Florida Complex League Braves Explained

Florida Complex League Braves
Founded:1976
City:North Port, Florida
Allyears:1964–1967, 1976–present
Uniformlogo:Atlanta Braves Insignia.svg
Class Level:Rookie
Current League:Florida Complex League
Division:South Division
Past League:
Pastmajorleague:Milwaukee Braves (1964–1965)
Nickname:FCL Braves
Pastnames:
  • GCL Braves (1976–2020)
  • FRL Braves (1965)
  • SRL Braves (1964)
Ballpark:CoolToday Park
Leaguenum:3
Divnum:1
Divisionchamps:2003
Owner:Atlanta Braves

The Florida Complex League Braves are an American baseball team. They are the Rookie-level affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, competing in the Florida Complex League of Minor League Baseball. Prior to 2021, the team was known as the Gulf Coast League Braves. The team plays at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida. The team is composed mainly of players who are in their first year of professional baseball either as draftees or non-drafted free agents from the United States, Canada, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and other countries.

History

The team traces its history to the earliest days of complex-based baseball, in reference to major-league teams' spring training complexes. Initially based in Sarasota, Florida, the team was a member of the short-lived Sarasota Rookie League (1964) and Florida Rookie League (1965), and was a charter club in the Gulf Coast League when it was formed in 1966. The team operated from 1964 to 1967, and has operated continuously since 1976.[1]

In 2003, the Braves won a best-of-three series over the GCL Pirates to become league champions. Prior to the 2021 season, the Gulf Coast League was renamed as the Florida Complex League.

Season-by-season

YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs
align=center colspan=6SRL Braves (1964)
1964 36-23 1st League Champs
No playoffs
align=center colspan=6FRL Braves (1965)
1965 34-25 2nd Paul Snyder No playoffs
align=center colspan=6GCL Braves
1966 27-21 2nd No playoffs until 1983
1967 27-32 5th Tom Saffell
1976 21-32 6th
1977 22-31 5th Pedro Gonzalez
1978 25-30 4th Pedro Gonzalez
1979 26-28 4th Pedro Gonzalez
1980 37-25 3rd Pedro Gonzalez
1981 28-34 8th Pedro Gonzalez
1982 32-31 4th Pedro Gonzalez
1983 32-28 4th Pedro Gonzalez
1984 31-32 6th Pedro Gonzalez
1985 26-35 7th Pedro Gonzalez
1986 29-34 9th Pedro Gonzalez
1987 20-43 10th Pedro Gonzalez
1988 16-47 12th Pedro Gonzalez
1989 37-26 4th (t) Jim Procopio
1990 33-29 6th Jim Procopio
1991 30-29 6th (t)
1992 22-37 14th Jim Saul
1993 32-26 4th Jim Saul
1994 13-46 15th Jim Saul
1995 14-43 16th Jim Saul
1996 14-45 16th Robert Lucas (11-36) / Chino Cadahia (3-9)
1997 21-38 15th
1998 25-35 11th (t) Rick Albert
1999 27-33 10th Rick Albert
2000 26-34 10th Rick Albert
2001 30-30 8th Rick Albert
2002 28-32 8th (t) Jim Saul
2003 38-22 1st Ralph Henriquez League Champs
vs. GCL Pirates (2 games to 0)
Won in 1st round
vs. GCL Red Sox (1 games to 0)
2004 23-36 10th Ralph Henriquez
2005 24-28 8th
2006 23-27 8th Luis Ortiz
2007 17-43 15th Luis Ortiz
2008 29-29 9th (t) Luis Ortiz
2009 26-34 13th Luis Ortiz
2010 27-31 12th Luis Ortiz
2011 24-34 12th Jonathan Schuerholz
2012 21-37 14th
2013 26-34 12th Rocket Wheeler
2014 29-30 9th Rocket Wheeler
2015 27-33 11th

External links

Notes and References

  1. Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, eds., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 3rd edition. Durham, N.C.: Baseball America, 2007.