Rawhide, Diamondbacks Announce PDC Extension
Published on June 13, 2012 under California League (CalL1)
Visalia Rawhide News Release
VISALIA - The Visalia Rawhide and the Arizona Diamondbacks agreed on a four-year Player Development Contract extension yesterday, ensuring that the D-backs will remain in the South Valley through 2016.
Mike Bell, Director of Player Development for the Diamondbacks, expressed his delight in extending the affiliation. "We were eager to continue our relationship with Visalia, and this long-term extension gives us stability and ensures that our prospects have a great place to develop," said Bell. "Rawhide Ballpark is a terrific little facility with a lively atmosphere."
Diamondbacks General Manager Kevin Towers, in Visalia this week watching the top Dbacks prospects, has seen the improvements since his playing days in the California League in 1983. "As someone who played here almost 30 years ago, and now visiting the past two seasons, I'm impressed with the deep history of baseball in Visalia, and the intimate atmosphere of the ballpark. Visalia is a great baseball town, and we look forward to many more Rawhide alumni starring for us in the years to come."
The Diamondbacks have aggressively developed prospects over the last decade, and many have come through Visalia. Rawhide alumni such as Justin Upton, Paul Goldschmidt, Wade Miley, Brett Anderson, Colin Cowgill, and Jarrod Parker have all gone on to make a substantial impact at the Major League level.
This season, the Rawhide will send four players to the 2012 California/Carolina League All-Star Game, as Chris Owings, Andrew Chafin, David Holmberg, and Raywilly Gomez will represent Visalia on the All-Star roster in Winston-Salem on June 19th.
The Diamondbacks extension is conditioned on improvements to the field lighting, the one significant component of the facility that fails to meet even the minimum Major League Baseball facility standards. The ballclub is currently in talks with the City of Visalia about phasing in a new lighting system that will accommodate the minimum facility standards set by Major League Baseball. The current light towers have been in place since the ballpark was originally constructed back in 1946. The City and the Rawhide are working toward the installation of taller towers and a more energy-efficient system.
The four-year deal is the longest extension a Visalia team has ever agreed with a Major League affiliate. It also ensures that the Diamondbacks will become the second-longest tenured partner in Visalia professional baseball history behind only the Minnesota Twins (1977-92), who sent future stars such as Kirby Puckett and Kent Hrbek to Visalia; the affiliation, which began in 2007, will reach its 10th season in 2016.
"We're fortunate to have terrific working relationships with our partners-the City of Visalia and the Arizona Diamondbacks," said Rawhide President Tom Seidler. "We're proud to now have a facility for affordable family entertainment in the greater Visalia community, and we're grateful for the Diamondbacks' continued patience as we work with the city on the phasing-in of a standard lighting system. We continue to work toward creating a proper home for Professional Baseball and the growing number of events at this wonderful community gathering place."
California League Stories from June 13, 2012
- 66ers Add Low-A Angels Triples Leader to Roster - Inland Empire 66ers
- Early Explosion Propels Giants to 14-2 Victory - San Jose Giants
- Streak Ends at Eight; Landry Named to All-Star Team - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Robinson Saves Game, Evens Series - Lancaster JetHawks
- Rawhide, Diamondbacks Announce PDC Extension - Visalia Rawhide
- 66ers Fall 14-2 - Inland Empire 66ers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
