Tortugas Invited To Retain Cincinnati Reds Affiliation

Daytona Beach, FL - There’s cause for "shell-abration" at Jackie Robinson Ballpark as Daytona’s own baseball team is invited to continue their affiliation with the Cincinnati Reds. The affiliation will continue a relationship the Daytona Tortugas and the Reds started back in 2015—following the end of Daytona’s affiliation with the Chicago Cubs in 2014, when the Cubs instead began a new contract with a Myrtle Beach team. “We could not be happier that affiliated professional baseball is poised to continue to be played at Jackie Robinson Ballpark,” Tortugas co-owner Bob Fregolle said. “This invitation from the Reds positions us well to continue to showcase Major League Baseball stars of tomorrow.” Fregolle, along with the team’s other co-owners Reese Smith and Rick French, went on to thank the Volusia County and Flagler County areas for the support and passionate defense of the team throughout the past couple of years. Near the end of 2019, the Tortugas were one of 42 teams—a number synonymous with baseball and Daytona Beach because of Jackie Robinson—that faced the chopping block under a proposal from the MLB that could have brought major changes to MiLB. After the news broke, fans began to rally behind the team and demanded that they and the other 41 teams remain in the MiLB. Smith also added that the invitation would not have been possible without the city leaders of Daytona Beach, along with the support of many other government and civic leaders, who helped invest in the necessary upgrades "The Jack" needed to meet the new standards required of all affiliated minor league teams. Daytona, on its own, pledged about $4 million towards the team for field upgrades earlier this year. “We have the greatest fans in the world, and we know they will be delighted to see the Tortugas return to this historic ballpark in 2021 and beyond,” said Smith. Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry commented on the invitation and said he appreciates all the Tortugas do to enhance the community. “Jackie Robinson Ballpark is a landmark of the Civil Rights Movement and a cherished part of our city’s history, and the Tortugas are essential assets for our community,” Mayor Henry said. “We could not be prouder to Stand With The Jack and with the Tortugas.”