Let’s talk about the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp for a hot minute. The Jumbo Shrimp, who have graduated from Double-A to the newly formed Triple-A East (organizers must have had a hell of a brainstorm sesh coming up with that name), just unveiled their 2021 schedule and it’s a doozy.
Though the minors were given the all clear to resume play this season after spending last year as spectators, it won’t be business as usual as leagues have made a concerted effort to limit travel amid the continuing COVID pandemic. This mandate has predictably led to some scheduling quirks with Jacksonville slated to play division rivals Charlotte and Norfolk 42 times each. Those two opponents account for over half the Jumbo Shrimp’s schedule (84 of 142 games). Exactly one third of Jacksonville’s home games at 11,000-seat 121 Financial Ballpark—that’s 24 of 72 matchups—will feature Charlotte including a six-game, season-opening series beginning on April 6th.
This disparity would make slightly more sense if Charlotte and Norfolk were nearby, but anyone with a map handy can see that’s clearly not the case. Jacksonville’s closest opponent geographically is Gwinnett, who the Jumbo Shrimp inexplicably face just 12 times. The Triple-A East stretches as far north as the Twin Cities, though the Jumbo Shrimp won’t be venturing nearly that far this year. Only six of the league’s 20 clubs—Charlotte, Norfolk, Gwinnett, Durham, Memphis and Nashville—will encounter Jacksonville this year. That includes 34 games against Durham and six each versus Nashville and Memphis.
Seeing the same teams ad nauseam won’t make for a particularly enjoyable fan experience, though who knows how many spectators will even be allowed to attend games with the vast majority of the country still unvaccinated. At least Jumbo Shrimp supporters will get an up-close look at former first-round picks JJ Bleday (ranked 20th in MLB.com’s Top 100 prospects and second in Miami’s farm system) and Max Meyer (28th overall and third among Marlins), who are likely to pass through Jacksonville at some point this season.
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