Ontario Tower Buzzers Name Clubhouse in Honor of Dodgers Player-Development Legend John Shoemaker

Permanent Naming Recognizes the Tower Buzzers’ Inaugural Manager and His Extraordinary Career Developing Generations of Dodgers Players

ONTARIO, CA, UNITED STATES, August 18, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The Ontario Tower Buzzers, the Single-A Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, today announced that the team’s clubhouse at ONT Field has been permanently named in honor of John Shoemaker, the Tower Buzzers’ inaugural manager and one of the most enduring figures in Dodgers player development.

The John Shoemaker Clubhouse was unveiled during a surprise ceremony today at ONT Field, with Shoemaker learning for the first time that the clubhouse would bear his name. The permanent tribute recognizes a career devoted to the Dodgers organization and Shoemaker’s decades-long influence on generations of players, coaches, and staff.

Shoemaker is currently managing the Tower Buzzers during the club’s inaugural season in Ontario. Drafted by the Dodgers in 1977, he played four seasons in the organization before beginning his coaching career in 1981. He received his first managerial assignment with the Vero Beach Dodgers in 1987 and has since managed throughout the Dodgers’ Minor League system.

“John Shoemaker represents everything we want the Tower Buzzers organization and this clubhouse to stand for: leadership, integrity, loyalty, and a commitment to helping young players become the best versions of themselves,” said Allan Benavides, General Manager of the Ontario Tower Buzzers. “Generations of Dodgers players have benefited from Shoe’s knowledge, encouragement, and example. As we establish a new chapter of Dodger baseball here in Ontario, we couldn’t think of a more fitting or permanent way to recognize what he has meant to this organization than to put his name on the clubhouse where the next generation of Dodgers will develop.”

Over the course of his career, Shoemaker has worked with generations of players on their path through the Dodgers organization, including some of the franchise’s most recognizable names. In 2015, the Dodgers named him “Captain of Player Development,” an honor recognizing his leadership and commitment to the organization. He has worn a “C” on his uniform ever since.

“Someday, when I leave pro baseball, I hope that my presence made an impact,” said Shoemaker. “To have my name on this clubhouse for as long as ONT Field is around, is really an honor to me and is very, very humbling.”

Shoemaker’s career has been defined not only by longevity, but by a remarkable connection to the Dodgers organization that is now in its 50th year, dating back to his 1977 debut as a player. In 2023, the Dodgers selected him to receive the Tommy Lasorda “I Bleed Dodger Blue” award, honoring a member of the Dodgers community who embodies the passion, enthusiasm, and love for the organization.

Follow the Ontario Tower Buzzers on:
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About the Ontario Tower Buzzers

The Ontario Tower Buzzers are the Single-A Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The team plays its home games at ONT Field in Ontario, California, and is committed to delivering affordable, community-focused professional baseball to fans throughout the Inland Empire
For tickets, schedules, and event details, visit www.milb.com/ontario.

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