The Clearwater Threshers are a Florida State League baseball team based in Clearwater, Florida. Since the 2004 season, the team has played in the West Division of the Florida State League, and is the high-A affiliate. The Threshers play their home games at Bright House Field. Opened in 2004, the ballpark seats more than 7,000 fans. A single-game attendance record of 9,090 was set on July 3, 2008. [1] From 1985 to 2004, they were called the "Clearwater Phillies", and played at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium.

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History

Clearwater city officials approached the Philadelphia Phillies as early as 1981 about locating a Phillies minor league affiliate at Jack Russell Stadium in Clearwater. In July 1982, in a visit to Philadelphia, Clearwater city officials and the president of the Florida State League again asked the Philadelphia Phillies about affiliating with a team to be based in Clearwater. The Amateur Softball Association Clearwater Bombers had long used Jack Russell Stadium during the summer months when the field would be reconfigured for softball. The placement of a minor league baseball team would mean the relocation of the Bombers. ^[2]

The Florida State League granted the city of Clearwater a franchise on September 26, 1984. ^[3] The Clearwater Phillies began play in 1985 after the Philadelphia Phillies ended their affiliation with their High Class A minor league team, the Carolina League Peninsula Pilots, based in Hampton, Virginia, and placed their new team at Jack Russell Stadium. The Major League Phillies owned the franchise and named the club the Clearwater Phillies. The Clearwater Phillies played their first game on April 12, 1985, at home, against the Tampa Tarpons. ^[4]

The club played as the Clearwater Phillies through the 2003 season. The Phillies planned to leave Jack Russell Memorial Stadium after the 2003 season to move into a new ballpark, Bright House Networks Field, adjacent to the Carpenter Complex, the Phillies' minor league training facility. With the move to the new ballpark, the Clearwater Phillies renamed themselves the "Threshers" and adopted a new team logo and colors.

In 2004, the Clearwater Threshers were managed by former Phillies player and Hall of Famer, Mike Schmidt. Greg Legg managed the team in 2005 and 2006. Dave Huppert was the manager in 2007, and Razor Shines in 2008. Ernie Whitt was named the manager for the 2009 season after Shines was promoted to base coach for the New York Mets.

In 2007, the Threshers won the second half in the FSL West Division. They defeated the Sarasota Reds (2-1) in the FSL West Division Playoffs, then defeated the Brevard County Manatees 3 games to 1 in the FSL Championship Series (best-of-five) to win the FSL title. The Threshers were named MiLB.com's Class A Advanced Team of the Year. ^[5]

On July 26, 2009, Pedro Martinez made a rehab start for the Threshers against the St. Lucie Mets at Bright House Field. Martinez pitched 1 1/3-innings before rain caused the game to be canceled, wiping out the official record of his start. ^[6]. Martinez subsequently moved to the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs for his next start.

Clearwater Phillies & Threshers in the Majors

• Cole Hamels
• J. A. Happ
• Ryan Howard
• Kyle Kendrick
• Scott Mathieson
• Elizardo Ramirez
• Chris Roberson
• Chase Utley
• Mike Zagurski

Coaching staff

• Manager: Ernie Whitt (Manager 2009)
• Coaches: * Ramon Henderson (Bench Coach 2009) & (Hitting Coach 2008-2009)
• Pitching Coach: * (Pitching Coach 2009)
• Trainer: Ichiro Kitano

Former coaches & trainers

• Mike Schmidt (Manager - 2004) W-L: 55-81
• Greg Legg (Manager 2005-2006) W-L: 108-167
• Dave Huppert (Manager 2007) W-L: 83-57 / League Champions
• Razor Shines (Manager 2008) W-L: 64-76
• Manny Amador (Bench Coach 2004)
• Ken Dominguez (Bench Coach 2005)
• Dan Roberts (Hitting Coach 2004-2005)
• Greg Gross (Hitting Coach 2006)
• Brad Komminsk (Hitting Coach 2007)
• Scott Lovekamp (Pitching Coach 2005-2006)
• Steve Schrenk (Pitching Coach 2004 & 2007-2008)
• Shawn Fcasni (Trainer)
• Jason Kirkman (Trainer)
• Ichiro Kitano (Trainer)
• Chris Mudd (Trainer)

Current roster

Players				Coaches/Other
Pitchers 11 Daniel Brauer 22 Darren Byrd -- Carlos Carrasco 46 Alexander Concepcion 15 Andy Cruse 27 Matt German 55 Bear Hill 29 Carlos Monasterios 44 Drew Naylor 19 Ben Pfinsgraff 52 Joseph Rocchio 25 Joe Savery 41 Matt Smith 54 Scott Vander Weg		Catchers 39 Tuffy Gosewisch 6 Alan Robbins Infielders 10 P.J. Antoniato 45 Mike Eylward 4 Brian Finegan 13 Fidel Hernandez 12 Carlos Leon 8 Anthony Mansolino 24 John Urick 23 Jesus Villegas Andino Outfielders 9 Quintin Berry 35 Kevin Mahar 57 Gus Milner 30 Michael Taylor		Manager 60 Razor Shines Coaches 58 Kevin Jordan (batting) 61 Steve Schrenk (pitching) -- Ichiro Kitano (trainer) † Disabled list * On Philadelphia Phillies 40-man roster ‡ Reserve list § Suspended list updated 2008-10-22

References

1. Phantastic! Threshers walk off in front of record crowd
2. Minor league team sought for Clearwater
3. It's time for Bombers to move on
4. Clearwater Phillies' debut is right around the corner
5. Threshers came together at right time: Team of the Year award follows end of championship drought
6. Pedro Martinez has rain-shortened start with Phillies' minor leaguers