FRESNO GRIZZLIES
Bright Future for Team and Fans

Buster Posey (right) is the top-rated prospect in the Giants' farm system. photo: Don Davis

The Fresno Grizzlies enter the 2010 season with good reason to be excited. The organization has made a name for itself over the past few years with its between-innings entertainment, and now the rich talent of the San Francisco Giants' minor-league system makes its way to Fresno as well.

The Grizzlies are the Triple-A affiliate of the Giants, whose farm system is stocked with rising prospects. In fact, the five stateside affiliates beneath the Grizzlies, from Rookie League to Double-A, combined to go 340-213 last season, an outstanding .615 winning percentage. That bodes well for Fresno this year, as much of the top talent should spend at least some of the 2010 campaign in the Central Valley.

Included in the list of players that could end up in Fresno are catcher Buster Posey and pitcher Madison Bumgarner, both rated this winter by MLB.com as among the top-10 prospects in all of baseball. Others to keep an eye out for are infielders Brock Bond, Brad Boyer and Brett Pill, outfielders Thomas Neal and Roger Kieschnick, and pitchers Scott Barnes, Craig Clark and Tanner Clayton.

The biggest name is Posey, who has skyrocketed through the system since being taken with the fifth overall pick in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft. After starting his first full season of professional ball at High-A San Jose, the backstop was promoted to Fresno mid-season for 35 games, where he batted .321 with eight doubles and five homers, earning a September call-up to the big leagues. With the Giants' re-signing of veteran catcher Bengie Molina, though, it appears Posey will at least begin the year in Fresno, giving Grizzlies fans another chance to see the best position prospect to come through town in a long time.

The Grizzlies will welcome new manager Steve Decker, a rising star in his own right, as well in 2010. Decker is a former major-leaguer who played parts of seven seasons with four clubs, including the Giants. Since retirement, he has entered the coaching world and has enjoyed success at every level he has managed. After spending two seasons in Fresno as hitting coach (2003-04), Decker began his managerial tour with Salem-Keizer, leading the Volcanoes to two Northwest League titles in his three years there. After successful seasons with Single-A San Jose (88-55 in 2008) and Double-A Connecticut (Eastern League finals appearance in 2009), Decker brings a stellar 328-185 (.639) career record as a manager to Fresno.

As much as fans can look forward to an exciting spring and summer of baseball, the Grizzlies experience would not be complete without everything else that the organization does to provide a full night of affordable, family-friendly entertainment. The team was honored for the second straight year by GameOps.com with the Best Team Operations Award. The award is given to the top sports team in game operations, considering all in-game entertainment, promotional development and overall value provided to fans. In addition, the Grizzlies' beloved mascot, Parker, received an honorable mention in the Best Mascot category. The Drag Kings, minor-league baseball's premier dancing grounds crew, received honorable mention in the Best Entertainment Team grouping.

With a wide array of promotions and events, fans can expect a bargain every night of the week at Chukchansi Park. The team will once again offer value-laden midweek deals, fireworks every Friday and some of minor-league baseball's most creative theme nights.

Keep up with the Grizzlies at www.FresnoGrizzlies.com and follow the team on both Facebook and Twitter.