Prospector Baseball Group Acquires Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

 

On December 9, 2025, Prospector Baseball Group (PBG) officially acquired the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp from longtime owner Ken Babby, in a sale approved by Major League Baseball. 

The move comes just months after the Jumbo Shrimp captured the International League championship and their first Triple-A National Championship, cementing Jacksonville as one of the hottest baseball markets in Minor League Baseball.

Quick Facts: Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp Sale

• Buyer: Prospector Baseball Group (PBG)
  
• Seller: Ken Babby, Fast Forward Sports Group
  
• League / Level: Triple-A, International League
  
• MLB Affiliate: Miami Marlins (since 2009; elevated to Triple-A in 2021)
  
• Home Ballpark: Bragan Field at VyStar Ballpark, Downtown Jacksonville
  
• Other Team in the Deal: Akron RubberDucks (Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians)
  

Who Is Prospector Baseball Group?

Prospector Baseball Group is a relatively new but fast-growing minor league ownership platform.

Founded by veteran sports executive John Abbamondi and tech investor/entrepreneur Ben Boyer, PBG describes its mission as building a “modern, community-driven Minor League Baseball collective” focused on affordable family fun, smart operations, and strong local leadership.

Abbamondi’s background includes leadership roles with the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center, Madison Square Garden, the NBA and the St. Louis Cardinals, while Boyer has backed high-growth technology companies as an early investor.

With the Jumbo Shrimp, RubberDucks, and Lancaster Stormers now in its portfolio, PBG is quickly assembling a coast-to-coast footprint in both affiliated and partner-league baseball.

Why Sell Now? Ken Babby’s Move to the Tampa Bay Rays

The sale also closes a major chapter for Ken Babby, who purchased the then-Jacksonville Suns in 2015 and rebranded them as the Jumbo Shrimp ahead of the 2017 season.

Under Babby’s ownership, the franchise leaned hard into “Affordable Family Fun,” elevated to Triple-A status in 2021, and recently completed a city-funded, $31.8 million Project NEXT renovation plan for the ballpark.

Babby recently became CEO of the Tampa Bay Rays, joining a new ownership group led by Patrick Zalupski. That new role made it increasingly logical to transition his minor league holdings to a dedicated MiLB platform like PBG.

In statements about the sale, Babby called the moment “bittersweet” but emphasized that he views PBG as a worthy steward for the franchise and its front-office staff, community partners and fans.

What PBG Is Saying About Jacksonville

In the official announcement, PBG’s co-founders praised Jacksonville as one of the most vibrant franchises in Minor League Baseball and highlighted three themes they plan to double-down on:

1. Affordable Family Fun
   PBG has been explicit that ticket prices, promotions and game-day experiences will continue to be built around accessibility for families in Northeast Florida.
   
2. VyStar Ballpark as a Downtown Anchor
   The group has framed VyStar Ballpark as “a heartbeat of the community” and a key piece of the future growth of Jacksonville’s Sports and Entertainment District. That vision aligns closely with the city’s recent investment in ballpark enhancements and surrounding development.
   
3. Local-First Approach
   PBG says it will operate both the Jumbo Shrimp and RubberDucks with “a distinctively local touch,” keeping existing community relationships and traditions at the center of decision-making.
   

What Changes for Fans in Jacksonville?

For everyday fans heading to VyStar Ballpark, the fundamentals stay the same:

• Team name & identity: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp brand, uniforms and crustacean-themed chaos aren’t going anywhere.
  
• MLB affiliation: The team remains the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins.
  
• Ballpark: The club will continue to play at Bragan Field at VyStar Ballpark, which has been undergoing major upgrades timed to the 2025 season.
  

What may evolve under PBG:

• Game-day enhancements: Expect continued focus on digital ticketing, premium seating options, and upgraded fan areas built into Project NEXT and other future capital projects.
  
• Community events: PBG’s mission emphasizes keeping parks active year-round, so more non-baseball events, festivals, and community nights at VyStar Ballpark are squarely on the table.
  
• Long-term stability: With renovations funded through 2040 naming-rights agreements and a lease that runs into the 2040s, the club sits on a solid foundation heading into this new ownership era.
  

A Championship-Level Franchise at the Perfect Time

The timing of the sale is notable. In 2025, the Jumbo Shrimp:

• Won the International League championship, their first since 1968.
  
• Captured the Triple-A National Championship in Las Vegas on Jacob Berry’s dramatic walk-off home run.
  

In other words, PBG isn’t buying a rebuild. It’s buying a reigning champion with momentum, an upgraded ballpark, and a fiercely loyal fan base that has embraced everything from jumbo shrimp hats to wild promotional nights.

For Jacksonville, it’s a signal that the franchise is seen as a flagship property in the modern Minor League Baseball landscape, not just locally important, but strategically important for an ownership group betting big on the future of MiLB.

What This Means for Downtown Jacksonville

The sale dovetails with a broader wave of investment in the Downtown Sports and Entertainment District, which already includes VyStar Ballpark, EverBank Stadium and VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.

Recent ballpark upgrades, including larger videoboards, new right-field social spaces, and expanded club areas, were designed to keep the Jumbo Shrimp competitive in both MLB facility standards and fan expectations.

With a dedicated baseball ownership platform stepping in, Jacksonville gains:

• A long-term partner whose core business is minor league baseball, not just a single franchise.
  
• National visibility as part of PBG’s growing network of clubs.
  
• Additional leverage for future downtown development tied to game-day traffic, tourism and events.
  

What’s Next?

Over the coming months, fans should watch for:

• Introductions and listening sessions with PBG leadership.
  
• Off-season updates on ballpark enhancements ahead of the 2026 season.
  
• Continued collaboration with the Miami Marlins on player development and special events.
  

For now, one thing is clear: Jacksonville’s Triple-A team isn’t just changing hands. It’s stepping into a new chapter where the combination of championship baseball, upgraded facilities, and a specialized ownership group could define the next two decades of Jumbo Shrimp baseball on the First Coast.