The
Brevard County Manatees are a
minor league baseballMinor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team of the
Florida State LeagueThe Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
, and are the A-Advanced affiliate of the
Milwaukee BrewersThe Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. They are based in
Viera, FloridaViera is a master planned community located in the central coastal region of Brevard County, Florida. It is part of an unincorporated section adjacent to the Melbourne, Florida area.-Geography:...
, and play their home games at
Space Coast StadiumSpace Coast Stadium is a baseball stadium that was completed prior to the 1994 season as part of a plan to bring spring training for the Florida Marlins to Viera, Florida....
; built in , the park holds 8,100 fans and is also the
Spring TrainingIn Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
home of the
Washington NationalsThe Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
The Manatees will be affiliated with the Milwaukee Brewers through 2012, as the two organizations extended their player development contract (PDC) in the spring of .
Their
mascotThe term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
is known as Manny the Manatee. During the time that the team was affiliated with the Marlins, the mascot was named Hugh.
Team history
In , the Manatees made it to the Florida State League championship series, but lost in the finals to the
Tampa YankeesThe Tampa Yankees are a minor league baseball team based in Tampa, Florida. They are currently members of the Florida State League and are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the New York Yankees Major League Baseball team. Home games are played at George M. Steinbrenner Field, a miniature replica of...
. They made a second championship series appearance in . However, due to the
September 11 attacksThe September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
, the championship series was canceled and the Manatees and Tampa Yankees were declared co-champions. In , the Manatees won the title in their division, but lost in the league finals to the
Clearwater ThreshersThe Clearwater Threshers are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the Florida State League. Since 2004, the team competes in the West Division....
in four games.
On August 12, 2009, the Manatees recorded the 1,000th win in franchise history with an 8–2 win over the Dunedin Blue Jays.
Promotions
In April 2007, on "World Record First Pitch Attempt Day" the stadium was opened at 6:00 a.m. for the 7:00 p.m. game to allow each fan to throw a ceremonial first pitch. They were still short of the world record by several hundred pitches.
On April 7, 2011 – the opening day of the season – every fan will get into the game free.
Season-by-season results
| Brevard County Manatees |
| Year | |Post-season |
| Record | Win % | League | Record | Win % | Result |
| 1994 |
78–61 |
.561 |
2nd |
3–3 |
.500 |
Won East Division title vs West Palm Beach Expos The West Palm Beach Expos were a Florida State League minor league baseball team that existed from 1969 to 1997. Located in West Palm Beach, Florida, they were affiliated with the Montreal Expos and they played their home games at West Palm Beach Municipal Stadium. They were one of the longest...
, 2–0
Lost FSLThe Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
Championship vs Tampa YankeesThe Tampa Yankees are a minor league baseball team based in Tampa, Florida. They are currently members of the Florida State League and are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the New York Yankees Major League Baseball team. Home games are played at George M. Steinbrenner Field, a miniature replica of...
, 1–3 |
| 1995 |
61–74 |
.452 |
12th |
— |
— |
— |
| 1996 |
47–92 |
.338 |
14th |
— |
— |
— |
| 1997 |
62–76 |
.449 |
12th |
— |
— |
— |
| 1998 |
43–97 |
.307 |
14th |
— |
— |
— |
| 1999 |
61–74 |
.452 |
12th |
— |
— |
— |
| 2000 |
66–74 |
.471 |
10th |
— |
— |
— |
| 2001 |
80–55 |
.593 |
1st |
2–1 |
.667 |
Won East Division title vs Vero Beach Dodgers, 2–1
FSLThe Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
Championship series vs Tampa YankeesThe Tampa Yankees are a minor league baseball team based in Tampa, Florida. They are currently members of the Florida State League and are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the New York Yankees Major League Baseball team. Home games are played at George M. Steinbrenner Field, a miniature replica of...
canceled due to September 11, 2001 attacksThe September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
.
Both teams are declared co-champions. |
| 2002 |
51–85 |
.375 |
12th |
— |
— |
— |
| 2003 |
65–66 |
.496 |
7th |
— |
— |
— |
| 2004 |
53–72 |
.424 |
10th |
— |
— |
— |
| 2005 |
63–73 |
.463 |
10th |
— |
— |
— |
| 2006 |
64–65 |
.496 |
8th |
— |
— |
— |
| 2007 |
74–62 |
.544 |
4th |
3–4 |
.429 |
Won East Division title vs St. Lucie Mets The St. Lucie Mets are a minor league baseball team based in Port St. Lucie, Florida.The team, which plays in the Florida State League, is the High-A affiliate of the New York Mets major-league club.The team plays at Digital Domain Park...
, 2–1
Lost FSLThe Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
Championship vs Clearwater ThreshersThe Clearwater Threshers are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the Florida State League. Since 2004, the team competes in the West Division....
, 1–3 |
| 2008 |
66–72 |
.478 |
8th |
— |
— |
— |
| 2009 |
79–48 |
.622 |
1st |
0–2 |
.000 |
Lost North Division title vs Tampa Yankees The Tampa Yankees are a minor league baseball team based in Tampa, Florida. They are currently members of the Florida State League and are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the New York Yankees Major League Baseball team. Home games are played at George M. Steinbrenner Field, a miniature replica of...
, 0–2 |
| 2010 |
64–75 |
.460 |
10th |
— |
— |
— |
| Totals | 1,067–1,221 | .466 | — | 8–10 | .444 | 1 League Co-Championship |
Notable alumni
- Josh Beckett
Joshua Patrick Beckett is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. During his career in the playoffs, he won the 2003 World Series MVP Award with the Florida Marlins, and received the 2007 ALCS MVP award with the Red Sox.-Florida Marlins :A...
- Ryan Braun
Ryan Joseph Braun is an American right-handed Major League Baseball left fielder for the Milwaukee Brewers. A perennial standout, he was ranked No...
won the National LeagueThe National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
Rookie of the Year Award after leading the league in slugging percentage, won Silver Slugger Awards in 2008–10, and was an NL All Star in 2008–11.
- Josh Butler
Joshua James Butler is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers organization.-Career:...
- Chad Cordero
Chad Patrick Cordero is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He broke into the big league ranks with the Montreal Expos...
- Ryan Dempster
Ryan Scott Dempster is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Chicago Cubs. Dempster bats and throws right-handed. He has been both a starter and a reliever in his career.-Professional career:...
- Alcides Escobar
Alcides Escobar is a Major League Baseball shortstop for the Kansas City Royals. He was considered the best-fielding infielder in the Brewers' organization and was previously one of the top prospects in the organization...
- Yovani Gallardo
Yovani Gallardo is a Mexican-American right-handed starting pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers. He was selected in the second round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft out of Trimble Technical High School in Fort Worth, Texas....
- Mat Gamel
Mathew Lawrence Gamel is a Major League Baseball third baseman for the Milwaukee Brewers.-Early life:Gamel attended Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville, Florida...
- Felix Heredia
Félix Heredia Pérez is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher who currently plays for Dorados de Chihuahua of the Mexican League. On October 18, 2005, he became the 11th MLB player to be suspended for testing positive for steroids...
- Shawn Hill
Shawn Richard Hill is a Canadian Major League Baseball pitcher in the Florida Marlins organization...
- Matt Mantei
Matthew Bruce Mantei [MAN-tie] is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. In his career, Mantei played with the Florida Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks and Boston Red Sox. He batted and threw right-handed.-Career:...
- Mike McClendon
Michael Melton McClendon is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers.McClendon was drafted by the Brewers in the 10th round of the 2006 amateur entry draft out of Seminole State College of Florida in Sanford, FL after two seasons under head coach Mike Nicholson...
- Brian Meadows
Matthew Brian Meadows is a retired Major League Baseball relief pitcher.Meadows graduated from Charles Henderson High School in Troy, Alabama, where he played baseball. In the offseason, he designates time and effort in support of the Garth Brooks' Teammates for Kids Foundation...
- Randy Messenger
Randall Jerome Messenger is a right-handed relief pitcher for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball. He is tall and weighs , and made his Major League debut on June 22, , for the Florida Marlins. Messenger graduated from Sparks High School in 1999.Messenger is nicknamed Big Mess...
- Kevin Millar
Kevin Charles Millar is an American former professional baseball first baseman and current analyst for MLB Network and New England Sports Network. Millar played college baseball at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, where he continues to reside in the off-season. Millar is the nephew of former...
- Edgar Renteria
Edgar Enrique Rentería Herazo , nicknamed "The Barranquilla Baby," is a Colombian professional baseball shortstop. He throws and bats right-handed. Previously, he has played for the Florida Marlins, the St...
- Scott Podsednik
Scott Eric Podsednik is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently in the Philadelphia Phillies organization. Podsednik led the major leagues in stolen bases in with 70.-Minor leagues:...
- Manny Parra
Manuel Alex "Manny" Parra is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers.-Early life:...
- Mike Redmond
Michael Patrick Redmond is a former Major League Baseball catcher.Redmond graduated from Gonzaga Preparatory School in 1989. He attended Gonzaga University. Mike and his wife Michele have two sons.Redmond made his Major League debut with the Florida Marlins on May 31, 1998...
- Nate Robertson
Nathan Daniel "Nate" Robertson, is a Major League Baseball pitcher who currently pitches in the Seattle Mariners organization.-Florida Marlins:...
- Grady Sizemore
Gradius "Grady" Sizemore III is an American professional baseball outfielder with the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball.-Early life:...
- Randy Winn
Dwight Randolph Winn is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder. Winn was a switch hitter, and threw right-handed. He played college baseball at Santa Clara University and made his Major League debut in 1998 with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays...
- Darrell Rasner
Darrell Wayne Rasner is a starting pitcher for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of the Japanese Pacific League.Rasner attended the University of Nevada, where he was a health ecology major...
- Joe Thatcher
Joseph Andrew Thatcher is Major League Baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres. Nicknamed "The Prime Minister, and The Throw'in Kokomoan" he is 6'2" tall and weighs . In college, he pitched for Indiana State University...
- John Axford
John Berton "The Ax Man" Axford is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers.-Path to the majors:...
- Jay Powell
James Willard "Jay" Powell , is a former American baseball pitcher, who last played for the Atlanta Braves. He graduated from West Lauderdale Knights in 1990Mississippi State University....
- Tony Saunders
Anthony Scott "Tony" Saunders is a retired American Major League baseball pitcher for three seasons between 1997 and 1999. He was the first player selected by the-then Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the expansion draft....
- Luis Ugueto
Luis Enrique Ugueto [oo-ge-to] is a Major League Baseball second baseman and switch-hitter who is currently a free agent...
- Carlos Villanueva
- Kelley Washington
James Kelley Washington is an American football wide receiver for the San Diego Chargers. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
(Wide Receiver, New England Patriots, was a prospect for the Florida Marlins and played in Brevard in 1998 and 1999)
- Chris Young (Pitcher, San Diego Padres)
External links