Shrimp Tales: Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp Season Starts April 4

April 3, 2019: Hey, Crustacean Nation! It's time to Play Ball in Jacksonville ... The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp season opens Thursday, April 4, with a five-night homestand against the Jackson Generals at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. 

Team photo taken at Jumbo Shrimp Media Day, April 2, 2019 (photo: Linda Johnson)

The Jumbo Shrimp, Double-A Affiliate of the Miami Marlins, held a Media Day on April 2, where guests stepped on the field with the players to view the team photo, listen to the players talk about the upcoming season, and get a sneak peek at the new menu items. With respect to the team, three words stand out: excitement, chemistry, and speed. 

Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp: Steppin' Up to the Plate, Home Opener April 11

At Shrimp & Suds Craft Beer Fest in March.
(Yes, the coconut shrimp are back!) (photo by Linda Johnson)

April 9, 2018: The first official pitch at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville isn't until Wednesday, April 11, but the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp have already hosted Shrimp & Suds Craft Beer Fest and a media preview day at the ballpark with early looks at the team, the field, and new menu items for 2018.

Baseball season is underway, both on the major and minor league schedules, and the Jumbo Shrimp (AA Affiliate of the MLB Miami Marlins) take the field at 7:05pm Wednesday night to begin a five-game home-opening series against the Mobile BayBears. Last year's opening homestand, with an attendance of 41,276, was the highest-attended series in the ballpark's history. 

Reminder: Time to go Shrimpin' with Shrimp & Suds 2nd Annual Craft Beer Fest, Jax, March 24

Photo from inaugural 2017
Shrimp & Suds Craft Beer Fest
(photo by Linda Johnson)

March 20, 2018: 
Get your tails in gear, Jacksonville! Shrimp Season returns to the Jacksonville Baseball Grounds with the Second Annual Shrimp & Suds Craft Beer Fest on Saturday night, March 24, hosted by the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. 

The beer sampling event this year takes place at night under the lights. "We shifted the time so we could have the stadium lights on and give [the fest] more of a 'night at the ball park' ambience," said David Ratz, Promotions and Special Events Manager, in an interview with this site. 

Shrimp & Suds Craft Beer Festival On Deck at Baseball Grounds in Jax, March 24

January 11, 2018: Leading off the 2018 season for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp is the second "Shrimp & Suds" Craft Beer Festival, at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, on Saturday, March 24, from 6-9pm. 

Before the Jumbo Shrimp throw the first pitch and swing for the fences at the home opener on Wednesday, April 11, adult fans can enjoy the ballpark atmosphere and unlimited samples of craft beer from a variety of breweries, including many local Jacksonville area breweries, at the "Shrimp & Suds" fest. Last year, the Jumbo Shrimp introduced the new team logo and ballpark food menu items with the first craft beer fest on the decks of the stadium, and the popular fest returns as an evening event this time around. 

High Tailin': Jax Jumbo Shrimp Swing for the Fences on Opening Day!

[UPDATE, April 16: According to a press release dated April 16, attendance of 41,276 during the opening Jumbo Shrimp homestand April 12-16 was the highest attended series in the history of the Baseball Grounds! The figure represents an increase of 57% over last season's opening series. Congrats, Jumbo Shrimp!]

When the (former) Jacksonville Suns Minor League Baseball team changed its name, logo and branding to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp last November, you gotta admit that one of the first things you probably said to yourself (amid a chuckle or two) was "What?" Over the past five months following that news, the Jumbo Shrimp front office took to the media in the hopes of getting the city pumped up to cheer on the newly-proclaimed "Crustacean Nation." The new name and colorful shrimp character of the AA-Affiliate of the Major League Baseball Miami Marlins (whose Class A Advanced Affiliate is the Jupiter Hammerheads, by the way) seemed to be catching on. As April 12 Opening Day approached, the team touted its revamped food menu and upcoming season-long promotional events, held a contest to name the new Shrimp mascot, and even hosted a "Shrimp & Suds" Craft Beer Fest at the ballpark on April 1 (no April Fools there). 


It looks like the team netted some pretty awesome results, too, because a record Opening Day crowd of 10,477 was on hand at the Baseball Grounds for last night's Home Opener against the Chattanooga Lookouts. The fans were treated to a 7-1 Jumbo Shrimp victory and a fireworks display following the game.