Get to know the teams in the Low-A West
MiLB.com introduces the 11 leagues created by the restructuring of Minor League Baseball across four levels of play. Below is a team-by-team look at the Low-A West, including affiliation, previous circuit and most recent championship. (Note: "Established" refers to the first year of a team's continuous operation in that market
MiLB.com introduces the 11 leagues created by the restructuring of Minor League Baseball across four levels of play. Below is a team-by-team look at the Low-A West, including affiliation, previous circuit and most recent championship. (Note: "Established" refers to the first year of a team's continuous operation in that market regardless of league or level.) Learn about other leagues here: Triple-A East, Triple-A West, Double-A Northeast, Double-A Central, Double-A South, High-A East, High-A Central, High-A West, Low-A East, Low-A Southeast.
Like their Low-A Southeast counterparts in Florida, the eight teams in the Low-A West won't have to cross state lines during road trips as each resides in California with clubs broken up geographically between North and South Divisions -- following the footprint of the former Cal League. Appropriately enough, seven of the teams were previously members of that venerable Class A Advanced circuit. The new kid on the block? The Fresno Grizzlies, longtime denizens of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League and the only team in the Low-A West welcoming a new parent club this season.
One reason parent-affiliate relationships are standing the test of time here is no doubt proximity, as half the teams are located less than 75 miles from their MLB partner.
There's also no lack of old-time charm in the Low-A West as well with two venues making the list of longest-running in the Minor Leagues (San Jose and Visalia) and another (Modesto) barely missing the cut.
North Division
FRESNO GRIZZLIES
Affiliate: Colorado Rockies (since 2021)
Location: Fresno, California (1,359 miles to Coors Field)
Ballpark: Chukchansi Park (opened May 1, 2002)
Established: 1998 (previous Fresno clubs date back to 1898)
Previous league: Triple-A Pacific Coast League
Last championship: 2015
Did you know? During its championship run in 2015, Fresno became the first Minor League team to adopt a regionally specific food-based identity -- the Fresno Tacos.
MODESTO NUTS
Affiliate: Seattle Mariners (since 2017)
Location: Modesto, California (828 miles from T-Mobile Park)
Ballpark: John Thurman Field (opened April 15, 1955)
Established: 1946 (as the Reds; previous Modesto clubs date back to 1914)
Previous league: Class A Advanced California League
Last championship: 2015
Did you know? Modesto partnered with seven different parent clubs between 1948-67, including the St. Louis Browns, New York Yankees, Houston Colt .45s and Kansas City Athletics. The Mariners purchased the Nuts following the 2016 season.
SAN JOSE GIANTS
Affiliate: San Francisco Giants (since 1988)
Location: San Jose, California (52 miles from Oracle Park)
Ballpark: Excite Ballpark (opened March 8, 1942)
Established: 1947 (as the Red Sox; previous San Jose clubs date back to 1885)
Previous league: Class A Advanced California League
Last championship: 2010
Did you know? Excite Ballpark, formerly San Jose Municipal Stadium, was built by the Works Progress Administration for $80,000.
STOCKTON PORTS
Affiliate: Oakland A’s (since 2005)
Location: Stockton, California (66 miles from Oakland Coliseum)
Ballpark: Banner Island Ballpark (opened April 28, 2005)
Established: 1946 (previous Stockton clubs date back to 1886)
Previous league: Class A Advanced California League
Last championship: 2008
Did you know? Hall of Fame executive Pat Gillick went 9-5 with a 3.78 ERA for the Ports in 1959.
South Division
INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS
Affiliate: Los Angeles Angels (since 2011)
Location: San Bernardino, California (47 miles from Angel Stadium)
Ballpark: San Manuel Stadium (opened Aug. 26, 1996)
Established: 1993 (as the San Bernardino Spirit; previous San Bernardino clubs date back to 1899)
Previous league: Class A Advanced California League
Last championship: 2013
Did you know? The 66ers are one of five Minor League teams owned by Elmore Sports Group. The others are the Lynchburg Hillcats, Eugene Emeralds, Amarillo Sod Poodles and San Antonio Missions. In addition, Elmore owns the Idaho Falls Chukars and Rocky Mountain Vibes of the partner Pioneer League.
LAKE ELSINORE STORM
Affiliate: San Diego Padres (since 2001)
Location: Lake Elsinore, California (74 miles from Petco Park)
Ballpark: The Diamond (opened April 15, 1994)
Established: 1994
Previous league: Class A Advanced California League
Last championship: 2010
Did you know? On Aug. 14, 2019, the Storm were trailing the JetHawks, 13-3, with two outs in the ninth inning. They rallied to tie the game and won, 14-13, in the 10th. The Storm also made history against the JetHawks with a 30-0 rout 12 years earlier (May 18, 2007).
RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES
Affiliate: Los Angeles Dodgers (since 2011)
Location: Rancho Cucamonga, California (48 miles to Dodger Stadium)
Ballpark: LoanMart Field (opened April 3, 1993)
Established: 1987 (as the San Bernardino Spirit; previous San Bernardino date back to 1889)
Previous league: Class A Advanced California League
Last championship: 2018
Did you know? Though it’s used Rancho Cucamonga as its city name since 1993, the franchise traces its roots back to the 1966 Lodi Crushers.
VISALIA RAWHIDE
Affiliate: Arizona Diamondbacks (since 2007)
Location: Visalia, California (559 miles to Chase Field)
Ballpark: Valley Strong Ballpark (opened in April 1946)
Established: 1946 (as the Visalia Cubs; previous Visalia clubs date back to 1910)
Previous league: Class A Advanced California League
Last championship: 2019
Did you know? Prior to 2019, the Rawhide hadn’t won the Cal League crown since 1978, and that drought often was blamed on the "curse of the alligator." Joe Charboneau, a member of the 1978 squad, kept an alligator named Chopper in his bathtub. When his pet met an untimely demise, his ghost was said to have put a hex on the franchise that lasted more than 40 years.
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