Central Florida's newest professional baseball team is a step closer to making its first pitch at the Osceola County Stadium.

  • Former Brevard Manatees now the Florida Fire Frogs
  • Minor league team will play at Osceola County Stadium

The minor league baseball team will be called the Florida Fire Frogs.

The team held a contest for suggestions on the new name. The new name was hand-picked from hundreds of community submissions received over the summer.

The team used to be the Brevard Manatees.

The announcement comes weeks after the team announced a four-year affiliation agreement with the Atlanta Braves.

The team is moving from the Space Coast Stadium in Viera into its new home in Osceola County.

The announcement of the team's new name is making it all the more real for businesses in town.

Nearby restaurants like Wing Alley can't wait for the season to begin. Eight-year server Janine Painter said they have an influx of customers at the restaurant during spring-training games.

"It means a lot because then a lot of people come. When they go to the game, to the practices, they all stop and eat first," Painter said.

The Houston Astros are leaving their spring training home in Kissimmee for a facility in South Florida.

Officials say the new team is meant to bring the community together.

"We've already got dates scheduled for the Boys and Girls Scouts. We're going to do sleepovers at the ballpark during the course of our season,” said Joe Harrington, the president for the Florida State League team. “We're going to do some exciting things, some things you may not necessarily associate with minor league and baseball. But that is really what it's all about."

"Being able to have 70 games in our backyard for our tourists and our local folks,” said Osceola County commissioner Brandon Arrington. “And we’re excited about the benefit it's going to bring, not just in tax revenue, but also an added benefit to our residents and visitors alike."

After the loss of the Houston Astros, businesses hope the Fire Frogs become a home run.

The Florida Fire Frogs' first game will be on April 6, 2017 against the Daytona Tortugas.