Fresno Grizzlies

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Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox Minor League Baseball

The Fresno Grizzlies are a Minor League Baseball team of the California League and the Single-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. They are located in Fresno, California, and play their home games at Chukchansi Park, which was opened in 2002 in downtown Fresno. They previously played at Fresno State's Pete Beiden Field from 1998 to 2001.

The Grizzlies were established in 1998 as members of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League (PCL). They won the PCL championship in 2015, making it the only league title in franchise history. Fresno was transferred to the Low-A West in 2021, but this was renamed the California League in 2022.

History

Prior professional baseball in Fresno

Professional baseball first came to Fresno in 1898 when it had a team in the original California League. The team dropped out of the league after that year but returned in 1905. In 1906, the Tacoma Tigers of the Pacific Coast League moved to Fresno, playing as the Fresno Raisin Eaters for one season before moving to Sacramento for the 1907 season. In the intervening years before the arrival of the Grizzlies, Fresno fielded teams in the California State League in 1910 and 1913, and in the current California League from 1941 through 1988, including the Fresno Cardinals (1941–1956), Fresno Sun Sox (1957), Fresno Giants (1958–1987), and Fresno Suns (1988).

San Francisco Giants (1998–2014)

When Major League Baseball awarded an expansion team (the Arizona Diamondbacks) to Phoenix, Arizona, that would begin playing in 1998, the Phoenix Firebirds of the Pacific Coast League (the San Francisco Giants' Triple-A affiliate) were forced to move. The Firebirds moved to Tucson, Arizona and changed their name to the Tucson Sidewinders while changing their affiliation to the Diamondbacks. That prompted the Tucson Toros to move to Fresno, giving Fresno its first PCL team since 1906. The Toros were renamed the Grizzlies and became the Giants' new Triple-A affiliate.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

From 1998 through 2001, the Grizzlies played at Pete Beiden Field at California State University, Fresno, before moving to Chukchansi Park.

During the team's 11-year history in Fresno, it has had several different owners. In October 2005, the team was sold again, this time to Fresno Baseball Club LLC, headquartered in Delaware.

The team hosted such promotions as K-Fed Night and Second Chance Night in 2006; The Price Is Right Night in 2007; and Totally Rad 80s Night featuring The Karate Kid star Billy Zabka in May 2008.

Parker, the Grizzlies mascot, was named Best Mascot of 2007 by GameOps, beating out all other major and minor league mascots. The Grizzlies former mascot, Wild Thing, "retired" in 2006 after eight years as the team's mascot.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Chukchansi Park is also home to the Drag Kings, the Grizzlies' dancing grounds crew who were given an honorable mention by GameOps as Best Entertainment act. The Grizzlies won the Minor League Baseball Promotion of the Year award in 2008 for their "Mascot Showdown" featuring Parker and the Phillie Phanatic. The team's opening day catcher in 2010, Buster Posey, would be the San Francisco Giants' starting catcher for the World Series six months later (the Giants' starting catcher for most of their World Championship season, Bengie Molina, would start for their opponents, the Texas Rangers), resulting in his National League Rookie of the Year award that year.

Houston Astros (2015–2018)

In 2015, Fresno became an affiliate of the Houston Astros.<ref name=astros>Template:Cite news</ref> That season, they won the Triple-A Baseball National Championship Game by defeating the Columbus Clippers, 7–0, in El Paso, Texas.

Following the 2017 season, Grizzlies manager Tony DeFrancesco announced he would not return to the Houston Astros organization for the 2018 season. DeFrancesco led Fresno to a winning record in each of his three seasons at the helm, his clubs compiling a record of 234–194 (.547) from 2015 to 2017. The run marked the first time in franchise history (since 1998) the Grizzlies completed three consecutive winning seasons.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On January 19, 2018, Rodney Linares was named the 10th manager in Grizzlies history.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The team was sold to Fresno Sports and Events, a group led by Ray and Michael Baker, part owners of the Colorado Rockies and Grand Junction Rockies, and Jim Coufos, a prior investor in the High Desert Mavericks, in a transaction that was made official on February 27, 2018.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Astros declined to renew their player-development contract with Fresno beyond the 2018 season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=astros/>

Washington Nationals (2019–2020)

The team unveiled new logos, colors, and uniforms for the 2019 season. While retaining the Grizzlies name and grizzly bear imagery, the team switched to a red, black, beige, and brown color scheme with logos and uniforms that resemble the flag of California.<ref name="2019colors" />

Fresno also gained a new major league affiliate for 2019. The Grizzlies and Washington Nationals agreed to a player development contract for the 2019 and 2020 seasons.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The start of the 2020 season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic before being cancelled on June 30.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=2020can>Template:Cite news</ref> In conjunction with Major League Baseball's reorganization of the minors after the 2020 season, the Washington Nationals opted to discontinue their affiliation with the Grizzlies, leaving them in need of a new affiliate.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Colorado Rockies (2021–present)

In conjunction with Major League Baseball's restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Grizzlies were transferred to the Low-A West as the Low-A classification affiliate of the Colorado Rockies.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=JMayo2-12-2021>Template:Cite web</ref> They won the 2021 Northern Division title with a 74–41 record.<ref name=BR2021>Template:Cite web</ref> In the best-of-five league championship series, Fresno was defeated by the San Jose Giants, 3–0.<ref name=NTrujillo2021>Template:Cite news</ref> Zac Veen was selected as the league's Top MLB Prospect, and Robinson Cancel won its Manager of the Year Award.<ref name=2021awards>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name=CLrename>Template:Cite web</ref>

Season-by-season records

Table key
League The team's final position in the league standings
Division The team's final position in the divisional standings
GB Games behind the team that finished in first place in the division that season
Template:‡ Class champions (1998–2020)
Template:† League champions (1998–present)
§ Conference champions (1998–2020)
* Division champions (1998–present)
Season-by-season records
Season League Regular season Postseason MLB affiliate Template:Abbr
Record Win % League Division Template:Abbr Record Win % Result
1998
* 		PCL 81–62 .566 Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort 2–3 Template:Sort Won Pacific Conference Southern Division title
Lost Pacific Conference title vs. Calgary Cannons, 3–2<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 		San Francisco Giants <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1999 PCL 73–69 .514 Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort San Francisco Giants <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2000 PCL 57–84 .404 Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort San Francisco Giants <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2001 PCL 68–71 .489 Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort San Francisco Giants <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2002 PCL 57–87 .396 Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort San Francisco Giants <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2003 PCL 55–88 .385 Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort San Francisco Giants <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2004 PCL 62–82 .431 Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort San Francisco Giants <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2005 PCL 68–76 .472 Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort San Francisco Giants <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2006 PCL 61–83 .424 Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort San Francisco Giants <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2007 PCL 77–67 .535 Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort San Francisco Giants <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2008 PCL 67–76 .469 Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort San Francisco Giants <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2009 PCL 71–73 .493 Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort San Francisco Giants <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2010 PCL 75–69 .521 Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort San Francisco Giants <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2011 PCL 65–79 .451 Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort San Francisco Giants <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2012 PCL 74–70 .514 Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort San Francisco Giants <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2013 PCL 68–75 .476 Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort San Francisco Giants <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2014 PCL 68–76 .472 Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort San Francisco Giants <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2015
* § Template:† Template:‡ 		PCL 84–59 .587 Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort 7–3 Template:Sort Won Pacific Conference Northern Division title
Won Pacific Conference title vs. El Paso Chihuahuas, 3–1
Won PCL championship vs. Round Rock Express, 3–2
Won Triple-A championship vs. Columbus Clippers 		Houston Astros <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2016 PCL 73–70 .510 Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Houston Astros <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2017 PCL 77–65 .542 Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Houston Astros <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2018
* § 		PCL 82–57 .590 Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort 4–5 Template:Sort Won Pacific Conference Northern Division title
Won Pacific Conference title vs. El Paso Chihuahuas, 3–2
Lost PCL championship vs. Memphis Redbirds, 3–1 		Houston Astros <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2019 PCL 65–75 .464 Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Washington Nationals <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2020 PCL Season cancelled (COVID-19 pandemic)<ref name=2020can>Template:Cite news</ref> Washington Nationals <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2021
* 		A-W 74–41 .643 Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Lost Low-A West championship vs. San Jose Giants, 3–0.<ref name=NTrujillo2021/> Colorado Rockies <ref name=BR2021/>
2022
* 		CAL 83–49 .629 Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort 2–2 .500 Won North Division title
Won Cal League semifinals vs. San Jose Giants 2–0
Lost Cal League championship to Lake Elsinore Storm 0–2 		Colorado Rockies <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2023
* 		CAL 78–54 .591 Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Won North Division title Colorado Rockies <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2024 CAL 67-64 .511 4th 3rd 7 Template:Sort Template:Sort Template:Sort Colorado Rockies <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Totals — 1,763–1,757 Template:Winpct — — — 15–16 Template:Winpct — — —

The 2012 family film Parental Guidance features Billy Crystal as the radio voice of the Fresno Grizzlies. The Grizzlies gained national attention in summer 2015 for playing a game as The Fresno Tacos, which was done to celebrate the city of Fresno's annual Taco Truck Throwdown and came complete with a specially designed tacos uniform.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The main character of the 2023 sitcom Not Dead Yet, Nell Serrano, is a fan of the Fresno Grizzlies. The seventh episode of season one, Not Out of the Game Yet, involves her writing the obituary for the Grizzlies former color commentator.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Radio

All games are broadcast on the Fresno Grizzlies website, with Tim Slack starting as the play-by-play voice in 2025.

Roster

Template:Fresno Grizzlies roster

Notable alumni

Alex Bregman

References

Template:Reflist

Template:Colorado Rockies Template:California League Template:Diamond Baseball Holdings Template:San Joaquin Valley Sports Template:California sports

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