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Modesto Nuts

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Modesto Nuts
Team logo Cap insignia
Minor league affiliations
ClassSingle-A (2021–present)
Previous classes
LeagueCalifornia League (1946–1964, 1966–present)
DivisionNorth Division
Major league affiliations
TeamSeattle Mariners (2017–present)
Previous teams
Minor league titles
League titles (11)
  • 1950
  • 1954
  • 1959
  • 1966
  • 1972
  • 1982
  • 1984
  • 2004
  • 2017
  • 2023
  • 2024
Division titles (5)
  • 2004
  • 2012
  • 2017
  • 2023
  • 2024
First-half titles (1)
  • 2024
Second-half titles (1)
  • 2023
Team data
NameModesto Nuts (2005–present)
Previous names
  • Modesto A's (1975–2004)
  • Modesto Reds (1966–1974)
  • Modesto Colts (1962–1964)
  • Modesto Reds (1946–1961)
MascotsAl The Almond
Wally The Walnut
Shelley The Pistachio
BallparkJohn Thurman Field
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
Diamond Baseball Holdings[1]
ManagerZach Vincej
Websitemilb.com/modesto

The Modesto Nuts are a Minor League Baseball team of the California League and the Single-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. They are located in Modesto, California, and are named for the several types of nuts grown in the Central Valley. They play their home games at John Thurman Field, which opened in 1955.

The Nuts adopted their current name in 2005 after the team's affiliation with the Oakland Athletics ended. Before then, the team was known as the Modesto Athletics (or A's) from 1975 to 2004. The club was also known as the Modesto Reds (1966–1974 and 1946–1961) and Modesto Colts (1962–1964).

The Nuts were expected to leave Modesto following the 2024 season after the city and the Seattle Mariners were unable to come to terms on who would pay for ballpark improvements mandated by Major League Baseball. However, a deal was reached to keep the team in Modesto through at least the 2025 season; following the end of the 2024 season, the Mariners sold the team to Diamond Baseball Holdings, who immediately announced that the 2025 season would be the last for the Modesto Nuts, and for the 2026 season, as part of a shuffle of Diamond-owned team relocations, the Nuts franchise would relocate to San Bernardino as a new incarnation of the Inland Empire 66ers.

History

[edit]

On June 2, 2006, manager Chad Kreuter resigned to become the head baseball coach of the University of Southern California. Kreuter replaced his father-in-law, Mike Gillespie.

In spring 2008, the team was the subject of Bush League TV's short internet video "Bush League 101: How to Bush League a Bush League Baseball Team."

On June 21, 2011, the Modesto Nuts hosted the 2011 California/Carolina All Star Smash.[2]

In 2012, Greg Young was replaced by Alex Margulies who did play-by-play for all home and away games from 2012–2013, and Modesto Bee sports writer Brian VanderBeek did color commentary in the middle innings of most home games. Keaton Gillogly did play-by-play from 2014-2022. The play-by-play position was formerly held by Joshua Suchon, who now works for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

On September 1, 2012, Modesto Nuts 1st basemen Jared Clark hit his 24th home run of the season against the San Jose Giants, making him the Modesto Nuts single-season home run leader, passing former Nuts outfielder Kent Matthes, who in 2011 set the old record with 23 home runs in the season.

As of 2011, the Modesto Nuts have set their attendance record for five straight seasons and have been honored as back-to-back California League Organization of the Year for 2010 and 2011.

Following the 2016 season, the Seattle Mariners purchased a majority share of the Nuts, and the teams entered into a player development contract making Modesto a Mariners affiliate. HWS Baseball IV, LLC, continues to see to the team's day-to-day operations.[3]

The Nuts won the California League championship for 2017, sweeping both the Division Series and the League Series and winning nine games in a row dating back to the last three games of the regular season.[4] This was the Nuts' ninth league title and the first as part of the Mariners organization.

In conjunction with Major League Baseball's restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Nuts were organized into the Low-A West where they continued as a Mariners affiliate at the Low-A classification.[5] In 2022, the Low-A West became known as the California League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization, and was reclassified as a Single-A circuit.[6] In 2023, Modesto won the California League championship.[7]

After the city and the Seattle Mariners were unable to come to terms on who would pay for the roughly $32 million in improvements to John Thurman Field mandated by Major League Baseball, the Nuts planned to leave Modesto after the 2024 season.[8] However, the city and the Nuts came to an agreement in August 2024 to keep the team in Modesto for another year. The Nuts will pay an annual rent of $600,000, and an additional $75,000 will go towards improving the field. A long-term lease agreement must be reached by April 1, 2025, or the team could leave following the season.[9]

A month after it was announced the Nuts would stay in Modesto for another year, they won their second straight California League title.[10]

The team was sold to Diamond Baseball Holdings on December 12, 2024.[11] Diamond, the largest owner of MiLB teams, plans a "musical chairs" format in the aftermath of the purchase:

All changes will take effect in the 2026 MiLB season.

Mascots

[edit]

The Modesto Nuts have three mascots: Al the Almond, Wally the Walnut and Shelley the Pistachio.

Roster

[edit]
Modesto Nuts roster
Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 12 Charlie Beilenson
  • 36 Gage Boehm
  • 33 Hunter Cranton
  • 31 Elijah Dale
  •  3 German Fajardo
  • 17 Walter Ford
  • 12 Tyler Gough
  • 37 Ashton Izzi
  • 38 Pedro Da Costa Lemos
  • 14 Trevor Long
  • 44 Aneury Lora
  • 16 Teddy McGraw
  • 39 Jean Munoz ~
  • 35 Anyelo Ovando
  • 23 Brayan Perez
  • 40 Adrian Quintana
  • 43 Will Riley
  •    Yeury Tatiz ‡
  • 20 Evan Truitt
  • 21 Jesse Wainscott
  • 53 Jack White

Catchers

  • 45 Jose Caguana
  • 30 Josh Caron
  • 13 Junior Gonzalez ~

Infielders

  •  8 Ricardo Cova
  •  4 Carter Dorighi
  • 19 Brandon Eike
  •  9 Charlie Pagliarini
  •  7 Tai Peete
  •  5 Milkar Perez
  •    Austin St. Laurent
  • 10 Luis Suisbel

Outfielders

  • 22 Anthony Donofrio
  • 15 Carlos Jimenez
  • 25 Carson Jones
  •  6 Curtis Washington Jr.

Manager

Coaches

  • 48 Jordan Cowan (hitting)
  • 32 Hecmart Nieves (bench)
  • 41 Jake Witt (pitching)

60-day injured list

7-day injured list
* On Seattle Mariners 40-man roster
~ Development list
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
† Temporarily inactive list
Roster updated September 5, 2024
 Transactions
→ More rosters: MiLB • California League
 → Seattle Mariners minor league players

Notable alumni

[edit]

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

Notable alumni

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Modesto Nuts Announce Sale to Diamond Baseball Holdings". Minor League Baseball. December 12, 2024. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  2. ^ "Nuts to host All-Star Game in 2011" MiLB.com. January 8, 2011. Retrieved on August 28, 2012.
  3. ^ Divish, Ryan. "Mariners purchase Modesto Nuts of Class A Cal League, sign 4-year player development contract." Seattle Times. September 20, 2016. Retrieved on September 21, 2016.
  4. ^ Cortez, Joe. "Modesto Nuts sweep way to California League pennant" Modesto Bee. September 16, 2017. Retrieved on October 4, 2017.
  5. ^ Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  6. ^ "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  7. ^ Rodgers, Del (2023-09-20). "Modesto Nuts win California League Championship". KCRA. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  8. ^ Valine, Kevin (July 10, 2024). "Nuts Are Playing Their Last Baseball Season in Modesto, Team Says. Here's Why". The Modesto Bee. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  9. ^ Nobert, Matthew (August 28, 2024). "Modesto Nuts Gets Another Year of Play with City Council Decision". Fox 40. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  10. ^ "Mariners' Single-A affiliate takes home second straight Cal League title". MLB. September 18, 2024. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  11. ^ Jude, Adam (December 12, 2024). "Mariners announce sale of their Class A affiliate, the Modesto Nuts". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  12. ^ Brazil, Brodie (December 14, 2024). "The Modesto Nuts are LEAVING, following sale". YouTube. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
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