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.
Maier’s Seven Strong Innings Buoy Emperors in Game Three
ROME, Ga – For the second time in his last three starts, Adam Maier recorded 21 outs while allowing two or fewer runs in Rome’s 7-2 win over the Greenville Drive. It was a turbulent takeoff for Maier who saw the leadoff batter reach base in each of the first
Emperors Shutout for League-High Sixth Time Wednesday
ROME, Ga – With over 3,400 in attendance Wednesday, the now-second-place Emperors failed to produce a run against a trio of Greenville arms in 6-0 loss. Pitchers Juan Valera, Zach Fogell, and Issac Stebens scattered six hits total and struck out a dozen Emperors. Valera’s 5.2 scoreless innings marked a
Bullpen Backs Sears in Debut, Emps’ Win Third-Straight
ROME, Ga – Six hits and four runs were enough for the Emperors Tuesday night, as Brett Sears spun 5.1 innings of one-run baseball in his High-A debut before turning things over to Tyler LaPorte, Rob Griswold, and Ryan Bourassa in the bullpen. After two innings of spotless baseball from
Emperors Sweep Sunday’s DH, Enter Three-Way Tie For First Place
ROME, Ga – Outscored 7-1 since Tuesday night’s win, Rome’s offense finally came to life Sunday, winning game one, 8-1, behind twelve hits and game two in shutout fashion, 2-0, to earned a series split with Hub City. Game One: Emperors 8, Spartanburgers 1 Each of the first four batters
Rome’s Offensive Struggles Transcend the Delay, Accompany a Third-Straight Loss
ROME, Ga – The Emperors’ 20-plus-inning scoring drought, leftover from Wednesday and Thursday, came to an end early in game four, but Friday night’s rain played a big part in Hub City’s 5-1 victory. A Patrick Clohisy single to centerfield accompanied by an EJ Exposito double down the left field
Spartanburgers Return the Favor, Blank Rome to Close Out April
ROME, Ga – One run sufficed for Hub City Wednesday afternoon, as five Spartanburger arms surrendered a combined two hits in the shutout effort. Starter Aidan Curry and relievers Joey Danielson, Dylan MacLean, Larson Kindreich, and Wilian Bormie struck out a total of twelve Emperors and walked four over their
Ritchie Shines, Grady Homers in Shutout of Hub City
ROME, Ga – With sole possession of first place on the line Tuesday night, the Emperors, behind a career-high 7.0 innings from JR Ritchie, shut out the Spartanburgers, 5-0. Oddly enough, Rome’s first two runs of the series crossed the plate thanks to a pair of double plays, one off
Emperors Drop Game Six in Winston-Salem, Await Pivotal Series with Hub City
WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Dash’s three-run bottom of the seventh inning broke a 1-1 tie and propelled the White Sox affiliate to a game six win at home. Rome, now 12-9, will host Hub City, also 12-9, next week in a series that will determine the division’s front runner heading
Exposito’s Cycle Headlines Rome’s Series-Clinching Win over Winston-Salem
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Emperors Survive Extras, Capture Fifth Straight Win
WINSTON-SALEM, NC – It took eight scoreless innings for the first run to cross the plate Wednesday night and both clubs resisted a shutout in the ninth, forcing extras where the Emperors prevailed to win their fifth straight ball game, 2-1. It was a dominant effort for Rome’s game two
Dumitru's big night lifts Emperors over Tourists
ROME, Ga. - The Rome Emperors headed into Saturday night’s matchup against the Asheville Tourists needing a win to get the series advantage heading into Sunday. Scoring started early for Rome, with Will Verdung hitting a one-out single in the bottom of the first inning, scoring Patrick Clohisy. Asheville stunned
Nine More Innings of Shutout Baseball for Asheville Pitching
ROME, Ga – For just the seventh time in Asheville’s 100+ year history, the Tourists’ have strung together 18.0 consecutive innings of scoreless baseball, shutting out the Emperors Thursday night, 5-0. Over those 18.0 innings, Rome is a combined 4-for-56 (.071) at the plate with zero extra-base hits and two
Tourists Pitching Does a 180, One-hits the Emperors on Education Day
ROME, Ga – Titus Dumitru’s leadoff single in the bottom of the fourth accounted for Rome’s only hit Wednesday in Asheville’s 2-0 shutout of the Emperors. Solo homers from Alejandro Nunez and Joseph Sullivan, both off JR Ritchie, supplied the offense for the Tourists who were only able to muster
Espinoza and Co. Pour on the Runs in 15-Run Route of Asheville
ROME, Ga – Herick Hernandez’s nine strikeouts over 4.1 innings paved the way for a shutout in Tuesday’s home opener for the Emperors and run support was not an issue as Lizandro Espinoza accounted for 10 runs all by himself. Rome’s starter Herick Hernandez picked up a pair of strikeouts
Emperors Waltz Their Way to Saturday Win
BOWLING GREEN, KY – Lizandro Espinoza’s eighth inning homerun to left field brought the Emperors back even with the HotRods, and four walks issued by Bowling Green’s Jack Snyder in the ninth inning gifted the Rome its fourth win of the season Saturday, 4-3. After shutting out the Emperors Friday
Tavarez, Verdung Shine in 15-Hit Thumping of Bowling Green
BOWLING GREEN, KY – The five through nine batters in the Emperors lineup Thursday night went a combined 13-for-22 (.590) with four extra-base hits, including two homeruns, and owned every one of Rome’s nine runs driven in. Angel Flores’ group is now back to .500 after back-to-back wins against the
Emperors Utilize Six-Run Fifth Inning, Even Series with Bowling Green
BOWLING GREEN, KY – Every batsman in Angel Flores’ lineup registered a hit Wednesday night in Rome’s 7-3 victory over the HotRods to even the series at one game apiece. After a scoreless first inning which saw Rome’s starter Herick Hernandez strikeout a pair of HotRods, Justin Janas and Joe
Emperors Succumb to Double-Digit Runs for Third Straight Game
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Fuentes Struggles in Debut, Emperors Fall Flat in Sunday’s Rubber Match
WINSTON-SALEM, NC – Rome was outscored 19-3 and outhit 17-5 over the final 12 innings of the series with the Winston-Salem Dash, consequently dropping game three, 11-3, Sunday. Didier Fuentes (Braves no.11 prospect), who hadn’t pitched since his stellar outing in the Spring Breakout Game on March 16th against Detroit,
Offense is Present, but Pitching Falters in 16-6 Loss to Winston-Salem
WINSTON-SALEM, NC – A dozen hits and half a dozen runs didn’t come close to competing with the Dash Saturday afternoon, as the White Sox High-A affiliate pulled away from the Emperors in the 16-6 route. After Rome starter Garrett Baumann set down the Dash in order in the top
Emperors Uphold Tradition of Winning on Opening Day
WINSTON-SALEM, NC – Two days removed from the announcement that Opening Day would be moved to the home of the Dash, Rome won its ninth consecutive season opener, 6-2, thanks to a couple of longballs and excellent relief pitching. JR Ritchie, Atlanta’s no.6 pitching prospect, made his first career Opening
Information Regarding Emperors Opening Day
Rome Emperors Fans, We regret to inform you that due to a pipe bursting in the Rome clubhouse causing significant water damage earlier this week, our stadium is currently not in a condition that meets the standards we hold ourselves to for your game-day experience-or for the health and safety
Atlanta's High-A affiliate starts the season with five top 30 prospects.
ROME, Ga – The Atlanta Braves, in conjunction with High-A affiliate Rome, today announced the roster for the Emperors ahead of the 2025 season. Once again there is no shortage of pitching talent on Rome’s break camp roster with five of MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 Braves prospects beginning the year
Angel Flores Returns as Manager; Rest of 2025 Field Staff Announced
ROME, Ga. – The Rome Emperors, in conjunction with the Atlanta Braves, today announced their 2025 coaching staff, which includes former Manager Angel Flores and longtime assistant Bobby Moore. Angel Flores “Flo” returns to Rome for his second stint as Manager of Atlanta’s High-A affiliate. It’ll be his third stay
Take Home A Piece Of Rome Baseball History!
ROME, GA – The Rome Emperors announce a truly once in a lifetime opportunity Tuesday with their “Dig up the Diamond” event to be held Tuesday, January 28th from 5:00pm to 7:00pm EDT at AdventHealth Stadium. Fans are presented a unique opportunity to quite literally take home a piece of