Tampa Bay Devil Rays Take Over Dodgertown; Move Class A Baseball Affiliation from Visalia Oaks (California) to Vero Beach, Florida

MLN Newswire - ST. PETERSBURG, FL---The Tampa Bay Devil Rays today announced that the organization will move its Class A affiliation with Visalia in the California League to Vero Beach in the Florida State League effective next season.
 
“We are thrilled to have an affiliate in our home state,” said Rays Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations
Gerry Hunsicker. “It will give our fans an opportunity to see our future firsthand. We are also excited to expand
our partnership with the Dodgers. Our Dominican relationship has been outstanding and we look forward to
working with them in Vero Beach as well.”
 
Last March, the Rays and Dodgers announced a partnership which allows the Rays to share the Dodgers
academy Campo Las Palmas in the Dominican Republic.
 
This will be the organization’s second experience in the Florida State League. The St. Petersburg Devil Rays
were FSL members from 1997 through 2000 and won the 1997 FSL Championship, the first title in the
organization’s history. Vero Beach has served as the Dodgers’ Florida State League affiliate for the past 27
seasons.