2019 Jays at Jack Russell

(EDDIE MICHELS PHOTO)

CLEARWATER, FLA.–The former spring training home of the Philadelphia Phillies now appears to have a rebirth as the 2019 Florida State League home of the Dunedin Blue Jays.

     With the Dunedin Stadium at Grant Field being placed under construction after spring training in 2019 the minor league squad will need a temporary home.

     Jack Russell Stadium in just less than two miles south of Dunedin Stadium and was last used for Florida State League baseball on August 23, 2003 by the Clearwater Phillies who moved to Brighthouse Field later Spectrum Field to start the 2004 FSL season.

The view of the rebuilt seats at Jack Russell Stadium shows seating for just under 600 fans. There are two small sections outside each dugout that could possibly hold 50-fans each. (EDDIE MICHELS PHOTO)

     Seating is aluminum now at Jack Russell make up of the former bleacher seats that used to be down the first and third base lines.

     According to City of Clearwater officials there will be a concession stand, a press box but the seating will be limited to approximately less than 700 fans.

     Now with the Clearwater High School using the one small clubhouse down the third baseline thru April and the St. Petersburg College team using the Phillies old clubhouse until May things might be a bit crowded for the first two months of the FSL season.

     Also since the Phillies moved their operations across town for the 2004 season there is little if any parking adjacent to the stadium.  The former Phillies parking lot is now a football/soccer field.

     According to certain Clearwater officials things seem to be set for at least partial use by the Dunedin Blue Jays in 2019.