Dunedin Blue Jays

The Dunedin Blue Jays are a minor league baseball team based in Dunedin, Florida. They play in the Florida State League, and are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays Major League Baseball club. They play their home games at TD Ballpark, which opened in 1990 and seats 5,509 fans. For the 2019 season, the team played at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium while TD Ballpark underwent renovations.[1]

Dunedin Blue Jays
Founded in 1987
Dunedin, Florida
Team logoCap insignia
Minor league affiliations
ClassAdvanced-A (1990–present)
Previous classesClass A (1987–1989)
LeagueFlorida State League (1987–present)
DivisionNorth Division
Major league affiliations
TeamToronto Blue Jays (1978–1979; 1987–present)
Minor league titles
League titles (1)
  • 2017*
*Co-champions
Division titles (5)
  • 1999
  • 2000
  • 2003
  • 2006
  • 2017
First half titles (9)
  • 1990
  • 2000
  • 2004
  • 2006
  • 2010
  • 2012
  • 2013
  • 2014
  • 2019
Second half titles (7)
  • 1992
  • 1999
  • 2003
  • 2008
  • 2011
  • 2016
  • 2019
Team data
NicknameDunedin Blue Jays (1978–1979; 1987–present)
MascotDJay (2004–present)
B. J. (1998–2003)
Blooie (1987–1997)
BallparkTD Ballpark (1990–2018, 2020–present)
Previous parks
Grant Field (1978–1979, 1987–1989)
Jack Russell Memorial Stadium (2019)[1]
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
Toronto Blue Jays
ManagerDonnie Murphy
General ManagerMike Liberatore

Two teams named the Blue Jays, both affiliates of Toronto, have played in Dunedin: the original incarnation, from 1978 to 1979, and the current team, established in 1987. Since their inception they have won five division championships, in 1999, 2000, 2003, 2006, and 2017. In 2017 they were named co-champions of the FSL.

Team history

The original incarnation of the Dunedin Blue Jays was founded in 1978. They were established as the Class A affiliate of the new Toronto Blue Jays franchise. They played for two seasons in the Florida State League and were one of four Class A teams in Toronto's farm system. After the 1979 season the team was disbanded as Toronto expanded its farm system into higher classifications.[2]

Local interests were unable to sign a deal with other major league teams to keep minor league baseball in Dunedin; however Toronto continued to hold its spring training in the city. In 1987, Toronto decided to establish a new Florida State League franchise in Dunedin. They originally played at Grant Field until 1990, when Dunedin Stadium was completed.

When Major League Baseball owners considered locking out the regular players and using "scabs" instead for the 1995 season, Dunedin would have been used as the Toronto Blue Jays' home field due to Ontario laws concerning replacement workers.[3] The MLB labor dispute was resolved before the plan was implemented, however.

In 2006, the Blue Jays made it to the Florida State League Championship Series, losing to the St. Lucie Mets 3 games to 0.

In 2007, the Dunedin Blue Jays were nominated for the 2007 Corporate Support Award, which is awarded annually by the Florida Recreation & Park Association, to an organization that goes above and beyond to support and fund recreational programming.

On September 6, 2017, Dunedin won their first Florida State League championship by defeating the Tampa Yankees two games to one. Dunedin shared the FSL championship with the Palm Beach Cardinals, as the impending threat from Hurricane Irma forced the cancellation of the championship series.[4]

Season-by-season

These statistics are current through the 2019 season.[5]

Full season
Year League Division Regular season Post-season
Finish Wins Losses Win% GB
1978 FSL West 5th 59 83 .415 26
1979 FSL West 3rd 68 69 .496 11
1987 FSL West 2nd 76 64 .543 8

Split 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
1988 FSL West 5th 32 38 .457 3 4th 33 37 .471 8
1989 FSL West 5th 33 37 .471 7 3rd 36 34 .514 6.5
1990 FSL West 1st ^ 53 14 .791 — 3rd 31 38 .449 9.5 Lost quarterfinals (Charlotte) 0–2
1991 FSL West 5th 29 36 .446 13 3rd 30 36 .455 9.5
1992 FSL West 4th 36 34 .514 14.5 1st ^ 42 25 .627 — Lost quarterfinals (Clearwater) 0–2
1993 FSL West 5th 34 33 .507 9.5 4th 34 31 .523 9.5
1994 FSL West 6th 33 35 .485 11.5 5th 32 33 .492 9.5
1995 FSL West 4th 35 33 .515 5 8th 28 41 .406 16.5
1996 FSL West 3rd 40 29 .580 3.5 8th 27 41 .397 16
1997 FSL West 6th 32 38 .457 11 8th 25 44 .362 18.5
1998 FSL West 2nd 43 27 .614 3.5 4th 39 31 .557 7.5
1999 FSL West 2nd 45 24 .652 1 1st ^ 41 27 .603 — Won semifinals (Clearwater) 2–1
Lost finals (Kissimmee) 1–3 *
2000 FSL West 1st ^ 40 29 .580 — 2nd 44 25 .638 0.5 Won semifinals (Fort Myers) 2–0
Lost finals (Daytona) 0–3 *
2001 FSL West 2nd 33 34 .493 1.5 2nd 38 30 .559 8
2002 FSL West 5th 33 38 .465 9.5 4th 30 34 .469 13
2003 FSL West 4th 38 32 .543 6 1st ^ 40 30 .571 — Won semifinals (Tampa) 2–1
Lost finals (St. Lucie) 1–3 *
2004 FSL West 1st ^ 41 29 .586 — 2nd 35 28 .556 2 Lost semifinals (Tampa) 0–2
2005 FSL West 2nd 41 29 .586 5.5 2nd ¤ 41 29 .586 1 Lost semifinals (Lakeland) 0–2
2006 FSL West 1st ^ 38 32 .543 — 6th 30 37 .448 10.5 Won semifinals (Fort Myers) 2–1
Lost finals (St. Lucie) 0–3 *
2007 FSL West 4th 31 39 .443 12 3rd 41 29 .586 3
2008 FSL West 2nd 37 33 .529 8.5 1st ^ 48 20 .706 — Lost semifinals (Fort Myers) 0–2
2009 FSL North 3rd 33 34 .493 8.5 3rd 34 33 .507 13.5
2010 FSL North 1st ^ 41 29 .586 — 5th 31 38 .449 12 Lost semifinals (Tampa) 0–2
2011 FSL North 3rd 39 31 .557 8 1st ^ 40 30 .571 — Lost semifinals (Lakeland) 0–2
2012 FSL North 1st ^ 42 25 .627 — 3rd 36 30 .545 1 Lost semifinals (Daytona) 1–2
2013 FSL North 1st ^ 37 29 .561 — 6th 26 39 .400 16.5 Lost semifinals (Daytona) 0–2
2014 FSL North 1st ^ 46 23 .667 — 5th 31 38 .449 10.5 Lost semifinals (Daytona) 0–2
2015 FSL North 5th 32 38 .457 5 4th 29 38 .433 13
2016 FSL North 5th 33 36 .478 9 1st ^ 43 23 .652 — Lost semifinals (Tampa) 1–2
2017 FSL North 4th 34 35 .493 4.5 2nd ¤ 38 31 .551 10 Won semifinals (Tampa) 2–1 †
Co-champions with Palm Beach Cardinals[a]
2018 FSL North 5th 31 37 .456 7 3rd 38 31 .551 7
2019 FSL North 1st ^ 41 24 .631 — 1st ^ 39 31 .557 — No playoffs held[b]

All-time records
Statistic Wins Losses Win %
Regular season record (1978–2019) 2,519 2,272 .526
Postseason record (1978–2019) 14 38 .269
All-time regular and postseason record 2,533 2,255 .523

Roster
Dunedin Blue Jays roster
Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 29 Nick Allgeyer
  • -- Brayden Bouchey
  • 44 Maverik Buffo
  • 24 Maximo Castillo
  • -- Cre Finfrock
  • 75 Luke Gillingham
  • 83 Hobie Harris
  • 28 Kyle Johnston
  • 33 Connor Law
  • -- Justin Maese
  • 16 Sean Rackoski
  • 86 Andy Ravel
  • 26 Jackson Rees
  • -- Donnie Sellers
  • 18 Graham Spraker
  • 25 Josh Winckowski
  • 10 Simeon Woods Richardson

Catchers

  •  9 Christopher Bec
  • -- Andres Guerra
  • 20 Alejandro Kirk
  • -- Yorman Rodriguez

Infielders

  • 19 Ryan Noda
  •  7 Nick Podkul
  •  1 Samad Taylor

Outfielders

Manager

Coaches

  • -- Antonio Caceres (pitching)
  • -- George Carroll (position)
  • -- Matt Hague (hitting)
  • -- Taylor Hill (development)


7-day injured list
* On Toronto Blue Jays 40-man roster
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
† Temporary inactive list
Roster updated June 2, 2020
 Transactions
→ More rosters: MiLB • Florida State League
 → Toronto Blue Jays minor league players

Players

Dunedin Blue Jays players who have made it to Toronto:

Shawn Green
Aaron Hill
Kevin Pillar

References
  1. "Dunedin Blue Jays to Play 2019 Home Games at Jack Russell Stadium". MILB.com. February 28, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  2. The Evening Independent – Google News Archive Search
  3. https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/22723149.html?dids=22723149:22723149&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+18%2C+1995&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=BASEBALL+Here+They+Come%2C+the+Dunedin+Blue+Jays&pqatl=google
  4. "Dunedin Blue Jays named High-A co-champs". TSN.ca. September 6, 2017. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  5. Florida State League 2016 Media Guide & Record Book. Florida State League. 2016. pp. 67–81.
  6. "FSL cancels weekend series, 2019 playoffs". milb.com. Florida State League. August 29, 2019. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
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