Sarasota Reds

Zach Stewart on the mound for the Sarasota Reds.Sarasota, Florida: The Sarasota Reds were the Florida State League affiliate for the Cincinnati Reds from 2005 through 2009. A few notable Sarasota Reds have made their way to the big league roster including Jay Bruce, Joey Votto, Drew Stubbs and Adam Rosales.

In 2005, the Reds purchased the minor league club in Sarasota from the Boston Red Sox and moved their Advanced-A minor league franchise into Sarasota. The club plays their 70 home schedule from April to September inside Ed Smith Stadium, the spring training home to their parent club.

The Reds made their only playoff appearance in 2007 when Joe Ayrault skippered the club to the postseason. They lost to Clearwater in the final game of the Divisional Series to cut short their playoff run.

After the negotiations between the organization and local government failed to reach a new agreement, the Reds played their last game in the Florida State League at the end of the 2009 season. The Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates made a deal to swap affiliates, the Reds Advanced-A club would move to Lynchburg, Tennessee and the Pirates would take over the league spot vacated by the Reds and move their Advanced-A franchise to nearby Bradenton. The corresponding affiliate swap left Sarasota without a Florida State League franchise for the first time since 1989.

Click on the photo above to visit my Sarasota Reds picture page. Here you can find game photos, player photos and photos of Ed Smith Stadium.

Updated November 9, 2010

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Photo of the Day: Disney's Hollywood Studios

Photo of the Day: New York City

Visiting the Florida Holocaust Museum: A Powerful and Reflective Experience