Get to know the teams in the Low-A Southeast

MiLB.com introduces the 11 leagues created by the restructuring of Minor League Baseball across four levels of play. Below is a team-by-team look at the Low-A Southeast, including affiliation, previous circuit and most recent championship. (Note: "Established" refers to the first year of a team's continuous operation in that market regardless of league or level.) Learn about other leagues here: Triple-A East, Triple-A West, Double-A Northeast, Double-A Central, Double-A South, High-A East, High-A Central, High-A West, Low-A East.

"The more things change the more they stay the same" can certainly be applied to the Low-A Southeast, a 10-team circuit made up entirely of longtime Florida State League foes. Outside of the Bradenton Marauders, a franchise established in 2003, the vast majority of the clubs date back to the 1980s and early 1990s while the Lakeland Flying Tigers have operated continuously since 1967.

Familiarity goes beyond the opposition as every club continues its affiliate relationship -- not surprising with nearly every stadium in the Low-A Southeast doubling as the parent club's Spring Training locale.

In addition, the two oldest ballparks in the Minors reside in this league, including historic Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach. The other is Bradenton's LECOM Park, formerly McKechnie Field, which has hosted Spring Training for nearly a century.

Outside the fact that the FSL existed at the Class A Advanced level, the other major change within the Low-A Southeast is the lopsided divisional alignment -- four teams in the East and six in the West -- thus keeping clubs on the same coast within the same division.

East Division

DAYTONA TORTUGAS

Affiliate: Cincinnati Reds (since 2015)
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida (886 miles to Great American Ball Park)
Ballpark: Jackie Robinson Ballpark (opened June 4, 1914)
Established: 1993 (as the Cubs; previous Daytona Beach clubs date back to 1920)
Previous league: Class A Advanced Florida State League
Last championship: 2013

Did you know? Daytona intern Derek Dye was ejected from a game for playing “Three Blind Mice” after a questionable call by umpires in 2012.

JUPITER HAMMERHEADS

Affiliate: Miami Marlins (since 2002)
Location: Jupiter, Florida (82 miles from Marlins Park)
Ballpark: Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium (opened Feb. 28, 1998)
Established: 1998
Previous league: Class A Advanced Florida State League
Last championship: None

Did you know? Although each team has its own practice facilities, the Hammerheads share their home park with the Palm Beach Cardinals, and the Marlins and Cardinals play Spring Training games there.

PALM BEACH CARDINALS

Affiliate: St. Louis Cardinals (since 2003)
Location: Jupiter, Florida (1,132 miles from Busch Stadium)
Ballpark: Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium (opened Feb. 28, 1998)
Established: 2003
Previous league: Class A Advanced Florida State League
Last championship: 2017 (co-champions)

Did you know? Palm Beach and Dunedin were declared Florida State League co-champions in 2017 due to the imminent threat of Hurricane Irma.

ST. LUCIE METS

Affiliate: New York Mets (since 1988)
Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida (1,253 miles to Citi Field)
Ballpark: Clover Park (opened March 5, 1988)
Established: 1988
Previous league: Class A Advanced Florida State League
Last championship: 2006

Did you know? Clover Park also serves as the home for the Mets’ Spring Training facility and is situated at 31 Piazza Drive. While the street is named for the Hall of Famer’s Major League heroics, he also made an impact with St. Lucie, going 3-for-6 in two rehab games in 2004.

West Division

BRADENTON MARAUDERS

Affiliate: Pittsburgh Pirates (since 2010)
Location: Bradenton, Florida (1,064 miles from PNC Park)
Ballpark: LECOM Park (opened in 1923)
Established: 2010 (previous Bradenton clubs date back to 1919)
Previous league: Class A Advanced Florida State League
Last championship: 2016

Did you know? In 2014, the Marauders swept the Florida State League postseason awards with Josh Bell being named Player of the Year and Tyler Glasnow getting tabbed Pitcher of the Year.

CLEARWATER THRESHERS

Affiliate: Philadelphia Phillies (since 1985)
Location: Clearwater, Florida (1,054 miles from Citizens Bank Park)
Ballpark: BayCare Ballpark (opened Feb. 27, 2004)
Established: 1985 (as the Phillies; previous Clearwater clubs date back to 1924)
Previous league: Class A Advanced Florida State League
Last championship: 2007

Did you know? Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt came through the Phillies system before the franchise began its affiliation with Clearwater, but he managed the team to a 55-81 record in 2004.

DUNEDIN BLUE JAYS

Affiliate: Toronto Blue Jays (since 1987)
Location: Dunedin, Florida (1,312 miles to Rogers Centre)
Ballpark: TD Ballpark (opened March 1, 1990)
Established: 1987 (previous Dunedin clubs date back to 1972)
Previous league: Class A Advanced Florida State League
Last championship: 2017 (co-champions)

Did you know? Blue Jays stalwart Dave Stieb pitched for Dunedin in 1978, 1979, 1992 and 1998.

FORT MYERS MIGHTY MUSSELS

Affiliate: Minnesota Twins (since 1993)
Location: Fort Myers, Florida (1,705 miles to Target Field)
Ballpark: Hammond Stadium (opened March 7, 1991)
Established: 1992 (as the Miracle; previous Fort Myers clubs date back to 1926)
Previous league: Class A Advanced Florida State League
Last championship: 2018

Did you know? Singer Jimmy Buffett was a minority owner of the team until 2014.

LAKELAND FLYING TIGERS

Affiliate: Detroit Tigers (since 1967)
Location: Lakeland, Florida (1,167 miles from Comerica Park)
Ballpark: Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium (March 12, 1966)
Established: 1967 (as the Lakeland Tigers; previous Lakeland clubs date back to 1919)
Previous league: Class A Advanced Florida State League
Last championship: 2012

Did you know? A Detroit affiliate since 1967, Lakeland is tied with the Reading Fightin Phils for the longest such relationship in baseball.

TAMPA TARPONS

Affiliate: New York Yankees (since 1994)
Location: Tampa, Florida (1,1942 miles to Yankee Stadium)
Ballpark: George M. Steinbrenner Field (March 1, 1996)
Established: 1994 (as the Yankees; previous Tampa clubs date back to 1892)
Previous league: Class A Advanced Florida State League
Last championship: 2010

Did you know? Steinbrenner Field features a mini Monument Park, reminiscent of the one at Yankees Stadium, paying tribute to the team’s legends as well as the victims and heroes of 9/11.