The Vero Beach Dodgers, renamed the Vero Beach Devil Rays from 2007–2008, were a minor league baseball team based in Vero Beach, Florida. They played in the Class A-Advanced Florida State League from 1980–2008, at which point they relocated to Port Charlotte, Florida as the Charlotte Stone Crabs. They played their home games at Holman Stadium.
As their names imply, Vero Beach was affiliated with two different Major League Baseball teams during their existence: the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1980–2006 and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays from 2007–2008. Vero Beach won Florida State League championships in 1983 and 1990.
History Founded in 1980 as the Vero Beach Dodgers, the team was affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers Major League Baseball team from 1980–2006. They played their home games at Holman Stadium, which had served as Los Angeles' spring training facility since 1953.
In 2007 the franchise's affiliation changed to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays; they were then renamed the Vero Beach Devil Rays. After the 2008 season Tampa Bay moved their Class A-Advanced affiliate to Port Charlotte, where they became known as the Charlotte Stone Crabs.
Notable alumni
Mike Piazza (1990) Inducted, Baseball Hall of Fame, 2016 Pedro Astacio (1990-1991) Rocco Baldelli (2007–2008) Adrian Beltre (1997, 2001) 4x MLB All-Star Chad Billingsley (2004) MLB All-Star Pat Borders (2006) 1992 World Series Most Valuable Player Sid Bream (1981) Jonathan Broxton (2004) 2x MLB All-Star Ron Coomer (2003) MLB All-Star Alex Cora (1997) Wade Davis (2007) 3x MLB All-Star Mariano Duncan (1983) MLB All-Star Sid Fernandez (1982) 2x MLB All-Star John Franco (1981) 4x MLB All-Star Eric Gagne (1998) 3x MLB All-Star; 2003 NL Cy Young Award Matt Garza (2008) Juan Guzman (1986) MLB All-Star Matt Herges (1994) Darren Holmes (1986) Jay Howell (1992) 3x MLB All-Star Todd Hundley (2003) 2x MLB All-Star Scott Kazmir (2008) 3x MLB All-Star Matt Kemp (2004-2005) 2x MLB All-Star Paul Lo Duca (1993, 1996) 4x MLB All-Star James Loney (2002) Fred McGriff (2003) 5x MLB All-Star Russell Martin (2004) 4x MLB All-Star Ramon Martinez (1987, 1996) MLB All-Star Jose Offerman (1988) 2x MLB All-Star Alejandro Pena (1986) 1984 NL ERA Leader Carlos Pena (2008) MLB All-Star David Price (2008) 5x MLB All-Star; 2012 AL Cy Young Award Dennys Reyes (1994-1995) Dave Roberts (2004) 2016 NL Manager of the Year David Ross (1999) Steve Sax (1980) 5x MLB All-Star; 1982 NL Rookie of the Year Franklin Stubbs (1982) John Tudor (1989) Shane Victorino (2001) 2x MLB All-Star Bob Welch (1985) 2x MLB All-Star; 1990 AL Cy Young Award John Wetteland (1987) 3x MLB All-Star Wesley Wright Eric Young (1990) MLB All-Star Ben Zobrist (2008) 3x MLB All-Star; 2016 World Series Most Valuable Player
References