The Nutshell: Chasing Greatness with Dennis Pelfrey

Stitched on Dennis Pelfrey’s jersey is “12,” a number that’s followed him everywhere.

The number has stayed with Pelfrey nearly every season he has managed a club. As he embarks on his fourth season with the Flying Squirrels, 12 means more than just an identifier.

Pelfrey needs 12 victories to match the all-time Flying Squirrels win record. Dave Machemer currently holds the record with 216 wins across three seasons from 2011 through 2013. Given the significance of the 40^th anniversary and final season of The Diamond, Pelfrey feels the wins record is the start of a historic year.

“It’s awesome, it really is,” Pelfrey said. “At the end of the day, that’s really not what I’m after. The goal for me is to bring a championship (to Richmond) and it would be really special for the last year of The Diamond to do that. I’m going to be extra motivated to make that happen.”

Pelfrey will become the longest-tenured manager in the history of the franchise. He is also the only Flying Squirrels manager to lead the club to back-to-back postseason appearances.

His first season with the Flying Squirrels was in 2022. He guided the team to their first postseason appearance in eight years. In 2023, he pushed the Flying Squirrels back into the postseason with the second-best regular-season record in franchise history.

Every victory has been special since Pelfrey’s first day in Richmond.

“Me being back in Richmond for the fourth year, I’m excited about that,” Pelfrey said. “I love that place. I’ve said it numerous times, but it is the best place I’ve ever been as a player or coach.”

Winning at The Diamond has fueled his own ambitions and its followed Pelfrey beyond the city limits. He managed the Scottsdale Scorpions of the Arizona Fall League this past offseason and fittingly guided them to the postseason.

The Scorpions began the season 5-12 but steamrolled through the second half, winning 11 of the last 13 regular-season games. A victory on the last day of the season pushed Scottsdale into the playoffs.

Teams in the Arizona Fall League build their rosters through multiple Major League clubs. Pelfrey’s Scorpions comprised of prospects from the Giants, Detroit Tigers, New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates and Toronto Blue Jays. The team objective remained the same despite multiple organizations in the clubhouse.

“I treated it the same way that I do the Richmond Flying Squirrels or wherever I am at,” Pelfrey said. “I think the idea is the same for the players, to become the best that you can become and try to win games while we’re doing that. Try to blend that player development with winning. I think that turned out really well. It was an absolute blast, and I had a great time doing it. I would love to do it again.”

Communication with other player development departments over the fall season intrigued Pelfrey. It created a new way of managing by following the players’ respective plans with their organizations but also the freedom to coach how Pelfrey thought best.

2025 will be the fifth season Pelfrey has managed in the Giants organization. He led the Eugene Emeralds to a High-A West championship in his first season in 2021.

His first opportunity as a manager was with the Florence Freedom of the independent Frontier League in 2015. Pelfrey stayed in the same role with Florence through 2019.

Just like number 12, postseason baseball has followed Pelfrey wherever his feet are. Out of nine total seasons managing in independent or affiliated baseball, he has appeared in the postseason six times.

The 2025 Flying Squirrels season will certainly bring a ton of memories and reflections of baseball past. Pelfrey looks to cap those memories with some gold.

“I’ve been to some places where we’ve had really good crowds, but I love the fact that our fans are in the game,” Pelfrey said. “I say it all the time to the guys, if we hit a triple in the first inning, the place erupts, and I have to get in the guy’s ear at third base so he can hear what I’m saying. It’s so loud. It helps me and it helps the players want to prepare and put on the best performance we can every night.”

Favorite sports venue? – The Diamond, no doubt

Do you have a pet? – A Maine Coon Cat named Maverick (my wife has turned me into a cat person)

What’s your spirit animal? – Werewolf named Lambeau, after Lambeau Field representing fortitude

What is your favorite off-the-field activity? – Movies at the theater, no question!

What’s your hottest take? – Pumped for Christian Koss making the Opening Day roster with the Giants

Most inspirational person in your life? – My wife, Giovanni Pelfrey. Through this crazy journey in baseball, she has been the rock and has raised our 9-year-old son Jackson to be a fantastic kid!