Modesto Nuts Founded in 1946 Modesto, California |
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Class-level | |||||
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Current | Class A – Advanced | ||||
Minor league affiliations | |||||
League | California League | ||||
Division | North Division | ||||
Major league affiliations | |||||
Current | Seattle Mariners (2017–present) | ||||
Previous |
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Minor league titles | |||||
League titles (8) |
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Division titles (2) |
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Team data | |||||
Nickname | Modesto Nuts (2005–present) | ||||
Previous names
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Ballpark | John Thurman Field | ||||
Owner(s)/
Operator(s) |
Seattle Mariners/HWS Baseball IV, LLC | ||||
Manager | Fred Ocasio | ||||
General Manager | Michael Gorrasi |
The Modesto Nuts are a minor league baseball team in Modesto, California, United States. They are a Class A – Advanced team in the California League and a farm team of the Seattle Mariners. The Modesto Nuts play home games at John Thurman Field. Opened in 1955 and renovated in 1997, the park seats over 5,000 fans (including standing room only). In March 2007, the City of Modesto installed a new video scoreboard and made improvements to the infield playing surface.
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). The new name was chosen to reflect the several types of nuts that are grown in the region.
In 2012 Greg Young was replaced by Alex Margulies who now does play-by-play for all home and away games, and Modesto Bee sports writer Brian VanderBeek does color commentary in the middle innings of most home games. The play-by-play position was formerly held by Joshua Suchon, who now works for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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. As of 2012, the club is managed by Lenn Sakata who replaced the winningest coach in Modesto Nuts history Jerry Weinstein who was promoted to the Colorado Rockies at the conclusion of the 2011 season.
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."
The Modesto Nuts have three mascots: Al the Almond, Wally the Walnut and Shelley the Pistachio. These mascots make their presence seen not only at the park cheering on the Nuts, but in the community of Modesto as well.