipriano (INF)
  • Darin Downs (LHP)
  • Matthew Gorgen (RHP)
  • Gregory Sexton (INF)

2010

  • Chris Andújar (RHP)
  • Nick Barnese (RHP)
  • Marquis Fleming (RHP)
  • Zach Quate (RHP)
  • Josh Satow (LHP)
  • Neil Schenk (LHP)
  • Isaias Velasquez (OF)
  • Stephen Vogt (C)
  • Henry Wrigley† (DH)

2011

  • Tyler Bortnick (INF)
  • Alex Colome (RHP)
  • Hak-Ju Lee (INF)
  • Brett Nommensen (OF)
  • Josh Satow (LHP)
  • Gregory Sexton (INF)

2012

  • Derek Dietrich* (INF)
  • Mike Mahtook (OF)
  • Chris Rearick (LHP)
  • CJ Riefenhauser (LHP)

2013

  • Ryan Carpenter (LHP)
  • Curt Casali (C)
  • Jake Hager (INF)
  • Jesse Hahn (RHP)
  • Richie Schaffer (INF)

2014

  • Kevin Brandt (LHP)
  • Patrick Leonard* (INF)
  • Justin O'Conner* (C)
  • Leonardo Reginatto (INF)
  • Maxx Tissenbaum (C)

2015

  • Willy Adames
  • Chris Kirsch
  • Buddy Borden
  • Brad Schreder
  • Jake Bauers
  • Marty Gantt

2016

  • Joe McCarthy
  • Brent Honeywell
  • Nick Ciuffo

2017

  • Brett Sullivan (C)
  • Jake Cronenworth (SS)
  • Brandon Lowe (2B)

2018

  • Willy Ortiz (RHP)
  • David Rodriguez (C)
  • Lucius Fox (SS)
  • Nate Lowe (1B)
  • Jesus Sanchez (LF)
  • Robbie Tenerowicz (DH)

2019

  • Vidal Brujan (2B)
  • Jim Haley


Notable Stone Crabs alumni

Roster
Charlotte Stone Crabs roster
Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 34 Trey Cumbie
  • 25 Carlos Garcia
  • -- Resly Linares
  • 17 Justin Marsden
  • 19 Tobias Myers
  • 14 Cristofer Ogando
  • 28 Simon Rosenblum-Larson
  • -- Phoenix Sanders
  • -- Joe Serrapica
  • -- Ryan Sherriff
  • 37 Drew Strotman
  • 32 Alex Valverde
  • 22 Stephen Woods Jr.
  •  7 Mikey York

Catchers

  • 24 Ronaldo Hernández
  •  6 Zacrey Law
  •  4 Joey Roach

Infielders

  •  1 Wander Franco
  • -- Tyler Frank
  •  2 Connor Hollis
  • 10 Kaleo Johnson
  •  3 Jermaine Palacios
  • 11 Jake Palomaki
  • 15 Zach Rutherford

Outfielders

Manager

Coaches

  • -- Brady North (coach)
  • -- Jeremy Owens (coach)
  • 18 Steve Watson (pitching)


7-day injured list
* On Tampa Bay Rays 40-man roster
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
† Temporary inactive list
Roster updated February 16, 2020
 Transactions
→ More rosters: MiLB • Florida State League
 → Tampa Bay Rays minor league players

Team affiliations
Level Team League Location
Major League Tampa Bay Rays American League St. Petersburg, Florida
AAA Durham Bulls International League Durham, North Carolina
AA Montgomery Biscuits Southern League Montgomery, AL
Advanced A Charlotte Stone Crabs Florida State League Port Charlotte, Florida
A Bowling Green Hot Rods Midwest League Bowling Green, Kentucky
Short Season A Hudson Valley Renegades New York–Penn League Fishkill, New York
Rookie Princeton Rays Appalachian League Princeton, West Virginia
Rookie GCL Rays Gulf Coast League Port Charlotte, Florida

References
  1. https://www.news-press.com/story/sports/2016/01/13/former-red-sox-minor-league-owner-buys-charlotte-stone-crabs-lou-schwechheimer/78691494/
  2. "Flores leads South to All-Star win". MiLB.com. June 17, 2012.
  3. "FSL cancels weekend series, 2019 playoffs". milb.com. Florida State League. August 29, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  4. "Snell notches Stone Crabs' first no-hitter". MiLB.com. Aug 2, 2014.
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