The Modesto Nuts are a

Minor League Baseball Minor League Baseball (MiLB) is a professional baseball organization below Major League Baseball (MLB), constituted of teams affiliated with MLB clubs. It was founded on September 5, 1901, in response to the growing dominance of the National Le ...

team of the

California League The California League is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in California. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 until its demotion to Single-A following Major Leagu ...

and the

Single-A Single-A, formerly known as Class A and sometimes as Low-A, is the fourth-highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States, below Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A, Double-A (baseball), Double-A, and High-A. There are 30 teams cl ...

affiliate of the

Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. The Mariners compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West Division. The team joined the American ...

. They are located in

Modesto, California Modesto ( ; ) is the county seat and largest city of Stanislaus County, California, United States. With a population of 218,069 according to 2022 United States Census Bureau, U.S. Census Bureau estimates, it is the List of cities and towns in Ca ...

, 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 The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...

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 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. After the 2024 season, the Mariners sold the team to Diamond Baseball Holdings, who immediately announced that the 2025 season would be the last in Modesto. 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

On June 2, 2006, manager Chad Kreuter resigned to become the head baseball coach of the

University of Southern California The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in ...

. 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. 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 The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...

. On September 1, 2012, first basemen Jared Clark hit his 24th home run of the season against the San Jose Giants, making him the 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. , the Nuts 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 continued to manage the team's day-to-day operations. 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. This was the Nuts' ninth league title and the first as part of the Mariners organization. In conjunction with

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

'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 Single-A, formerly known as Class A and sometimes as Low-A, is the fourth-highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States, below Triple-A, Double-A, and High-A. There are 30 teams classified at the Single-A level, one for ...

classification. 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

circuit. In 2023, Modesto won the California League championship. After the city and the

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. 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 had be reached by April 1, 2025, or the team could leave following the season. A month after it was announced the Nuts would stay in Modesto for another year, they won their second straight California League title. The team was sold to Diamond Baseball Holdings on December 12, 2024. Diamond, the largest owner of MiLB teams, plans a "

musical chairs Musical chairs, also known as Trip to Jerusalem, is a game of elimination involving players, chairs, and music. It is a staple of many parties worldwide. Gameplay A set of chairs is arranged in a circle with one fewer chair than the numbe ...

" format in the aftermath of the purchase that will take effect in the 2026 season: * The Nuts will move to San Bernardino and assume the Inland Empire 66ers nickname, but keep the Mariners' affiliation, reuniting the two for the first time since 2006. * The 66ers will relocate to Rancho Cucamonga and assume the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes nickname, and will be affiliated with the

Los Angeles Angels The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, ...

for the first time since 2010. * The Quakes will move to

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

and a new 10,000-seat stadium being built there. The Dodgers' affiliate will get a new nickname, logo, and colors.

Mascots

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

Roster

Notable alumni

Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by a private foundation. It serves as the central collection and gathering space for the history of baseball in the United S ...

alumni * Sparky Anderson (1967, MGR) Inducted, 2000 * Rollie Fingers (1966) Inducted, 1992 *

Rickey Henderson Rickey Nelson Henley Henderson (December 25, 1958 – December 20, 2024), nicknamed "Man of Steal", was an American professional baseball left fielder who played 25 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for nine teams from 1979 to 2003, inc ...

(1977) Inducted, 2009 * Reggie Jackson (1966) Inducted, 1993 * Tony LaRussa (1966) Inducted, 2014 * Joe Morgan (1963) Inducted, 1990 * Ted Simmons (1968) Inducted, 2020 Notable alumni * Nolan Arenado (2011) 6 x MLB All-Star * Tony Batista (1994) 2 x MLB All-Star * Charlie Blackmon (2009, 2016) 2 x MLB All-Star; 2017 NL Batting Title *

Mike Bordick Michael Todd Bordick (born July 21, 1965) is an American retired professional baseball shortstop. He played in Major League Baseball from 1990 to 2003 with four teams: the Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, and Toronto Blue Jays ...

(1987, 1995) MLB All-Star * Tom Burgmeier (1962–1963) * Pedro Borbon (1968) * Jose Canseco (1984) 6 x MLB All-Star; 1986 AL Rookie of the Year; 1988 AL Most Valuable Player * Ron Coomer (1988) MLB All-Star * José Cruz (1968) 2 x MLB All-Star * Nelson Cruz (2004) 5 x MLB All-Star * John Denny (1972) 1976 NL ERA Leader; 1983 NL Cy Young Award * Corey Dickerson (2012, 2015) MLB All-Star * Dave Duncan (1966) MLB All-Star * Jermaine Dye (2002) MLB All-Star; 2005 World Series Most Valuable Player * Andre Ethier (2004) 2 x MLB All-Star * Dexter Fowler (2007) MLB All-Star * Bob Forsch (1969–1970) * Mike Gallego (1981, 1985) * Jason Giambi (1993) 5 x MLB All-Star; 2000 AL Most Valuable Player * Kevin Gregg (1998) * Ben Grieve (1995–1996) MLB All-Star; 1998 Rookie of the Year * Von Hayes (2004, MGR) MLB All-Star * Jay Howell (1986) 3 x MLB All-Star * Rick Honeycutt (1991) 2 x MLB All-Star; 1983 AL ERA Leader * Al Hrabosky (1969) * Hisashi Iwakuma (2017) MLB All-Star *

Matt Keough Matthew Lon Keough ( ; July 3, 1955 – May 1, 2020) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a right-handed pitcher from through for the Oakland Athletics (1977–1983), New York Yankees (1983� ...

(1975) MLB All-Star * Darren Lewis (1989) * Ryan Ludwick (2000) MLB All-Star * Bake McBride (1970–1971) MLB All-Star; 1974 NL Rookie of the Year *

Mark McGwire Mark David McGwire (born October 1, 1963), nicknamed "Big Mac", is an American former professional baseball first baseman who played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1986 to 2001 for the Oakland Athletics and the St. Louis Card ...

(1984–1985) 12 x MLB All-Star; 1987 Rookie of the Year * Willie Montanez (1968) MLB All-Star * Dwayne Murphy (1975, 1986) * Miguel Olivo (2000) *

Joe Rudi Joseph Oden Rudi (born September 7, 1946) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a left fielder between and , most prominently as an integral member of the Oakland Athletics dynasty that won th ...

(1966) 3 x MLB All-Star * Dick Stuart (1951) MLB All-Star * Nick Swisher (2003) MLB All-Star * Kevin Tapani (1986–1987) *

Miguel Tejada Miguel Odalis Tejada ( Tejeda; born May 25, 1974) is a Dominican former professional baseball shortstop who played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for six teams, most notably the Oakland Athletics and Baltimore Orioles, before ...

(1996) 6 x MLB All-Star; 2002 AL Most Valuable Player * Mickey Tettleton (1981–1983, 1985–1987) 2 x MLB All-Star * Troy Tulowitzki (2005, 2008) 5 x MLB All-Star * Lee Walls (1951) MLB All-Star * Walt Weiss (1985, 1989) MLB All-Star; 1988 AL Rookie of the Year * Brad Ziegler (2004)

References

External links