Team logo Cap insignia Division North Division | Current Class A – Advanced | |
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Meet the modesto nuts baseball team
The Modesto Nuts are a minor league baseball team in Modesto, California, United States. They are a Class A – Advanced team in the California League and a farm team of the Seattle Mariners. The Modesto Nuts play home games at John Thurman Field. Opened in 1955 and renovated in 1997, the park seats over 5,000 fans (including standing room only). In March 2007, the City of Modesto installed a new video scoreboard and made improvements to the infield playing surface.
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). The new name was chosen to reflect the several types of nuts that are grown in the region.
In 2012 Greg Young was replaced by Alex Margulies who now does play-by-play for all home and away games, and Modesto Bee sports writer Brian VanderBeek does color commentary in the middle innings of most home games. The play-by-play position was formerly held by Joshua Suchon, who now works for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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.
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."
The Modesto Nuts have three mascots: Al the Almond, Wally the Walnut and Shelley the Pistachio. These mascots make their presence seen not only at the park cheering on the Nuts, but in the community of Modesto as well.
On June 21, 2011, the Modesto Nuts hosted the 2011 California/Carolina All Star Smash.
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.