VyStar Ballpark: See what’s new at home of Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
Owner of the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, Ken Babby, talked about the $31.5 million in renovations done at VyStar Ballpark and Bragan Field MondaycMarch 24, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla. Opening day is April 1st against the Worcester Red Sox.
Turning point: J.C. Escarra doubled to right to score ghost runner Andrew Velazquez in the 10th inning, pushing the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders past the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 5-4 in Game 1 of the International League Championship Series on Sept. 23.
Series status: The RailRiders, Triple-A affiliates of the New York Yankees, took a 1-0 lead in thebest-of-3 series.
Ninth-inning rally: The Jumbo Shrimp trailed 4-2 entering the ninth but mounted a comeback against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre reliever Joel Kuhnel. Jared Serna and Matthew Etzel both singled and advanced to second and third on Maximo Acosta’s sacrifice bunt, before Nathan Martorella tied the ballgame with a two-RBI single to center. But after two hit batsmen, Jacksonville ended up leaving the bases loaded.
Hamilton slams door: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre reliever Ian Hamilton shut down Jacksonville in the bottom of the 10th, striking out Kemp Alderman, Jared Serna and Matthew Etzel in order to strand ghost runner Joe Mack on second.
Back-to-back blasts: T.J. Rumfield and Jeimer Candelario connected on consecutive home runs in thefourth inning for the RailRiders, who seized a 4-2 lead that lasted until the ninth. Up until those homers, Jumbo Shrimp ace Robby Snelling (5 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 8 K) had allowed only four home runs in 63 innings with Jacksonville all year.
Lengthy wait: The Sept. 23 game was Jacksonville’s first Triple-A playoff game since the old Jacksonville Mets completed a four-game sweep of the Columbus Jets on Sept. 18, 1968.
Up next: Following Game 2 on Sept. 24, the deciding Game 3 (if necessary) is scheduled for 7:05p.m. Sept. 25 at VyStar Ballpark.