Florida League Announces 2026 Schedule
SANFORD, Fla.- The 2026 Florida League season is less than a week away, and preparations from the league office are in full swing. With that in mind, the Florida Collegiate Summer League is pleased to unveil the 2026 schedule.
HOME FIELDS
All six home fields will remain the same as the 2025 season. As always, the Sanford River Rats will call Sanford Memorial Stadium, home to the league's Opening Night and annual All-Star Game. The Leesburg Lightning will return to the intimidating confines of Pat Thomas Stadium, while the DeLand Suns are back at the palatial mecca that is Conrad Park and Melching Field.
The Winter Park Diamond Dawgs remain at Rollins College, playing their home games at Alfond Stadium. The Orlando Snappers keep their home base at Orel Hershiser Field on the campus of The First Academy, while the Winter Garden Squeeze will again play home games on the campus of Horizon High School.
DATES TO WATCH
May 28- Orlando at Sanford
Sanford Memorial Stadium
As tradition dictates, the Florida League season begins in Sanford, with the defending champions as the opponent. Under the direction of new head coach Alan Kunkel, the opponent will be the Orlando Snappers, who won their first championship in nearly 20 years in 2025. This series is a rematch of last season's Florida League Championship Series, won by the Snappers in two games.
May 29- Sanford at Orlando
Orel Hershiser Field
The defending champion Snappers open up their home schedule with a rematch of Opening Night. Each of the past two teams to call Orel Hershiser Field their home have won the Florida League title - the 2019 Winter Park Diamond Dawgs and the 2025 Orlando Snappers.
May 29- Winter Park at Leesburg
Pat Thomas Stadium
The winningest coach in Florida League history, Rich Billings, leads the Leesburg Lightning into their home opener on the second night of the season. After winning three titles in four years, the Lightning will look to start their journey back to the top in front of some of the Florida League's most passionate fans.
May 29- DeLand at Winter Garden
Horizon High School
There will be new leadership in the dugout for the Winter Garden Squeeze this summer, with current Trinity Prep head coach Steven Crabtree taking over. It will be the Squeeze's second season at Horizon High School, which boosted growing crowds throughout the 2025 season.
May 30- Winter Garden at DeLand
Melching Field
After a busy May that will see Melching Field host the ASUN conference tournament and the Florida high school baseball All-Star Game, the Suns take the field for the first time on the first Saturday of the Florida League season. DeLand made the playoffs for the second year in a row in 2025, winning the Florida League Wild Card game over Winter Garden.
May 31- Leesburg at Winter Park
Alfond Stadium
With head coach Jim Newlin once again at the helm, the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs open their home schedule against the Leesburg Lightning. The Diamond Dawgs will be looking for a return trip to the playoffs in 2026, having missed the playoffs in each of the past two seasons.
July 3- Leesburg at DeLand
Melching Field
The centerpiece of DeLand's home schedule comes the day before Independence Day, when the Suns host the Diamond Dawgs. Fans will be invited to stay at Melching Field postgame to take in DeLand's annual fireworks show, launched from nearby Earl Brown Park.
July 4- DeLand at Leesburg
Pat Thomas Stadium
"The Pat" on the fourth of July is a sight to behold. Capacity-plus crowds are often seen in Leesburg, as the Suns and Lightning battle before the city of Leesburg's extravagant Independence Day fireworks spectacular. This is a must-see for baseball fans in central Florida.
July 7- Florida League All-Star Game
Sanford Memorial Stadium
The Florida League's best take the field in Sanford for the League's annual Midsummer Classic. A prospect workout and the Home Run Derby will proceed the event, with first pitch between the East and the West set for 7 pm.
July 20-23- Florida League Playoffs
The 2026 postseason starts as the number four seed hosts the number five seed in a Play-In Game. The winner advances to the FCSL Semifinals to face the regular season pennant winner, while the second and third seeds battle in the other semifinal.
July 26-28- Florida League Championship Series
The 2020s have belonged to the Leesburg Lightning, who have been in the championship series five times since 2020. 2025 saw a change of pace, with the Orlando Snappers winning their first title in 20 years. Sanford (2020) and Winter Park (2022) also have titles this decade, with DeLand (2018) searching their first crown in almost a decade. The lone Florida League team without a franchise is Winter Garden, coming the closest in 2023. Who will claim the crown this year?