Editing Modesto Nuts

{{Infobox Minor League Baseball
|name            = Modesto Nuts
|founded         = 1946
|city            = Modesto, California
|misc            =
|logo            = Modesto Nuts logo.svg
|uniformlogo     = ModestoNutsCap.png
|class level     = [[Single-A]] (2021–present)
|past class level= {{plainlist|
*[[Class A-Advanced]] (1990–2020)
*[[Class A (baseball)|Class A]] (1963–1964, 1966–1989)
*[[Class C (baseball)|Class C]] (1946–1962)
}}
|current league  = [[California League]] (1946–1964, 1966–present)
|conference      = 
|division        = North Division
|past league     = 
|majorleague     = [[Seattle Mariners]] (2017–present)
|pastmajorleague = {{Plainlist|
*[[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)
}}
|nickname        = Modesto Nuts (2005–present)
|pastnames       = {{Plainlist|
*Modesto A's (1975–2004)
*Modesto Reds (1966–1974)
*Modesto Colts (1962–1964)
*Modesto Reds (1946–1961)
}}
|ballpark        = [[John Thurman Field]]
|pastparks       =
|mascots         = Al The Almond<br>Wally The Walnut<br>Shelley The Pistachio
|leaguenum       = 11
|leaguechamps    = {{hlist|1950|1954|1959|1966|1972|1982|1984|2004|2017|2023|2024}}
|divnum          = 5
|divisionchamps  = {{hlist|2004|2012|2017|2023|2024}}
|firsthalfnum    = 1
|firsthalfchamps = {{hlist|2024}}
|secondhalfnum   = 1
|secondhalfchamps= {{hlist|2023}}
|owner           = [[Diamond Baseball Holdings]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 12, 2024 |title=Modesto Nuts Announce Sale to Diamond Baseball Holdings |url=https://www.milb.com/modesto/news/modesto-nuts-announce-sale-to-diamond-baseball-holdings |access-date=December 14, 2024 |publisher=Minor League Baseball}}</ref> 
|gm              = 
|manager         = Luis Caballero
|website         = {{URL|https://www.milb.com/modesto|milb.com/modesto}}
}}

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 [[nut (fruit)|nuts]] grown in the [[Central Valley (California)|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).

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==
{{More citations needed|section|date=May 2025}}
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 (baseball coach)|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.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Nuts to host All-Star Game in 2011 |date=January 8, 2011 |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-7892220 |website=MiLB.com}}</ref>

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]].

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.

{{As of|2011}}, 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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Divish |first=Ryan |author-link=Ryan Divish |date=September 20, 2016 |title=Mariners purchase Modesto Nuts of Class A Cal League, sign 4-year player development contract |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/the-mariners-purchase-modesto-nuts-of-the-class-a-cal-league-sign-four-year-player-development-contract/ |access-date=September 21, 2016 |work=Seattle Times}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cortez |first=Joe |date=September 16, 2017 |title=Modesto Nuts sweep way to California League pennant |url=http://www.modbee.com/sports/other-sports/modesto-nuts/article173695661.html |access-date=October 4, 2017 |work=Modesto Bee}}</ref> 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.<ref name="JMayo2-12-2021">{{Cite web |last=Mayo |first=Jonathan |date=February 12, 2021 |title=MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/new-minor-league-baseball-structure |access-date=February 12, 2021 |website=Major League Baseball}}</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">{{Cite web |date=March 16, 2022 |title=Historical League Names to Return in 2022 |url=https://www.milb.com/news/minor-league-baseball-historical-league-names-to-return-in-2022 |access-date=March 16, 2022 |website=Minor League Baseball}}</ref> In 2023, Modesto won the California League championship.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rodgers |first=Del |date=2023-09-20 |title=Modesto Nuts win California League Championship |url=https://www.kcra.com/article/modesto-nuts-win-california-league-championship/45231134 |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=KCRA |language=en}}</ref>

After the city and the [[Seattle Mariners]] 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Valine |first=Kevin |date=July 10, 2024 |title=Nuts Are Playing Their Last Baseball Season in Modesto, Team Says. Here's Why |url=https://www.modbee.com/news/local/article289927864.html |access-date=July 19, 2024 |website=The Modesto Bee}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nobert |first=Matthew |date=August 28, 2024 |title=Modesto Nuts Gets Another Year of Play with City Council Decision |url=https://fox40.com/news/local-news/modesto/modesto-nuts-gets-another-year-of-play-with-city-council-decision/ |access-date=August 29, 2024 |website=Fox 40}}</ref> A month after it was announced the Nuts would stay in Modesto for another year, they won their second straight California League title.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 18, 2024 |title=Mariners' Single-A affiliate takes home second straight Cal League title |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mariners-single-a-affiliate-wins-california-league-championship |access-date=December 7, 2024 |website=MLB}}</ref>

The team was sold to [[Diamond Baseball Holdings]] on December 12, 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jude |first=Adam |date=December 12, 2024 |title=Mariners announce sale of their Class A affiliate, the Modesto Nuts |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/mariners-announce-sale-of-their-class-a-affiliate-the-modesto-nuts/ |access-date=December 12, 2024 |work=[[The Seattle Times]]}}</ref> Diamond, the largest owner of MiLB teams, plans a "[[musical chairs]]" format in the aftermath of the purchase that will take effect in the 2026 season:
* The Nuts will move to [[San Bernardino, California|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, California|Rancho Cucamonga]] and assume the [[Rancho Cucamonga Quakes]] nickname, and will be affiliated with the [[Los Angeles Angels]] for the first time since 2010.
* The Quakes will move to [[Ontario, California|Ontario]] and a new 10,000-seat stadium being built there. The Dodgers' affiliate will get a new nickname, logo, and colors.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brazil |first=Brodie |date=December 14, 2024 |title=The Modesto Nuts are LEAVING, following sale |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbDzJ9BCEqQ |access-date=December 15, 2024 |website=YouTube}}</ref>

==Mascots==

The Modesto Nuts have three mascots: Al the Almond, Wally the Walnut, and Shelley the Pistachio.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mascot Appearances |url=https://www.milb.com/modesto/community/appearances |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=MiLB.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Caputo |first=Paul |date=2014-04-12 |title=The Story Behind the Modesto Nuts: Now with More Nuts! |url=https://news.sportslogos.net/2014/04/12/the-story-behind-the-modesto-nuts-now-with-more-nuts/baseball/ |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=SportsLogos.Net News}}</ref>

==Roster==
{{Modesto Nuts roster}}

==Notable alumni==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

[[Baseball Hall of Fame]] alumni
* [[Sparky Anderson]] (1967, MGR) Inducted, 2000
* [[Rollie Fingers]] (1966) Inducted, 1992
* [[Rickey Henderson]] (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]] (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 (baseball)|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]] (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]] (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]] (1966) 3 x MLB All-Star
* [[Dick Stuart]] (1951) MLB All-Star
* [[Nick Swisher]] (2003) MLB All-Star
* [[Kevin Tapani]] (1986–1987)
* [[Miguel Tejada]] (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)
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|https://www.milb.com/modesto}}
* [https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?city=Modesto&state=CA&country=US Statistics from Baseball-Reference]

{{Seattle Mariners}}
{{California League}}
{{San Joaquin Valley Sports}}
{{California sports}}
{{Diamond Baseball Holdings}}

[[Category:Professional baseball teams in California]]
[[Category:Modesto Nuts players| 01]]
[[Category:California League teams]]
[[Category:Sports in Modesto, California]]
[[Category:Baseball teams established in 1946]]
[[Category:1946 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Seattle Mariners minor league affiliates]]
[[Category:Colorado Rockies minor league affiliates]]
[[Category:Oakland Athletics minor league affiliates]]
[[Category:St. Louis Cardinals minor league affiliates]]
[[Category:Kansas City Athletics minor league affiliates]]
[[Category:Houston Astros minor league affiliates]]
[[Category:New York Yankees minor league affiliates]]
[[Category:Milwaukee Braves minor league affiliates]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Pirates minor league affiliates]]
[[Category:St. Louis Browns minor league affiliates]]