West Sacramento Witnesses Return of Baseball Player Rowdy Tellez
Heading to the Heart of Cali: The Mariners' Debut at Sacramento's Sutter Health Park
West Sacramento, California - Previously, a homecoming game for Rowdy Tellez meant a journey to either San Francisco or Oakland for fans eager to catch a glimpse of the hometown star. But Monday night, it was simply a 15-mile drive, up either Interstate 5 or Highway 99 from his hometown of Elk Grove.
"I've never played a big league game here. Never played a minor league game here," Tellez said, beaming. "So it is pretty cool to be back."
Seattle's first visit to the city marks the beginning of a three-year tenure for Sutter Health Park as the temporary home for the Athletics before an alleged move to Las Vegas. The ballpark, with its riverside location just a few hundred yards from downtown Sacramento, will become a familiar haunt for Mariners over the coming years.
Welcomed by a warm, blustery day, the weather gods were far from kind. The M's return in July will see games played at night to combat the soaring temperatures expected to push triple digits.
For most of the roster, this series was their maiden voyage to town. Dan Wilson, the M's manager, emphasized familiarizing the team with the quirks of the new ballpark. "It’s just like getting used to any other new ballpark, and our guys will be ready for it."
A quick glance around the facility reveals a lingering air of the minor leagues, a reminder of the park's past as the stomping ground of the Pacific Coast League. But the visiting clubhouse, remodeled before the season, offers a more than serviceable space - a significant upgrade from years past.
One peculiarity of the park is the clubhouses' location; they're located out beyond the left-field wall rather than behind or underneath the dugouts. "Better not leave anything behind when game time rolls around," coaches warn.
For those who had played at the ballpark previously, its status as a major league venue felt odd. M's infielder Leo Rivas encapsulated their sentiments: "It kind of feels kind of weird, but it is what it is sometimes."
A handful of pitchers and M's third base coach Kristopher Negrón were no strangers to West Sacramento. The latter, hailing from nearby Vacaville, had a wealth of memories at the ballpark, a stark contrast to his high school playing days.
Temporary Injury Setbacks
Two key players, Randy Arozarena and Logan Gilbert, faced temporary setbacks in the run-up to the series. Arozarena, suffering from a sore right hamstring, was out of the starting lineup on Monday, though his optimism for a swift recovery was palpable. Gilbert, currently on the injured list due to a flexor strain, continued his rehabilitation process away from the field.
Minor League Moments, Major League Dreams
A trio of players in the M's minor league system made their mark, earning player of the week awards across multiple leagues. Dominic Canzone, Victor Labrada, and Lazaro Montes showcased their skills, setting the stage for potential major league call-ups in the near future.
The M's debut in Sacramento serves as a poignant reminder of the transient yet enduring nature of baseball, as the city's minor league legacy continues to intertwine with the major league dream.
- In the coming years, the Seattle Mariners will frequently visit Sutter Health Park, a riverside ballpark in West Sacramento, California, which serves as a temporary home for the Athletics before their rumored move to Las Vegas.
- Leo Rivas, an infielder for the Mariners, found the new venue odd, but acknowledged that it's just part of the game sometimes.
- Daniel Wilson, the M's manager, stressed the importance of familiarizing the team with the Sutter Health Park's quirks, such as the clubhouses located out beyond the left-field wall.
- Seattle's alternative sports teams have experienced their share of temporary injury setbacks. Randy Arozarena, suffering from a sore right hamstring, missed Monday's game, while Logan Gilbert, on the injured list due to a flexor strain, works to recover off the field.
- Three players in the Mariners' minor league system, Dominic Canzone, Victor Labrada, and Lazaro Montes, recently earned player of the week awards across multiple leagues, hinting at potential major league call-ups in the near future.
- Despite not having played major league games at Sutter Health Park before, hometown star Rowdy Tellez, remarked that it was a wonderful experience to play at the ballpark, especially given its proximity to his hometown of Elk Grove.
