Ontario Tower Buzzers name clubhouse for John Shoemaker

The Ontario Tower Buzzers permanently named their ONT Field clubhouse after inaugural manager John Shoemaker during a surprise ceremony Tuesday in Ontario, California. The tribute recognizes Shoemaker’s decades in Dodgers player development and his long impact on the organization.

Why it matters: - The permanent naming puts one of the Dodgers’ most respected player-development figures at the center of the Ontario Tower Buzzers’ inaugural season. - The tribute links the team’s new era in Ontario with the Dodgers’ broader development pipeline.

What happened: - The Ontario Tower Buzzers announced that the clubhouse at ONT Field will now be known as the John Shoemaker Clubhouse. - The team unveiled the name during a surprise ceremony at ONT Field on Tuesday. - Shoemaker learned during the event that the clubhouse would carry his name. - The tribute honors Shoemaker, the Tower Buzzers’ inaugural manager and a longtime Dodgers player-development figure.

The details: - Shoemaker is managing the Tower Buzzers during the club’s inaugural season in Ontario. - The Dodgers drafted Shoemaker in 1977. - Shoemaker played four seasons in the Dodgers organization before moving into coaching in 1981. - His first managerial assignment came with the Vero Beach Dodgers in 1987. - Shoemaker has managed throughout the Dodgers’ minor league system. - In 2015, the Dodgers named him “Captain of Player Development.” - Shoemaker has worn a “C” on his uniform since receiving that honor. - In 2023, the Dodgers selected Shoemaker for the Tommy Lasorda “I Bleed Dodger Blue” award. - The award recognizes a member of the Dodgers community who embodies passion, enthusiasm and love for the organization. - The Ontario Tower Buzzers play at ONT Field in Ontario, California, as the Single-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. - The team says it aims to deliver affordable, community-focused professional baseball for fans throughout the Inland Empire. - Tickets, schedules and event details are available at team information. - The team’s social accounts include Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok and X.

Between the lines: - The naming serves as both a personal honor for Shoemaker and a branding move for a first-year club trying to establish identity and continuity. - The Dodgers’ decision to elevate Shoemaker in 2015 and again in 2023 underscores his long-running role inside the organization. - The clubhouse tribute signals that the Tower Buzzers want their player-development culture to reflect Dodgers values from day one.

What's next: - Shoemaker will continue managing the Tower Buzzers as the franchise builds out its inaugural season. - The John Shoemaker Clubhouse will remain a permanent fixture at ONT Field for the life of the ballpark. - The Tower Buzzers will continue promoting tickets, schedules and events through the club website and social channels.

The bottom line: - The Tower Buzzers used a surprise clubhouse naming to tie their new Ontario identity to a Dodgers development legend with decades of organizational history.