Thunder Cares Presents ‘Give Thanks’ Food Drive

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

Storm Baseball’s official non-profit ‘Thunder Cares’ and in partnership with The Dream Center of Lake Elsinore is hosting a month-long food drive from November 1st – November 21st to supply food to Lake Elsinore families in need this holiday season.

Please stop by The Diamond Stadium, our front office will be open and available for deliveries from 10 AM-4 PM every weekday, excluding weekends.

The Lake Elsinore Storm is proud to support our community and different local organizations by providing donation items and fundraising support throughout the year. These donations are made possible through Thunder Cares.

Thunder Cares is a 501c3 non-profit that was established through an ongoing partnership with the Inland Empire Community Foundation. Proceeds raised through Thunder Cares benefit local charities, youth sports, military, first responders, and other local groups in need.

Ports to host FREE Play Ball Weekend Event on June 11

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

Stockton, Calif. – The Ports, in conjunction with Major League Baseball’s PLAY BALL Weekend, will host a free clinic at Banner Island Ballpark on Saturday, June 11th from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm. Kids who attend will be able to meet former Major League Baseball Players, participate in a Q&A session, and receive a Stickball Presentation featuring the former MLB players and current Ports players.

“We are honored to be able to host a Play Ball Weekend event at Banner Island Ballpark,” said Ports team president Pat Filippone. “We enjoy presenting the game of baseball to our area youth and are appreciative of the former MLB players and current Stockton Ports players that are assisting us with the event.”

Registration is free but must be made online in advance of the event. Registration is available now.

In addition to the event, the first 200 kids that arrive to Banner Island Ballpark will be given a Play Ball Weekend Bat and Ball Set branded with the Play Ball logo.

PLAY BALL Weekend is a Major League Baseball initiative to promote the games of baseball and softball to youth across the MLB and MiLB markets. Youth are encouraged to learn more about the games and will be provided opportunities to gain new skills in a fun environment.

Below is a helpful guide on how to register your participant for the Youth Baseball Clinic. If you have any issues, please feel free to contact the Ports front office at 209-644-1900 or email [email protected].

· Click the button to register

· Create a LeagueApps Account by providing the necessary information

· Once logged in, click the three bars at the top right

· Click “Events”

· Click “Register” next to “{PBW} Stockton Ports Takeover”

· Fill out the required information for registration

Thank you for your support of the Ports and we are looking forward to welcoming you out for the Ports Play Ball event on June 11!

CLICK HERE to register for this PLAY BALL Weekend clinic.

Standout Black Players in Quakes History

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are taking a look back at the best Black players to suit up for their club.

While some of these standout performers went on to long and illustrious Major League careers, others simply had great Minor League careers or, in some cases, just one incredible season that went down as “a year for the ages.”

Here is a look at four of the best Black baseball players ever to suit up for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.

Howie Kendrick

A fan-favorite in Rancho in 2005, Kendrick appeared in 63 games for the Quakes and then made his big-league debut the following year, cracking the Angels’ roster in 2006. Kendrick made multiple rehab appearances in Rancho while with the Angels, then returned to LoanMart Field as a Dodger, rehabbing again over four games in 2016, becoming one of only two Quakes (Adam Kennedy) to appear in a Rancho uniform for two different MLB organizations. The Jacksonville, Florida native played in more than 1600 games over a 15-year big-league career and was a career .294 hitter. He was named NLCS MVP in 2019 and later helped lead the Washington Nationals to their first championship, defeating the Houston Astros in the 2019 World Series.

Gary Matthews, Jr

A member of the Quakes in both 1996 and 1997 while coming up through the Padres’ organization, Matthews appeared in 192 total games with the Quakes. The son of former Major League slugger Gary Matthews, Sr., the San Francisco, California native debuted with the Padres in 1999 and wore the uniform of seven different major league teams, appearing in 1281 games. He was an American League All-Star in 2006 with the Rangers, before signing a free-agent contract and enjoying three years with the Angels here in southern California towards the back-end of his 12-year big-league career.

Derrek Lee

One of the most popular Quakes of all time, Lee totaled 274 games in a Rancho uniform over parts of three different seasons (1993-1995). In 2002, Lee appeared in a league-high 162 games, leading the Florida Marlins in home runs (27), while helping them to a World Series win over the New York Yankees. The two-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner went on to play for six major league teams over a 15-year career. The Sacramento, California native returned to Rancho Cucamonga to celebrate the Quakes’ 25 anniversary season in 2017, throwing out a ceremonial first pitch on Opening Night at LoanMart Field to kick off the year.

Chris Jacobs

The Quakes’ all-time franchise leader in home runs (56) and RBIs (183), Jacobs played for the Quakes over three seasons (2012-2014) and was a huge fan-favorite thanks to his ability to hit long and majestic home runs. “Big Jake” played ten seasons of minor league baseball for three different organizations, but none longer than the eight he played while a Los Angeles Dodgers farmhand. The Winston-Salem, North Carolina native’s franchise records still stand today, as he’s also among the Quakes’ top-five in games played (286) and hits (273).

The Nine: Top-5

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are taking a look back at five of the best Black players to suit up for their club.

While some of these standout performers went on to long and illustrious Major League careers, others simply had great Minor League careers or, in some cases, just one incredible season that went down as “a year for the ages.”

Here is a look at five of the best Black baseball players ever to suit up for the Sacramento River Cats.

Tyson Ross

Former Sacramento River Cats right-hander Tyson Ross has California in his blood. The Berkeley, California native was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the second round of the 2008 MLB Draft out of the University of California, Berkeley before becoming an All Star with the San Diego Padres in 2014.

Prior to his move south, Ross spent five years in the Oakland organization, three split between the A’s and Sacramento. In 30 games with the River Cats, Ross was 11-5 with a 4.30 ERA, 128 strikeouts, and a 1.48 WHIP.

He was traded to the Padres in 2012 in exchange for infielder Andy Parrino and left-hander Andrew Werner. Ross excelled with the Padres, posting a sub-3.30 ERA in each of his first three seasons in San Diego.

In 10 MLB seasons, Ross is 44-70 with a 4.04 ERA, 816 strikeouts, and a 1.36 WHIP in 904.2 innings, last pitching in the Majors in 2019 with Detroit.

Ross’ strongest impact now is off the field, inspiring young baseball players in the Bay Area. He is the founder of the Loyal To My Soil program, where he and his big leaguer peers gather to “educate, inspire, and coach the kids of our community to be great on and off the field.”

You can hear Ross talk about his MLB journey, his time in Sacramento, and Loyal To My Soil on episode eight of the River Cats Nine Lives Podcast.

Chris Carter (2012)
River Cats Media

Chris Carter

Former Sacramento first baseman/left fielder Chris Carter is one of the most powerful sluggers in the Oakland A’s era of River Cats history, with his 65 home runs still standing atop the team’s leader board.

He played 285 games for the River Cats from 2009-2012, finishing inside the franchise’s top-10 with 233 RBIs (third), 156 walks (tied for sixth), 68 doubles (seventh), and 202 runs (sixth).

After four years in the minors, Carter broke into the majors in 2010, bashing 158 home runs for four teams across eight MLB seasons. His best season was 2016 with Milwaukee, where he tied for the National League lead with 41 home runs, and also won the Brewers Good Guy Award.

The 2005 15th-round pick by the Chicago White Sox outperformed his draft slot with a prolific minor league career. The three-time top-100 prospect on Baseball America (2009-2011) earned seven Player of the Week awards, 14 All-Star nods (one with Sacramento in 2010), and played in the 2009 Futures Game.

Carter was originally acquired from Chicago by Arizona in 2007 for All-Star outfielder Carlos Quentin. He was quickly traded to Oakland alongside fellow former River Cats Carlos González, Brett Anderson, Aaron Cunningham, Greg Smith, and Dana Eveland for All-Star right-hander Dan Haren. He left the Oakland organization in Feb. of 2013 as part of the package for infielder Jed Lowrie.

Former River Cats infielder Jemile Weeks while with Sacramento.
River Cats Media

Jemile Weeks

Former Sacramento River Cats second baseman Jemile Weeks is one of the fastest players in River Cats history.

The speedy switch-hitter had a standout career at the University of Miami before going 12th overall to the Oakland A’s in the 2008 MLB Draft.

The professional game did not slow Weeks down.

After making the Futures Game in his first full professional season, Weeks impressed in the Arizona Fall League, being named a Player of the Week and Rising Star while earning a spot on the All-Prospect Team.

He arrived in Sacramento in 2011, posting a .417 on-base percentage through his first 45 Triple-A games.

Weeks turned that hot start into an MLB debut, where he had an impressive June, winning American League Rookie of the Month.

He played parts of six MLB seasons with Oakland, Baltimore, Boston, and San Diego, hitting .254 with 121 runs, 45 doubles, 18 triples, 62 RBIs, and 41 stolen bases in 260 games.

In 185 games for Sacramento from 2011-2013, Weeks hit .287 with 131 runs, 29 doubles, seven home runs, 72 RBIs, 28 stolen bases, and is tied for third all time in team history with 14 triples.

Weeks continues to make an impact off the field as the executive director for the nonprofit organization WeFam United, Inc., located in Orlando, Florida. WeFam United aims to “change the narrative of our underserved youth.”

Listen to Weeks talk about WeFam United, his time in Sacramento, his MLB draft experience, and more on episode 13 of the River Cats Nine Lives Podcast.

Former Sacramento and Stanford outfielder Michael Taylor while with the River Cats.
River Cats Media

Michael Taylor

Former Sacramento River Cats outfielder Michael Taylor is one of the most successful hitters to don the RC logo.

Drafted out of Stanford University in the fifth round by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2007 MLB Draft, Taylor had a well-decorated MiLB career. His impressive production in the Philadelphia system led to his inclusion in the Phillies’ 2009 trade for Hall-of-Fame right-hander Roy Halladay.

Taylor was a five-time Player of the Week (one with Sacramento in 2012), two-time Mid-Season All-Star, a Post-Season All-Star, a Topps Double-A All-Star, and two-time Organization All-Star while with the River Cats in 2012 and 2013.

The 6’5 outfielder did everything for the River Cats during his five seasons in Sacramento.

He was the River Cats’ Most Improved Player in 2010, Defensive Player of the Year in 2011, and Most Exciting Player in 2013.

He still holds the title of River Cats’ all-time RBIs leader with 325 and also ranks second in games played (511), at-bats (1,900), runs (299), hits (521), doubles (112), walks (266), and steals (60).

Taylor played 37 games in the Majors for the Oakland A’s and Chicago White Sox, hitting his first MLB home run off left-hander Derek Holland on Sept. 20, 2011. He hit his 100th professional home run on April 10, 2014 at Las Vegas.

Former River Cats infielder/outfielder Eric Patterson
River Cats Media

Eric Patterson

Former Sacramento River Cats infielder/outfielder Eric Patterson is one of the best table-setters in franchise history.

The eighth round pick out of Georgia Institute of Technology by the Chicago Cubs in 2004 wracked up plenty of Minor League awards. The highlights include three Player of the Weeks, six Mid-Season All-Star nods, three Post-Season All-Star honors, a 2006 Futures Game selection, and a spot on the Arizona Fall League Rising Stars team.

Patterson broke out in 2009 with Sacramento, winning the River Cats’ MVP and Most Exciting Player awards, and leading the team with a .307 batting average. He currently ranks fourth all-time in River Cats history with 51 steals and is tied for fifth with 13 triples.

The speedster played parts of five seasons in the Majors, making his debut with the Cubs on Aug. 6, 2007. In 226 MLB games, Patterson hit .217, with 65 runs, 20 doubles, seven triples, 10 home runs, 50 RBIs, and 35 stolen bases.

He was acquired by Oakland on July 8, 2008 alongside then-catcher Josh Donaldson, right-hander Sean Gallagher, and outfielder Matt Murton for right-handers Chad Gaudin and Rich Harden. Patterson was the left fielder in former River Cats left-hander Dallas Braden’s 2010 Perfect Game for the Athletics.

The Nine: Eric Patterson

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are taking a look back at five of the best Black players to suit up for their club.

While some of these standout performers went on to long and illustrious Major League careers, others simply had great Minor League careers or, in some cases, just one incredible season that went down as “a year for the ages.”

Here is the final installment of five of the best Black baseball players ever to suit up for the Sacramento River Cats.

Former Sacramento River Cats infielder/outfielder Eric Patterson is one of the best table-setters in franchise history.

The eighth round pick out of Georgia Institute of Technology by the Chicago Cubs in 2004 wracked up plenty of Minor League awards. The highlights include three Player of the Weeks, six Mid-Season All-Star nods, three Post-Season All-Star honors, a 2006 Futures Game selection, and a spot on the Arizona Fall League Rising Stars team.

Patterson broke out in 2009 with Sacramento, winning the River Cats’ MVP and Most Exciting Player awards, and leading the team with a .307 batting average. He currently ranks fourth all-time in River Cats history with 51 steals and is tied for fifth with 13 triples.

The speedster played parts of five seasons in the Majors, making his debut with the Cubs on Aug. 6, 2007. In 226 MLB games, Patterson hit .217, with 65 runs, 20 doubles, seven triples, 10 home runs, 50 RBIs, and 35 stolen bases.

He was acquired by Oakland on July 8, 2008 alongside then-catcher Josh Donaldson, right-hander Sean Gallagher, and outfielder Matt Murton for right-handers Chad Gaudin and Rich Harden. Patterson was the left fielder in former River Cats left-hander Dallas Braden’s 2010 Perfect Game for the Athletics.

Top 5 Black Players in Fresno Grizzlies History

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are taking a look back at five of the best Black players to suit up for their club.

While some of these standout performers went on to long and illustrious Major League careers, others simply had great Minor League careers or, in some cases, just one incredible season that went down as “a year for the ages.”

Here is a look at five of the best Black baseball players ever to suit up for the Fresno Grizzlies:

Fred Lewis

Fred Lewis was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 2nd round of the 2002 draft out of HBCU Southern University and A&M College. Lewis dominated the lower levels of the Giants system before being called up to Fresno for a cup of coffee in 2004. After that quick stint, Lewis would make it back to the Grizzlies for the 2006 season. Over 120 games, Lewis batted .276 with an .828 OPS and at the time, a single-season, franchise-record 11 triples. His season was extended as he earned a September call-up to the Giants. In 2007, Lewis split time with Fresno and the Giants, appearing in a combined 100 games with a .290 batting average. Lewis’ last stint in Fresno came in 2010, playing in seven games. Lewis finished his career in 2015, but was known as a crowd favorite among both Grizzlies and Giants fans.

Tony Kemp

Tony Kemp was selected by the Houston Astros in the 5th round of the 2013 draft out of baseball powerhouse Vanderbilt University. Kemp vaulted through the lower levels of the Houston system before reaching Fresno during the middle of the 2015 season. For the next couple of years, Kemp would bounce between the Grizzlies and Astros. When he donned the F-slash, Kemp was unstoppable. Over four seasons (2015-18) with the Grizzlies, Kemp appeared in 296 games, slashing .312/.373/.425. He also ranks in the Top 10 of four different offensive categories for Grizzlies career records. He is first in triples (21), fourth in steals (67), eighth in runs (206) and 10th in hits (372). Despite multiple trades and teams, Kemp is still talked about as one of the biggest and kindest-hearted players to ever play for the Fresno Grizzlies.

Calvin Murray

Calvin Murray was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 1st round of the 1989 draft, but decided to not sign and take his talents to the University of Texas. Three years later, the San Francisco Giants drafted Murray with the 7th overall pick and he signed. Murray was a part of the first 1998 Fresno Grizzlies team after spending a couple of seasons with the Phoenix Firebirds. He would spend three seasons in Fresno (1998-99, 2001), with the major chunk of it coming in 1999. In that year, Murray would go on to win the PCL Most Valuable Player, one of only two Grizzlies to ever earn those honors. Murray played 130 games, racking up 183 hits, 297 total bases and scoring 122 runs. The latter three statistics are all single-season Grizzlies records. Murray also stole 42 bases and batted .334 (top 10 single-season marks). That season will go down as one of the best offensive displays in Grizzlies history, despite it being only the second year of the Grizzlies’ existence. Besides that, Murray is known as the batter facing Randy Johnson when Johnson hit a dove with a fastball in a spring training game in 2001 and is the uncle of NFL Quarterback Kyler Murray.

Emmanuel Burriss

Emmanuel Burriss was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 1st round of the 2006 draft out of Kent State University. Burriss spent his first couple of seasons at the Single-A Level before making the leap to Fresno in 2008. After two weeks-worth of games, Burriss had his contract selected by the Giants. For the next four years, Burriss would split time between the Central Valley and the Bay Area. He enjoyed a couple of bright spots over those four years, which included being San Francisco’s youngest Opening Day starting second baseman (2009) since Robbie Thompson back in 1986. In 2011, Burriss batted .297 over 45 games with the Grizzlies, stealing 24 bases and scoring 31 times. Most notably, he swiped a Grizzlies franchise-record four bags on April 8th against the Las Vegas 51s. Burriss finished his Fresno career playing 172 games over five seasons and became one of the best do-it-all players in Grizzlies history.

Jalal Leach

Jalal Leach was selected by the New York Yankees in the 7th round of the 1990 draft out of Pepperdine University. After playing for eight years and a trio of teams, Leach still hadn’t cracked the big leagues. At that point, he was offered a coaching position by Brian Sabean, despite still wanting to play. After some roster moves, Leach was activated as a player and would head to Fresno for the next four years, which included joining the 1998 Grizzlies club. Over those four seasons, Leach became one of the most lethal bats in the Pacific Coast League and Grizzlies history. He finished his Fresno career with four Top-10 franchise records, which included homers (8th, 52), triples (6th, 15), doubles (7th, 73) and RBI (7th, 216). The culmination of his determination and prowess at the plate earned him his long-awaited call-up to the Giants in 2001. Leach is the definition of Farm Grown in Fresno.

The Nine: Michael Taylor

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are taking a look back at five of the best Black players to suit up for their club.

While some of these standout performers went on to long and illustrious Major League careers, others simply had great Minor League careers or, in some cases, just one incredible season that went down as “a year for the ages.”

Here is the fourth installment of five of the best Black baseball players ever to suit up for the Sacramento River Cats.

Former Sacramento River Cats outfielder Michael Taylor is one of the most successful hitters to don the RC logo.

Drafted out of Stanford University in the fifth round by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2007 MLB Draft, Taylor had a well-decorated MiLB career. His impressive production in the Philadelphia system led to his inclusion in the Phillies’ 2009 trade for Hall-of-Fame right-hander Roy Halladay.

Taylor was a five-time Player of the Week (one with Sacramento in 2012), two-time Mid-Season All-Star, a Post-Season All-Star, a Topps Double-A All-Star, and two-time Organization All-Star while with the River Cats in 2012 and 2013.

The 6’5 outfielder did everything for the River Cats during his five seasons in Sacramento.

He was the River Cats’ Most Improved Player in 2010, Defensive Player of the Year in 2011, and Most Exciting Player in 2013.

He still holds the title of River Cats’ all-time RBIs leader with 325 and also ranks second in games played (511), at-bats (1,900), runs (299), hits (521), doubles (112), walks (266), and steals (60).

Taylor played 37 games in the Majors for the Oakland A’s and Chicago White Sox, hitting his first MLB home run off left-hander Derek Holland on Sept. 20, 2011. He hit his 100th professional home run on May 1, 2014 against Tacoma.

The Nine: Jemile Weeks

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are taking a look back at five of the best Black players to suit up for their club.

While some of these standout performers went on to long and illustrious Major League careers, others simply had great Minor League careers or, in some cases, just one incredible season that went down as “a year for the ages.”

Here is the third installment of five of the best Black baseball players ever to suit up for the Sacramento River Cats.

Former Sacramento River Cats second baseman Jemile Weeks is one of the fastest players in River Cats history.

The speedy switch-hitter had a standout career at the University of Miami before going 12th overall to the Oakland A’s in the 2008 MLB Draft.

The professional game did not slow Weeks down.

After making the Futures Game in his first full professional season, Weeks impressed in the Arizona Fall League, being named a Player of the Week and Rising Star while earning a spot on the All-Prospect Team.

He arrived in Sacramento in 2011, posting a .417 on-base percentage through his first 45 Triple-A games.

Weeks turned that hot start into an MLB debut, where he had an impressive June, winning American League Rookie of the Month.

He played parts of six MLB seasons with Oakland, Baltimore, Boston, and San Diego, hitting .254 with 121 runs, 45 doubles, 18 triples, 62 RBIs, and 41 stolen bases in 260 games.

In 185 games for Sacramento from 2011-2013, Weeks hit .287 with 131 runs, 29 doubles, seven home runs, 72 RBIs, 28 stolen bases, and is tied for third all time in team history with 14 triples.

Weeks continues to make an impact off the field as the executive director for the nonprofit organization WeFam United, Inc., located in Orlando, Florida. WeFam United aims to “change the narrative of our underserved youth.”

Listen to Weeks talk about WeFam United, his time in Sacramento, his MLB draft experience, and more on episode 13 of the River Cats Nine Lives Podcast.

River Cats add second job fair on Feb. 12

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

West Sacramento, Calif. — The Sacramento River Cats, Triple-A affiliate of the 2021 National League West champion San Francisco Giants, have added a second job fair for Saturday, Feb. 12, at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. The event will take place from 10 a.m. through 1 p.m. (PT) rain or shine.

After completing an online application at rivercats.com/employment, those interested in working for the River Cats and at Sutter Health Park for the upcoming 2022 season may attend this free event where hiring managers will conduct interviews.

Applicants must be at least 16 years of age (with a valid work permit) and at least 21 years old if the position serves alcohol. A condition of employment requires employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Available jobs are part-time seasonal positions in concessions, culinary, catering, promotions (Cat Crew), and game day staff (security, EMTs, and parking attendants).

Employees of the River Cats and Sutter Health Park receive job training, food discounts while at work, competitive wages, and tickets to River Cats games.

For questions and inquiries, please call (916) 376-4722. A representative from the River Cats’ front office will be available for comment at the event. For the best visuals, it is suggested arriving by 11 a.m. (PT).

Season ticket memberships and packages are available now by calling the River Cats ticket hotline at (916) 371-HITS (4487), emailing [email protected], or visiting rivercats.com.

Stockton Ports Announce 2022 Job Fair February 26

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

STOCKTON, Calif. –The Stockton Ports, in conjunction with Professional Sports Catering, are excited to announce the upcoming Ports Job Fair at Banner Island Ballpark on Saturday, February 26, 2022 from 9 AM – 12 PM. The Ports and Professional Sports Catering will be hiring for all positions and candidates that are interested in working for the Ports this season are highly encouraged to show up for the Ports Job Fair on Feb. 26.

The Stockton Ports and Professional Sports Catering are seeking people to fill a wide variety of roles for the 2022 season of Ports baseball. Positions include Box Office, Team Store, Press Box, Kids Zone, Food Service jobs, andmore that can be located in the Ports 2022 Job Fair application.

Open tryouts for Public Address, Master of Ceremonies, and National Anthem will be held on Saturday, March 5. Details of the event will be issued at a later time.

Job seekers are encouraged to fill out an application prior to the Job Fair, which can be found by clicking here, however, applications will be available at Banner Island Ballpark on the day of the Job Fair. The interview process should take less than 30 minutes and candidates should refrain from returning their application to Banner Island Ballpark prior to February 26.

As a member of the Ports staff, gameday employees will receive the following additional benefits:

  • Two complimentary Ports Tickets per month
  • Ports Merchandise Employee Discount
  • Ports End of the Season Staff Party

The ideal candidate must be trustworthy, outgoing, reliable, and enthusiastic. All applicants must be 16 years of age or older by April 8 in order to work for the Ports or Professional Sports Catering.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to [email protected] or call 209-644-1900.

The Ports encourage all candidates to show up to the Ports Job Fair on February 26 to be part of Ports game day crew!

River Cats holding national anthem auditions for 2022 season

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

West Sacramento, Calif. — Celebrate America’s pastime with your own rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner. The Sacramento River Cats, Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, are excited to open national anthem auditions at Sutter Health Park for the 2022 season.

The national anthem is open to all soloists, groups, and instrumentalists. Those interested in performing the national anthem at a 2022 River Cats game must submit an audition demo by Feb. 11. Demos received past this date will not be considered.

Audition Demo Guidelines:

  • A cappella version
  • The Star-Spangled Banner in full
  • Clear, consistent, and correct lyrical performance
  • Full performance must be under 90 seconds

Audition demos must be emailed as an mp3 file or YouTube link to [email protected] with the following information:

  • Subject: 2022 National Anthem Demo
  • Include: Name, Phone, and Email

Submissions that do not meet the above guidelines will not be considered for a call back.

The River Cats will invite the top-50 submissions to a live audition at Sutter Health Park. Due to the number of demos received, performers will only be contacted if selected. Selected parties will be contacted with further instructions by Monday, Feb. 14.

Top 5 Black Players in Visalia History

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are taking a look back at five of the best Black players to suit up for their club.

While some of these standout performers went on to long and illustrious Major League careers, others simply had great Minor League careers or, in some cases, just one incredible season that went down as “a year for the ages.”

Here is a look at five of the best Black baseball players ever to suit up for the Visalia Rawhide.

Kirby Puckett

Kirby Puckett was named California League Rookie of the Year in 1983, when he hit .309 with 172 hits, 97 RBI, and 48 stolen bases. He went on to win two World Championships with the Minnesota Twins. Puckett compiled a career batting average of .318 and was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001. His home run in Game 6 of the 1991 World Series remains an indelible moment from one of the most exciting series in baseball history. He was inducted into the Rawhide Hall of Fame in 2011 as a part of the inaugural class. Kirby Puckett’s number 28 is the only retired number in Visalia franchise history, other than Jackie Robinson’ number 42.

Napoleon “Nap” Gulley

Napoleon Gulley, affectionately known as “Nap,” was one of the first African-American players in the California League. He holds Visalia’s Franchise Record for most career hits with 507. He ranks among franchise leaders in career home runs and batted .307 over four seasons. Gulley never had the chance to play in Major League Baseball, but was a supremely talented outfielder who played for Jackie Robinson’s barnstorming teams and was a Negro League and Mexican League Star..

Dave Roberts

David “Dave” Roberts played for the 1996 Visalia Oaks in the Detroit organization. In 126 games, Roberts scored 112 runs, slashed .272 and led the minors 65 stolen bases. He went on to play in the Majors, becoming a World Series Champion in 2004 with the Boston Red Sox. Roberts became manager for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016. He led the Dodgers to the World Series in 2017, 2018, and 2020, winning it all in the latter year. In doing so, he became the first manager of Asian heritage and second Black manager to lead his team to a World Series title.

Justin Upton

The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Upton with the first overall pick in the 2005 MLB Draft. He began a stint with the Visalia Oaks in 2007, where he stole 9 bases and had an .341 on-base percentage before getting promoted to the Double-A Mobile Baybears. Upton has gone on to become a four-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger.

Vada Edward Pinson, Jr.

Vada Pinson, Jr .dominated the California League in 1957. He batted .367 with 209 hits, 40 doubles, 20 triples, 20 home runs, 165 runs scored, and 349 total bases while playing every game that season. He is highly regarded as a legend to all who saw him play at Recreation Ballpark. Pinson spent 18 seasons in the Major Leagues, primarily with the Cincinnati Reds, collecting over 2,700 career hits in the Majors. He remained close friends with Visalia’s Taylor Family (the founders and owners of the iconic Taylor’s Hot Dogs) until his death in 1995.

The Nine: Tyson Ross

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are taking a look back at five of the best Black players to suit up for their club.

While some of these standout performers went on to long and illustrious Major League careers, others simply had great Minor League careers or, in some cases, just one incredible season that went down as “a year for the ages.”

Here is the first installment of five of the best Black baseball players ever to suit up for the Sacramento River Cats.

Former Sacramento River Cats right-hander Tyson Ross has California in his blood. The Berkeley, California native was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the second round of the 2008 MLB Draft out of the University of California, Berkeley before becoming an All Star with the San Diego Padres in 2014.

Prior to his move south, Ross spent five years in the Oakland organization, three split between Oakland and Sacramento. In 30 games with the River Cats, Ross was 11-5 with a 4.30 ERA, 128 strikeouts, and a 1.48 WHIP.

He was traded to the Padres in 2012 in exchange for infielder Andy Parrino and left-hander Andrew Werner. Ross excelled with the Padres, posting a sub-3.30 ERA in each of his first three seasons in San Diego.

In 10 MLB seasons, Ross is 44-70 with a 4.04 ERA, 816 strikeouts, and a 1.36 WHIP in 904.2 innings, last pitching in the Majors in 2019 with Detroit.

Ross’ strongest impact now is off the field, inspiring young baseball players in the Bay Area. He is the founder of the Loyal To My Soil program, where he and his big leaguer peers gather to “educate, inspire, and coach the kids of our community to be great on and off the field.”

You can hear Ross talk about his MLB journey, his time in Sacramento, and Loyal To My Soil on episode eight of the River Cats Nine Lives Podcast.

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are taking a look back at five of the best Black players to suit up for their club.

While some of these standout performers went on to long and illustrious Major League careers, others simply had great Minor League careers or, in some cases, just one incredible season that went down as “a year for the ages.”

Here is a look at five of the best Black baseball players ever to suit up for the Modesto Nuts.

2B Joe Morgan (’63)

Hall-of-Famer Joe Morgan is a NorCal native that began his pro career in Modesto. Morgan went to Castlemont High School in Oakland. He played at Cal Sate – East Bay and Merritt College before he was signed. Over 45 games with Modesto in 1963, Morgan hit .263 while slugging .434. Morgan would reach the big leagues and make his debut later that season as a 19-year-old for the Houston Colt .45s.

Morgan would be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990. He was a two-time MVP, a two-time World Series champion, a ten-time all-star and a five-time Gold Glove winner.

OF Reggie Jackson (’66)

Hall-of-Famer Reggie Jackson spent 56 games in Modesto during his first season as a professional. The second overall pick in the 1966 draft went on to provide one of the most spectacular displays of power in franchise history. As a 20-year-old, Jackson smashed 21 home runs in just 56 games. It was a rate of one home run per 11.5 at-bats. The very next season, he made his Major League debut with the Kansas City A’s.

Jackson went on to become one of the greatest sluggers the game has ever seen. He crushed 563 career home runs. He was the 1973 MVP, a 14-time all-star, and a five-time World Champion.

Rickey Henderson (’77)

Hall-of-Famer Rickey Henderson was drafted in the 4th round of the 1976 draft out of Oakland Technical High School. The next year he made his full-season professional debut in Modesto. He put on a show for the California League. He hit .345 and stole 95 bases in 134 games. Just two years later he made his Major League debut at the age of 20 with the Oakland A’s.

Henderson was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2009. He set the Major League record for stolen bases with 1,406 during his career. He was a ten-time all-star and a two-time World Series Champion.

OF Kyle Lewis (’17-’18)

After being underrecruited out of high school, Lewis attended Mercer University where he electrified college baseball. In 2016, Lewis hit .395 and slugged .731 while crushing 20 home runs in 61 games. Lewis won the Golden Spikes Award that year which is awarded to college baseball’s top player each season.

Later during the 2016 season, Lewis suffered a devastating knee injury at the end of the minor league season that kept him out for an entire year. He would return from the knee injury in June of 2017 with the Modesto Nuts but reaggravated it after just two games. Lewis would return to Modesto again in July. He was able to stay healthy the rest of the year and was an integral part of the Nuts run to the 2017 California League Championship.

Lewis would return to Modesto in 2018 for 49 games where he hit .260 with five home runs. He made his Major League debut in 2019. In 2020, Lewis was named the A.L. Rookie of the Year after batting .262 with 11 home runs in 58 games during the pandemic shortened season for the Mariners.

RHP Reggie McClain (’17-’19)

Reggie McClain was selected in the 13th round of the 2016 draft out of the University of Missouri. The next season he joined Modesto and earn all-star honors after an electrifying first half. McClain spent the entire season pitching in the Nuts’ rotation on a team that won the First Half North Division Championship. That squad would later go to a perfect 6-0 run through the postseason on the way to their first California League Championship since 2004.

McClain returned to Modesto in 2018 but struggled to repeat the same success over 23 starts. Finally, during the winter of ’18-’19, McClain went to the Mariners “Gas Camp” where he added almost ten miles an hour to his fastball. McClain spent a third straight opening day with Modesto at the start of the 2019 season but this time he was working out of the bullpen throwing heat. He quickly zoomed through the Mariners MiLB system until he made his Major League debut on August 2nd, 2019.

Black History Month – San Jose Giants History

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

 

In celebration of Black History Month, throughout February, teams across Minor League Baseball are taking a look back at five of the best Black players to suit up for their club.

While some of these standout performers went on to long and illustrious Major League careers, others simply had great Minor League careers or, in some cases, just one incredible season that went down as “a year for the ages.” In no particular order, here is a look at five of the best Black baseball players to suit up for the San Jose Giants since our affiliation with the San Francisco Giants began in 1988:

ROYCE CLAYTON

Royce Clayton was drafted out of St. Bernard High School in Playa del Rey in the first round (15th pick overall) by the San Francisco Giants in 1988. He made his San Jose Giants debut in 1989 after being called up from the Clinton Giants. In his time in San Jose, Clayton batted .243 with 17 doubles, 10 triples and 75 RBI in 151 games.

He made his San Francisco Giants debut in 1991 and would go on to play for 10 other teams in his 16-year major league career. In 1997, as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals, he was selected to his first and only MLB All-Star game.

In 2011, Clayton portrayed Miguel Tejada in the film _Moneyball_, making him the first former big-league player to appear in an Oscar nominated Best Picture film. Clayton was the childhood favorite player of San Francisco Giant shortstop Brandon Crawford, and is currently the head varsity baseball coach at Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, CA.

THOMAS NEAL

Neal was drafted by San Francisco in the 36th round of the 2005 amateur draft, and signed with the Giants organization in 2006 out of Riverside Community College. After a slow start to his professional career, Neal found large success at the plate in his third year, and first full season in Augusta in 2008.

In 2009, Neal had one of the best seasons in San Jose Giants history, as he batted .337/.431/.579 with 22 home runs and 90 runs batted in. Neal was among the Cal League leaders in runs, hits, doubles, home runs, RBIs, and average. Baseball America ranked him as the best prospect in the Cal League, and as high as #9 in all of the minor leagues. He was also named to the Cal League All-Star team and helped lead San Jose to a league title.

Neal was ultimately traded to the now Cleveland Guardians in 2011, where he made his big-league debut in September of 2012. Neal retired from his playing career in 2015 and has since served as a minor-league hitting coach in the Giants organization.

FRED LEWIS

Fred Lewis was drafted out of Southern University and A&M College in the second round (66th overall) by the San Francisco Giants in 2002. Lewis made his San Jose Giants debut in 2004, and batted .301 with 20 doubles, 11 triples and 57 RBI in 115 games before being called up to AAA Fresno.

He later debuted for the San Francisco Giants on September 1st, 2006. In only his 16th appearance in the major leagues, Lewis hit for the cycle in Colorado on May 13, 2007. He was also the first player in San Francisco Giants history to hit two grand slams in a rookie season. Lewis eventually retired from Major League Baseball in 2012.

JEROME WILLIAMS

Jerome Williams was selected in the first round (39th overall) of the 1999 draft by the San Francisco Giants out of Waipahu (Hawaii) High School.

After spending the 1999 season in rookie ball, Williams came to San Jose in 2000 where he appeared in 23 games, posted a 7-6 record with a 2.94 ERA, and struck out 115 batters. His success in the minor leagues came with a Futures Game Invite during the 2001 season.

Williams made Giants’ history when he made his Major League Debut on April 26, 2003, becoming the first Hawaiian-born player in organizational history (including New York) to appear in a Giants’ uniform. He would eventually receive the same honor when he took the field as a Washington National in 2007. Williams retired from Major League Baseball in 2016, and his accomplishments were later celebrated in San Jose with his own bobblehead.

DARREN FORD

Ford, drafted in the 18th round of the 2004 draft, began his Giants career in 2008 when he was traded by the Milwaukee Brewers. He would spend the remainder of this season in San Jose, finishing the year with 62 total stolen bases. The 48 bases he stole prior to his arrival in San Jose was good for second in the entire Florida State league, despite only playing 91 games in that league.

Ford returned to San Jose in 2009 where his success on the base baths continued while enjoying one of his best career years at the plate. Ford batted .300 with 50 RBIs and added 35 stolen bases, fourth overall in the Cal League. Alongside an impressive San Jose team featuring the likes of Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford, Madison Bumgarner and Thomas Neal, Ford and his teammates brought home the 2009 California League Championship.

Ford was eventually called up to make his big-league debut with San Francisco Giants, appearing in seven games in 2010 and 26 games in 2011, before jumping between the Mariners, Pirates, and back to the Giants from 2012-2016.