Clearwater Threshers

Last updated
Clearwater Threshers
ClearwaterThreshers.PNG Threshers cap.PNG
Team logoCap insignia
Minor league affiliations
Class Single-A (2022–present)
Previous classes
League Florida State League (2022–present)
DivisionWest Division
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
Team Philadelphia Phillies (1985–present)
Minor league titles
League titles (2)
  • 1993
  • 2007
Division titles (4)
  • 1991
  • 1996
  • 2007
  • 2023
First-half titles (1)
  • 2023
Team data
NameClearwater Threshers (2004–present)
Previous names
Clearwater Phillies (1985–2003)
MascotPhinley
Ballpark BayCare Ballpark (2004–present)
Previous parks
Jack Russell Memorial Stadium (1985–2003)
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
Philadelphia Phillies
General managerJason Adams [1]
ManagerMarty Malloy

The Clearwater Threshers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Single-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. They are located in Clearwater, Florida, and have played their home games at BayCare Ballpark since 2004. They previously played at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium from 1985 to 2003.

Contents

The team began play in 1985 as the Clearwater Phillies and were named for their Major League Baseball affiliate. Clearwater became the Threshers in 2004 when the team moved to the new Spectrum Field.

Clearwater Phillies

Clearwater city officials approached the Philadelphia Phillies as early as 1981 about locating a Phillies minor league affiliate at Jack Russell Stadium in Clearwater. In July 1982, in a visit to Philadelphia, Clearwater city officials and the president of the Florida State League again asked the Philadelphia Phillies about affiliating with a team to be based in Clearwater. The Amateur Softball Association Clearwater Bombers had long used Jack Russell Stadium during the summer months when the field would be reconfigured for softball. The placement of a minor league baseball team would mean the relocation of the Bombers. [2]

The Florida State League granted the city of Clearwater a franchise on September 26, 1984. [3] The Clearwater Phillies began play in 1985 after the Philadelphia Phillies ended their affiliation with their High Class A minor league team, the Carolina League Peninsula Pilots, based in Hampton, Virginia, and placed their new team at Jack Russell Stadium. The Philadelphia Phillies owned the franchise and named the club the Clearwater Phillies. The Clearwater Phillies played their first game on April 12, 1985, at home, against the Tampa Tarpons. [4]

The club played as the Clearwater Phillies through the 2003 season. The Phillies planned to leave Jack Russell Memorial Stadium after the 2003 season to move into a new ballpark, Baycare Ballpark, adjacent to the Carpenter Complex, the Phillies' minor league training facility. With the move to the new ballpark, the Clearwater Phillies were renamed the "Threshers" and adopted a new team logo and colors.

Threshers and Spectrum Field

In 2004, the Clearwater Threshers were managed by former Phillies player and Hall of Famer, Mike Schmidt. Greg Legg managed the team in 2005 and 2006. Dave Huppert was the manager in 2007, and Razor Shines in 2008. Ernie Whitt was named the manager for the 2009 season after Shines was promoted to base coach for the New York Mets.

In 2007, the Threshers won the second half in the FSL West Division. They defeated the Sarasota Reds (2–1) in the FSL West Division Playoffs, then defeated the Brevard County Manatees 3 games to 1 in the FSL Championship Series (best-of-five) to win the FSL title. The Threshers were named MiLB.com's Class A Advanced Team of the Year. [5]

A single-game attendance record of 9,090 was set on July 3, 2008. [6]

On July 26, 2009, Pedro Martínez made a rehab start for the Threshers against the St. Lucie Mets at Spectrum Field. Martinez pitched 113 innings before rain caused the game to be canceled, wiping out the official record of his start. [7] Martinez subsequently moved to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs for his next start.

On May 23, 2011, The Threshers gained national attention after playing in a 23-inning game against the Jupiter Hammerheads. [8]

Season-by-season

These statistics are current through the 2018 season. [9]

Full season

YearLeague Division Regular seasonPostseason
Finish Wins Losses Win% GB
Clearwater Phillies
1985FSLWest4th6972.48914
1986FSLWest3rd6374.46025.5
1987FSLWest3rd6670.48516

Split season

League championsFinals appearance *Division winner ^Wild card berth ¤
YearLeague Division Regular seasonPost-season
1st half2nd half
Finish Wins Losses Win% GB Finish Wins Losses Win% GB
Clearwater Phillies
1988FSLWest5th2544.3629.55th2742.39113.5
1989FSLWest4th3436.48665th2343.34817.5
1990FSLWest5th2346.33317.55th2741.39713
1991FSLWest1st ^4223.6461st ^3926.600Won semifinals (St. Lucie) 2–1
Lost finals (West Palm Beach) 0–2 *
1992FSLWest2nd3831.551122nd ¤3728.5694Won quarterfinals (Dunedin) 2–0
Lost semifinals (Lakeland) 0–2
1993FSLWest1st ^4424.6475th3136.46313.5Won semifinals (Charlotte) 2–1
Won finals (St. Lucie) 3–1 †
1994FSLWest5th3633.52293rd3629.5545.5
1995FSLWest2nd3832.54332nd4127.6033
1996FSLWest1st ^4426.6295th3136.46311.5Won semifinals (Tampa) 2–0
Lost finals (St. Lucie) 1–3 *
1997FSLWest7th3138.44911.54th3930.5654.5
1998FSLWest3rd4228.6004.52nd4030.5716.5
1999FSLWest1st ^4623.6677th3136.4639.5Lost semifinals (Dunedin) 1–2
2000FSLWest4th3733.5293.57th2738.41515.5
2001FSLWest3rd3235.4782.54th3634.51411
2002FSLWest6th2250.306213rd3529.5478
2003FSLWest2nd3731.54462nd3530.5382.5
Clearwater Threshers
2004FSLWest6th2545.357164th3036.4558.5
2005FSLWest6th1750.254286th2445.34817.5
2006FSLWest5th3138.4496.53rd3634.5146
2007FSLWest3rd3931.55741st ^4426.629Won semifinals (Sarasota) 2–1
Won finals (Brevard County) 3–1 †
2008FSLWest6th3238.45713.55th3238.45717
2009FSLNorth4th3234.48594th3535.50014
2010FSLNorth3rd3733.52946th3039.43513
2011FSLNorth2nd3930.5657.53rd3633.5222.5
2012FSLNorth3rd3830.5595.53rd3630.5451
2013FSLNorth4th3533.51533rd3235.57811.5
2014FSLNorth6th1751.25028.54th3238.45710
2015FSLNorth1st ^3733.5291st ^4225.627Lost semifinals (Daytona) 0–2
2016FSLNorth2nd3929.5742.52nd4325.6321
2017FSLNorth2nd3832.54314th2939.42618.5
2018FSLNorth4th3236.47161st ^4524.652Lost semifinals (Daytona) 0–2
StatisticWinsLossesWin %
Regular season record (1985–2018)2,3162,329.499
Postseason record (1985–2017)1818.500
All-time regular and postseason record2,3342,347.499

Roster

PlayersCoaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 19 Samuel Aldegheri
  • 22 Konnor Ash
  • 16 Jean Cabrera
  • 46 Eiberson Castellano
  • 49 Gabriel Cotto
  • 10 Jaydenn Estanista Injury icon 2.svg
  • 35 Braeden Fausnaught
  • 26 Zach Haake
  • 18 Daniel Harper
  •  6 Jonh Henriquez
  • 31 Estibenzon Jimenez
  • 47 Alex McFarlane
  • 22 Wesley Moore
  • 29 Seth Nightingale
  • 38 Wen Hui Pan
  • 40 Jonathan Petit
  • 54 Alex Rao Injury icon 2.svg
  •  8 Eduar Segovia
  • 11 Andrew Walling
  • 48 Danny Wilkinson

Catchers

  •  7 Jordan Dissin
  • 52 Ryan Leitch
  • 12 Adony Mejia ~

Infielders

  • 44 Matt Alifano
  • 25 Erick Brito
  •  9 Otto Kemp
  • 28 Cole Moore
  •  5 Bryan Rincon

Outfielders


Manager

  •  2 Marty Malloy

Coaches

  • 41 Chris Heintz (hitting)
  • 30 Matt Hockenberry (pitching)
  •  3 Mycal Jones (coach)

60-day injured list

  •  5 Alexeis Azuaje
  • -- Drew Garrett
  • -- Micah Ottenbreit
  • 76 Ty Penner
  • -- Nikau Pouaka-Grego
  • -- Gustavo Sosa
  • 31 Randy Vasquez

Injury icon 2.svg 7-day injured list
* On Philadelphia Phillies 40-man roster
~ Development list
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
† Temporarily inactive list
Roster updated June 17, 2023
Transactions
→ More rosters: MiLB    Florida State League
Philadelphia Phillies minor league players

Notable Clearwater Phillies and Threshers alumni

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

Notable alumni

Former coaches and trainers

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References

  1. "Jason Adams Named Clearwater Threshers GM". Ballpark Digest. October 25, 2018. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  2. Brew, Tom (1982-09-03). "Minor league team sought for Clearwater". St. Petersburg Times . Retrieved 2009-03-22.
  3. Brew, Tom (1984-09-26). "It's time for Bombers to move on". St. Petersburg Times . Retrieved 2009-03-22.
  4. Henderson, Robert (1985-04-09). "Clearwater Phillies' debut is right around the corner". St. Petersburg Times . Retrieved 2009-03-22.
  5. Hill, Benjamin (2007-10-08). "Threshers came together at right time: Team of the Year award follows end of championship drought". MLB.com . Retrieved 2009-03-22.
  6. Clearwater Threshers (2008-07-03). "Phantastic! Threshers walk off in front of record crowd". Clearwater Threshers. Retrieved 2009-03-02.
  7. Hagan, Paul (2009-07-27). "Pedro Martínez has rain-shortened start with Phillies' minor leaguers". Philadelphia Daily News. Archived from the original on August 1, 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
  8. "Minor League game goes 23 innings". Espn.com.
  9. Florida State League 2016 Media Guide & Record Book. Florida State League. 2016. pp. 69–81.

Further reading