CalL Fresno Grizzlies

Fresno Grizzlies Game Notes vs Lake Elsinore

April 23, 2022 - California League (CalL)
Fresno Grizzlies News Release


The Grizzlies and Storm continue their six-game series tonight. First pitch is scheduled for 6:50 pm PT from Chukchansi Park. Grizzlies RHP Brayan Castillo and Storm RHP Garrett Hawkins are the probable starters. I have attached the roster/game notes.

CASTILLO GETS THE NOD: The Grizzlies will give the ball tonight to Brayan Castillo for the third time this season. Castillo hurled five scoreless innings, allowing two hits and a walk while fanning a pair in his first start against the Stockton Ports on Opening Night. In his second outing of the 2022 campaign (first road start), Castillo tossed four and two-thirds shutout frames, permitting three hits while punching out six against the Giants. The 21-year old Dominican native enters his fifth professional season with the Colorado Rockies organization. At instructional ball, Castillo showed a 93-97 MPH fastball, a slider that showed more depth than tilt and a changeup in the high-80s. Read more about the righty on Page 2.

CARDIAC BEARS: Seven of the Grizzlies' 12 games this season have finished within one or two-run scores, including their last five contests. Fresno is 4-3 in that stretch with a 3-2 mark at home. Last year, the Grizzlies played 57 games of their 120 contests with one or two-run differences (38-19).

LET'S GOOOOO: The Fresno Grizzlies brought back almost their entire field staff for the 2022 season. Manager Robinson Cancel will once again pilot the team after leading the Grizzlies to a league-best 74-41 record and earning a playoff spot in his inaugural season at the helm. Assuming the same roles in 2022 as well are Pitching Coach Mark Brewer, Hitting Coach Nic Wilson and Athletic Trainer Justin Wilson. Steve Soliz remains on the staff as well, moving from Development Supervisor to Bench Coach. Finally, Genevieve Payne rounds out the group as the Performance Coach. On the players side, 16 pitchers and 14 position players were assigned to Fresno. There are six returning players from the 2021 regular season championship squad and six of the Rockies top 30 prospects as listed by MLB.com will don the Grizzlies threads in 2022. The returning players include RHP Noah Gotsis, RHP Juan Mejia, RHP Case Williams, C Bryant Quijada, INF Warming Bernabel and INF Trevor Boone. The top prospects include #3 OF Benny Montgomery, #10 INF Adael Amador, #14 INF Warming Bernabel, #16 OF Yanquiel Fernandez, #20 C Hunter Goodman and #24 OF Juan Guerrero. There are also a few names that the Central Valley may recognize, outfielders EJ Andrews Jr and Braiden Ward. Andrews Jr. was a Fresno State Bulldog prior to being drafted by the Rockies last year and Ward is a product of El Capitan High School in Merced, one hour from Chukchansi Park.

AMADOR IS AMAZING: Adael Amador may have just turned 19, but the Rockies #10 prospect has shown bat ability way beyond his years. The Grizzlies leadoff hitter is currently riding a team-high six-game hit streak, which is tied for the second longest by a Fresno hitter in 2022. Amador is 9-for-21 (.429) with two clouts, one double, three RBI, five runs, seven walks and two steals during that stretch. His .357 average is tied for third in the California League and his 1.043 OPS is fourth among all qualified hitters.

BRAIDEN BITES: Braiden Ward has been on a tear to start his 2022 campaign. The speedy outfielder from Merced has hit safely in all four starts he has made this season. Ward is 6-for-13 (.462) with one homer, two RBI, four runs, three walks, two hit-by-pitches and three steals during that span.

COMEBACK CLAWS: On April 17th in San Jose, the Grizzlies completed their second comeback win of the 2022 season. With two outs and two strikes in the 9th, Juan Brito dumped a shallow single into center, allowing two runs to score and giving the Grizzlies a 2-1 lead. That advantage would hold when Juan Mejia secured a game-ending double play, giving Fresno a series split in San Jose. The Grizzlies also enjoyed a comeback victory on April 8th (Opening Night) against the Stockton Ports. Zach Kokoska spanked the game-winning hit in the bottom half of the ninth.

LAKE ELSINORE STORMS INTO FRESNO: The Lake Elsinore Storm are in the midst of their first ever and only regular season trip to Chukchansi Park this week. Last season, the Grizzlies traveled to Lake Elsinore and took four of six from the Storm. Lake Elsinore joined the California League in 1994 and are one of four teams in the southern division. The Storm are affiliated with the San Diego Padres organization and have been since the start of the 2001 season. Prior to that, the team had ties with the California Angels from 1981-2000. Lake Elsinore has gone through a couple name and location changes in their club history. In 1979, they were known as the Santa Clara Padres. From 1980-85, they were named the Redwood Pioneers and from 1986-1993, they were the Palm Springs Angels. Since 2004, Lake Elsinore have been known as the Storm and have called their home at Lake Elsinore Diamond or just, The Diamond. It takes five hours and 23 minutes on average to drive from Chukchansi Park to The Diamond via car.

OF COURSE WHEN THE STORM ARE IN TOWN: Thursday night's contest between the Fresno Grizzlies and Lake Elsinore Storm was postponed due to rain. The game will be made up Sunday as part of a doubleheader, beginning at 12 p.m. from Chukchansi Park. The clubs will play two seven-inning games to finish the series. Fans holding tickets to Thursday's game are able to exchange them for any future Grizzlies home game this season, based on availability, with the exception of July 4. How rare is rain in Fresno during baseball season? Thursday was the first Fresno Grizzlies home game impacted by rain since 2019. The Grizzlies did not have a single rain postponement, or even a delay at Chukchansi Park in 2021. In 2019, the Grizzlies had three rainouts in a span of 11 days, with two coming against the Sacramento River Cats (May 16 and May 18) and one against the El Paso Chihuahuas (May 26). That means the two most recent rainouts have come against San Diego Padres affiliates. Prior to the three rainouts in 2019, the Grizzlies have never had to postpone more than two games due to rain in one season since Chukchansi Park opened in 2002.

WEAR THE BEAR: Red (1-3), Beige (4-0), Black & Gold (0-0), Gray (2-2), Specialty Promo (0-0), Fresno Tacos (0-0), Lowriders de Fresno (Copa de la Diversion, 0-0), Fresno Growers (0-0), Fresno Tigers (0-0), Red Pants (0-1).

APRIL 24, 2022 VS. LAKE ELSINORE STORM (SAN DIEGO PADRES): CHUKCHANSI PARK- 12:00 PM PT

RHP Victor Lizarraga (0-0, 2.35) vs RHP Victor Juarez (0-0, 5.79)

APRIL 24, 2022 VS. LAKE ELSINORE STORM (SAN DIEGO PADRES): CHUKCHANSI PARK- GAME 2

LHP Jesus Gonzalez (0-0, 2.25) vs LHP Mason Green (0-0, 3.12)

APRIL 26, 2022 @ STOCKTON PORTS (OAKLAND ATHLETICS): BANNER ISLAND BALLPARK- 11:05 AM PT

RHP Cullen Kafka (0-1, 4.50) vs RHP Chen Zhang-Ao Zhuang (0-1, 5.40)

APRIL 26, 2022 @ STOCKTON PORTS (OAKLAND ATHLETICS): BANNER ISLAND BALLPARK- 7:05 PM PT

RHP Case Williams (0-1, 10.13) vs RHP Mitch Myers (0-0, 0.00)

Recent Transactions:

4/22: LHP Zak Baayoun retires

Check out the Fresno Grizzlies Statistics



California League Stories from April 23, 2022


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