Modesto Nuts

Modesto Nuts
Founded in 1946 Modesto, California
Team logo Cap insignia
Minor league affiliations
Class	Single-A (2022–present)
Previous classes	Low-A (2021) Class A-Advanced (1990–2020) Class A (1963–1964, 1966–1989) Class C (1946–1962)
League	California League (2022–present)
Division	North Division
Previous leagues	Low-A West (2021) California League (1946–1964, 1966–2020)
Major league affiliations
Team	Seattle Mariners (2017–present)
Previous teams	Colorado Rockies (2005–2016) Oakland Athletics (1975–2004) St. Louis Cardinals (1967–1974) Kansas City Athletics (1966) Houston Colt .45s (1962–1964) New York Yankees (1954–1961) Milwaukee Braves (1953) Pittsburgh Pirates (1949–1952) St. Louis Browns (1948) Independent (1946–1947)
Minor league titles
League titles (10)	1950 1954 1959 1966 1972 1982 1984 2004 2017 2023
Division titles (4)	2004 2012 2017 2023
Second-half titles (1)	2023
Team data
Name	Modesto Nuts (2005–present)
Previous names	Modesto A's (1975–2004) Modesto Reds (1966–1974) Modesto Colts (1962–1964) Modesto Reds (1946–1961)
Mascots	Al The Almond Wally The Walnut Shelley The Pistachio
Ballpark	John Thurman Field
Owner(s)/ Operator(s)	Seattle Mariners
General manager	N/A
Manager	Zach Vincej

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).

History

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. As of 2012, the club is managed by Lenn Sakata, who replaced the winningest coach in Modesto Nuts history, Jerry Weinstein, who was promoted to the Colorado Rockies at the conclusion of the 2011 season.^[1]

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 has been doing play-by-play since 2014. 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]

Mascots

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

Roster

Modesto Nuts roster

• v
• t
• e

Players				Coaches/Other
Pitchers 90 Tyler Cleveland 31 Elijah Dale 30 Ernie Day  3 German Fajardo 19 Jose Geraldo 12 Tyler Gough  8 Brody Hopkins 37 Ashton Izzi 38 Pedro Da Costa Lemos -- Michael Limoncelli ~ 20 Jacob McNairy -- Jean Munoz 23 Brayan Perez 17 Will Schomberg 33 Gabriel Sosa 22 Yeury Tatiz 43 Anthony Tomczak 21 Jesse Wainscott 53 Jack White 36 C.J. Widger		Catchers 45 Connor Charping 16 Jacob Sharp Infielders 14 Michael Arroyo  6 Caleb Cali  4 Colt Emerson  9 Charlie Pagliarini  7 Tai Peete  5 Milkar Perez 10 Luis Suisbel Outfielders 15 Jonny Farmelo 25 Carson Jones 44 Lázaro Montes 13 Aidan Smith		Manager 18 Zach Vincej Coaches 48 Jordan Cowan (hitting) 32 Hecmart Nieves (bench) 41 Jake Witt (pitching) 60-day injured list -- Riley Davis 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 April 8, 2024 Transactions → More rosters: MiLB • California League → Seattle Mariners minor league players

Notable alumni

References

External links

• Official website
• Statistics from Baseball-Reference

This page was last edited on 23 January 2024, at 19:33