CalL1 San Jose Giants

San Jose Giants on Deck: Giants Open Regular Season Thursday at Rancho Cucamonga

Published on April 3, 2014 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


San Jose Giants (0-0) at Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (0-0)

At LoanMart Field

- Thursday, April 3, 7:05 PM

- Friday, April 4, 7:05 PM

- Saturday, April 5, 7:05 PM

- Sunday, April 6, 2:05 PM

Probable Starting Pitching Matchups

Thursday

San Jose - Chris Stratton (0-0, ---)

Rancho Cucamonga - Chris Anderson (0-0, ---)

Friday

San Jose - Kendry Flores (0-0, ---)

Rancho Cucamonga - Julio Urias (0-0, ---)

Saturday

San Jose - Joan Gregorio (0-0, ---)

Rancho Cucamonga - Lindsey Caughel (0-0, ---)

Sunday

San Jose - Pat Young (0-0, ---)

Rancho Cucamonga - Tom Windle (0-0, ---)

Broadcast Information

The entire series can be heard live on sjgiants.com with Joe Ritzo calling all of the action. Broadcasts begin 30 minutes prior to first pitch with The Giants Pregame Show. All 140 games this season will be aired on the club's official website. Every broadcast is also streamed live on your mobile phone through the San Jose Giants App.

Giants Begin Regular Season At Rancho Cucamonga Thursday

The San Jose Giants begin the 2014 regular season Thursday evening with the opener of a four-game series against the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes at LoanMart Field. After the four games in Rancho Cucamonga, the Giants travel to Lancaster for a three-game series. San Jose's home opener is scheduled for Thursday, April 10 against the Bakersfield Blaze.

San Francisco Affiliation

This year marks San Jose's 27th season as an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants - the longest partnership of any team in the California League. Since their inception in 1988, the San Jose Giants have won six league championships (1998, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010). The Giants have qualified for the playoffs in 10 consecutive seasons (2004-2013) - a California League record. 163 former San Jose Giants have reached the major leagues, including 117 with San Francisco.

2013 Review

The Giants posted the top overall record in the California League last season at 83-57 and won their eighth first half North Division crown in the last nine years. After a first round bye in the playoffs, San Jose defeated the Visalia Rawhide three-games-to-two to claim the North Division title - the Giants' first since 2010. San Jose was then swept by the Inland Empire 66ers in the best-of-five California League Championship Series. Individually, the Giants had a league-high eight players named to the midseason All-Star team (C Jeff Arnold, LHP Ty Blach, INF Ryan Cavan, LHP Edwin Escobar, OF Devin Harris, LHP Josh Osich, RHP Hunter Strickland and INF Angel Villalona). Blach also received postseason All-Star honors after leading the league with a 2.90 ERA and ranking tied second in wins (12). Blach and outfielder Mac Williamson shared the club's MVP award. Williamson (T3rd, 25) and Harris (5th, 23) both ranked among the top five in the league in home runs. San Jose finished the year first in the California League in ERA (3.66) and seventh in batting average (.259) and runs scored (690).

Top Prospects

Seven players on San Jose's opening day roster are among the top 30 prospects in the organization according to Baseball America, including four out of the six pitchers in the Giants starting rotation. San Jose players among the top 30 prospects include: pitcher Chris Stratton (#3), outfielder Mac Williamson (#5), pitcher Kendry Flores (#14), pitcher Joan Gregorio (#17), pitcher Martin Agosta (#21), pitcher Steven Okert (#24) and pitcher Stephen Johnson (#28).

Williamson Highlights Returnees

Mac Williamson highlights 10 returning players on the Giants opening day roster. Williamson, a third round draft pick in 2012 and a non-roster invitee to major league spring training this year, hit .292 with 25 home runs and 89 RBI's over 136 games for San Jose last season. He led the team in home runs, RBI's, runs scored (94), hits (152), walks (51), games played, was second in doubles (31) and third in batting average. His 25 home runs ranked tied for third on San Jose's single-season list. Williamson hit .331 with 16 home runs after the All-Star break last year. Other returning players from last year's team are pitchers Jorge Bucardo, Jeff Soptic and Pat Young, catcher/infielder Trevor Brown, infielder Mitch Delfino and outfielders Elliott Blair, Jesus Galindo and Chris Lofton. Young, Delfino and Galindo were added to San Jose's roster last season at the start of the playoffs. Pitcher Ryan Bradley, a member of San Jose's 2012 team, has also returned.

Lenn Sakata Back In Orange & Black

Lenn Sakata, the winningest manager in California League history, has returned to the San Jose Giants this season. 2014 marks Sakata's 10th year in the San Francisco Giants organization (first since 2007) and his seventh season as San Jose's manager (1999, 2001, 2004-2007, 2014). Entering this year, Sakata has compiled a 466-374 record as the Giants skipper having directed San Jose to the 2001, 2005 and 2007 California League championships. Sakata has won 684 games in 10 seasons as a manager in the California League. After leaving the Giants, Sakata managed two seasons in the Chiba Lotte Marines organization in Japan before spending three years in the Colorado Rockies organization as a minor league manager and hitting coach.

High Draft Picks

San Francisco's top four picks from the 2012 draft are all on San Jose's opening day roster. Chris Stratton (1st round) is slated to make the opening night start on the mound Thursday evening. Martin Agosta (2nd round) will also work in the Giants starting rotation this season. Stratton (9-3, 3.27 ERA) and Agosta (9-3, 2.06 ERA) both had stellar 2013 campaigns with Class-A Augusta. Williamson (3rd round) is expected to DH for San Jose early this season while Steven Okert (4th round) should be a key member of the bullpen. Additionally, first baseman Brian Ragira, a 4th round selection in last year's draft, is also on the Giants roster.

Opponent Notes: Rancho Cucamonga Quakes

The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, an affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, finished the 2013 regular season with a 65-75 record. P.J. Forbes is set to begin his first season as Rancho Cucamonga's manager. The Giants and Quakes will play 10 games this season, including seven at LoanMart Field.

Check out the San Jose Giants Statistics

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California League Stories from April 3, 2014


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.

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