Fresno Grizzlies Game Notes Game 1 Northern Divisional Series at San Jose
September 13, 2022 – California League (CalL) – Fresno Grizzlies News Release
The Grizzlies and Giants play Game 1 of the Northern Divisional Series tonight. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 pm PT from Excite Ballpark. Grizzlies RHP Jaden Hill and Giants RHP Nick Sinacola are the probable starters. I have attached the roster/game notes.
PLAYOFFS?! YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT PLAYOFFS: Earlier this month, Fresno Grizzlies playoff tickets went on sale for the team’s 2022 Postseason home games. The Grizzlies will host Games 2 and 3 (if necessary) of the best-of-3 divisional series on September 15 and 16 at Chukchansi Park. The team will play against the San Jose Giants, having already clinched their playoff spot by winning the first half. If the Grizzlies win 2 out of the 3 games in the divisional series, they will once again host Games 2 and 3 (if necessary) of the best-of-3 championship series on September 20 and 21. The championship matchup will be against the winner of the South Division’s champion. Each playoff game at Chukchansi Park will include a variety of special promotions to celebrate the postseason. The first 1,000+ fans at each game will receive an exclusive 2022 Grizzlies Playoffs rally towel. All playoff games will feature a postgame fireworks show. All tickets for the four playoff games are available now at FresnoGrizzlies.com and cost only $10 (excluding Kodiak Club, Dugout Club, and Suites). Fans 17 years old and younger are eligible to receive free tickets to the playoff games, which can be claimed at the Chukchansi Park Ticket Office or by calling the team at 559-320-TIXS(8497). Fans who purchase tickets to games that do not end up getting played will have their purchase refunded.
REVENGE RING SZN: For the second straight season, the Fresno Grizzlies are in the playoffs after a 4-2 win over the Modesto Nuts on June 22nd from Chukchansi Park. Over the past two years, Fresno has clinched both times against Modesto. The Grizzlies claimed the California League Northern Division and the best record in the California League after winning both the first and second half. This is the first time in Grizzlies history that the team has made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. The last time Fresno baseball made it to the postseason in back-to-back years were the Fresno Cardinals in 1955-1956. Since the Grizzlies won both halves, the team with the second best divisional record (San Jose Giants) earned the second Northern Division playoff spot.
GIANT AMOUNT OF MATCHUPS: The Fresno Grizzlies and San Jose Giants (San Francisco Giants Single-A affiliate) play Game 1 of the Northern Divisional Series tonight at Excite Ballpark. This year, the clubs played 30 times against one another in the regular season with Fresno winning 17 of those games. The squads are squaring off again in the playoffs after meeting last year in the Low-A West Championship series, where San Jose swept Fresno 3-0.
KING OF THE HILL: In Game 1 of the Northern Divisional Series, the Grizzlies will hand the ball to Rockies #10 overall prospect Jaden Hill, who will be making his fourth start in a Fresno uniform. The righty is still rehabbing from Tommy John surgery back in April of 2021. Hill was selected by the Rockies in the 2nd round of the 2021 MLB June Amateur Draft out of LSU (Louisiana State University). He has flashed the ability to deal a 95-97 mph with a peak of 99 mph fastball as a starter and has possessed a plus changeup since his high school days. It arrives in the mid-80s with a lot of tumble and is considered the best changeup in the Rockies system. Hill has also shown signs of transforming a slurvy breaking ball into a nasty mid-80s slider that can be a plus offering at its best. You can read more about Hill on Page 2.
DON’T POKE THE BEAR: The Grizzlies finished first in all of Minor League Baseball with a +208 run differential (Charleston, +174) and first with 911 runs (Rancho Cucamonga, 906). Fresno also won 83 games, the second most in the minors (Charleston, 88). The 2022 Grizzlies 83 regular season wins are the second most in franchise history, just behind the 2015 Grizzlies, who won 84 games. That 2015 squad would go on to win the PCL Championship. Fresno also finished second in all of Minor League Baseball with 127 hit-by-pitches (Modesto, 140). The 127 hit-by-pitches are the most in Grizzlies franchise history for a single-season (87, 2005). They also concluded the regular season second with 280 doubles (El Paso, 302), second with a .372 OBP (Rancho Cucamonga, .379), tied for second with a .276 batting average, third with an .831 OPS, third with a .459 slugging percentage, third with 2,098 total bases, fourth with 1,264 hits, fourth with 799 RBI and fourth with 55 sacrifice flies. Fresno ended with the fourth fewest amount of strikeouts (1,064) in all of Minor League Baseball and led the California League in homers (162, +13, San Jose).
AMADOR’S AMAZING ACHIEVEMENTS: Grizzlies shortstop and Rockies #3 overall prospect Adael Amador finished the regular season tied as the all-time leader in Grizzlies franchise single-season walks. Amador drew 87 walks, tying him with Damon Minor (2000) for the all-time mark. Amador also concluded the regular season ranked in the Top 10 in franchise single-season runs. Amador recorded 100 runs, putting him second all-time in Grizzlies single-season runs. The only other Grizzlies player to record 100+ runs was Calvin Murray, who notched 122 runs in 1999.
BRITO IS BRILLIANT: Grizzlies second baseman Juan Brito ended the regular season ranked in the Top 10 in franchise single-season runs with 91. That would place Brito seventh all-time with those 91 runs. Finally, Brito finished the regular season ranked in the Top 10 in franchise single-season walks with 78. That put Brito in a tie with Felipe Crespo (1999), Michael Byas (2000) and Justin Leone (2007) for third all-time.
FERNANDEZ FLEXED HIS WAY INTO THE RECORD BOOKS: Grizzlies outfielder and Rockies #12 overall prospect Yanquiel Fernandez finished the regular season as the all-time leader in Grizzlies franchise single-season RBI. On September 8th at San Jose, Fernandez crushed a clout, giving him 109 RBI on the season. He passed Scott McClain (2008) and A.J. Reed (2018) with this honor. Fernandez ended the regular season ranked in the Top 10 in franchise single-season doubles. On September 1st versus Modesto, Fernandez powered his 33rd double of the year, putting him in a tie for sixth with Matt Downs (2009) for that feat. Finally, Fernandez concluded the regular season ranked in the Top 10 in franchise single-season total bases. Fernandez is now 10th with 241 total bases.
GUERRERO IS GREAT: Grizzlies outfielder Juan Guerrero finished the regular season ranked in the Top 10 in franchise single-season runs with 89. That would place Guerrero in a tie for ninth with Gary Brown (2014) and A.J. Reed (2017).
MONTGOMERY IS MASHING: Grizzlies outfielder Benny Montgomery finished the regular season on a 14-game hitting streak, the longest by a Fresno batter in 2022. In that span, Montgomery went 27-61 (.443) with two homers, one triple, 11 doubles, 17 RBI, 16 runs, seven walks, two hit-by-pitches and three stolen bases. Juan Guerrero, Yanquiel Fernandez and Zach Kokoska had 12-game hit streaks this season, the initial longest span by a Fresno batter in 2022.
WEAR THE BEAR: Red (20-16), Beige (14-5), Black & Gold (12-2), Gray (27-22), Specialty Promo (2-3), Fresno Tacos (3-0), Lowriders de Fresno (Copa de la Diversion, 4-0), Fresno Growers (1-0), Fresno Tigers (0-1), Red Pants (2-2).
FROM FRIEND TO FOE: The San Jose Giants coaching staff have a few names that the Central Valley may recognize. Giants pitching coach Dan Runzler was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 9th round of the 2007 MLB June Amateur Draft. He would play for the Grizzlies from 2009-2014, appearing in 144 games. Runzler would then end up pitching in the major leagues for parts of five seasons (Giants 2009-2012, Pirates 2017) before playing overseas and in independent ball. Over 97 big league games, he had a 4-2 record with a 3.89 ERA, 82 strikeouts. 46 walks and 72 hits allowed in 76.1 innings pitched. The other coach and former Grizzlies player fans may remember is Giants hitting coach Travis Ishikawa. He was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 21st round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft out of Federal Way HS in Washington. Ishikawa would play eight Major League seasons starting in 2006 and ending in 2015 with time spent in San Francisco (2006, 2008-2010, 2014-2015), Milwaukee (2012), Baltimore (2013), New York AL (2013) and Pittsburgh (2014-15). Ishikawa would also don a Grizzlies uniform in 2008, 2011 and 2014, playing in 175 games. In 2008, Ishikawa would bat .310 with a 1.107 OPS over 48 games, one of the best stretches by any Fresno hitter.
CONGRATS RODNEY LINARES: Former Fresno Grizzlies manager and current Tampa Bay Rays third base coach Rodney Linares will manage the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. Linares was at the helm for the Grizzlies in 2018, leading the squad to an 82-57 record and earning a playoff berth. That mark is the second best winning percentage in Grizzlies franchise history, behind last year’s team (74-41).
NEW RULES IN 2022: Major League Baseball announced in March that experimental rules will expand in the California League for the 2022 season. The following rules include the return of the pitch clock and pickoff limits. Pitchers must deliver a pitch within 14 seconds with the bases empty and 18 seconds with runners on base. Hitters must be in the batter’s box and be alert to the pitcher with nine seconds left. Pitchers will also be limited to two pickoff attempts or step-offs per plate appearance; any more without retiring the baserunner will effectively function as a balk. The league also added larger bases, increasing the size from 15 to 18 inches, a rule in place at Triple-A during the 2021 season. The increase is aimed to provide more room for players to operate around the bases, while modestly shrinking the distance between bases themselves. Additionally, the larger bases are composed of material that is expected to perform better in wetter conditions. Finally, teams must have a minimum of four defensive players on the infield when a pitch is delivered, with at least two infielders on either side of second base. The penalty for violation is an automatic ball, but if the hitter swings and gets a better outcome, the offensive team can take that. Goal is to increase batting average on balls in play.
SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 VS. SAN JOSE GIANTS (SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS): CHUKCHANSI PARK- 6:50 PM PT
Game 2 of Northern Divisional Series: RHP Ryan Murphy (0-0, 10.80) vs. RHP Brayan Castillo (4-4, 5.62)
SEPTEMBER 16, 2022 VS. SAN JOSE GIANTS (SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS): CHUKCHANSI PARK- 6:50 PM PT
(if necessary) Game 3 of Northern Divisional Series: TBA vs. RHP Victor Juarez (6-5, 4.98)
SEPTEMBER 18, 2022 – @ TBD
Game 1 of California League Championship Series: TBA vs. TBA
SEPTEMBER 20, 2022 – VS. TBD
Game 2 of California League Championship Series: TBA vs. TBA
Recent Transactions:
9/9: LHP Tanner Propst: Activated off IL
9/9: RHP Gabriel Hughes: Assigned to Fresno from ACL Rockies
9/9: RHP Gabriel Barbosa: Assigned to Fresno from ACL Rockies
9/9: RHP Bryce McGowan: Assigned to A+ Spokane from Fresno
9/6: RHP McCade Brown: Placed on IL
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