Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp Reveal 2026 Home Schedule, Open Season as Champions

The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are opening the 2026 season as champions, and they intend to make sure Northeast Florida knows it. The defending 2025 Triple-A National Champions released their full 2026 home schedule and promotional calendar Monday, anchoring the season with a championship celebration that begins the moment the first pitch is thrown at VyStar Ballpark on March 27.

The ring ceremony headlines Opening Day, when the Jumbo Shrimp will receive their 2025 Triple-A National Championship rings in front of the home crowd. The celebration extends into the following afternoon: on March 28, the club will give away a replica of the championship ring as part of championship celebration weekend, giving fans something tangible to take home from what promises to be one of the more significant opening weekends in the franchise's history.

"We hope Crustation Nation is ready celebrate our 2025 Triple-A National Championship team on Opening Weekend and continues to provide that famous Duval support for another great season at VyStar Ballpark ahead," said President and General Manager Matt Goudreau.

Manager David Carpenter, who led the club to the title, returns to Jacksonville for the defense, heading a 2026 field staff announced in conjunction with the Miami Marlins. Several key figures from the championship run are back alongside him: assistant coach Jose Ceballos, athletic trainers Tyler Lough and Sandy Krum, video coach Ryan Gaynor, and clubhouse concierge Paul Whatley all return. The staff adds five newcomers: pitching coach Jerad Eickhoff, hitting coach Tom DeAngelis, assistant coach Luke Terwilliger, strength coach Jordan Reyes, and PD analyst/fellow Jackson Shelton.

The 2026 promotional calendar builds around the championship theme while adding new wrinkles throughout the schedule. Fantasy Football Punishment Night lands on April 2, followed by Love at First Pitch on May 7. The popular Honey Dripper uniforms return for two weekends: May 23-24 and August 29-30, each accompanied by Honey Dripper-themed giveaways. Late July brings consecutive novelty nights with Dancing with the Shrimp on July 30 and Who Stole Scampi Mystery Night on July 31.

Across the full season, fans can expect five Military Appreciation Nights, five Canines and Crustaceans Dog Days events, and giveaways every Saturday. "We are so excited to be able to announce many new and unique promotions for the upcoming 2026 season while also continuing with many of our favorites from past years like outstanding fireworks shows and giveaways every Saturday," Goudreau said.

The Jumbo Shrimp, who have led the state of Florida in attendance across all minor league professional sports organizations since rebranding in 2017, carry both a championship banner and a deepened coaching staff into a season that begins in ten days.