After four months in limbo, Fresno Grizzlies, Visalia Rawhide learn fate of baseball season

More than four months after Minor League Baseball postponed its opening day, the Fresno Grizzlies now know the fate of the season — canceled.

That’s the word from the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, which made the announcement on Tuesday. The decision came after news that Major League Baseball would not provide its affiliated minor-league teams with players for the season.

This will be the first summer without minor league baseball in more than 120 years.

“While this is a sad day for many, this announcement removes the uncertainty surrounding the 2020 season and allows our teams to begin planning for an exciting 2021 season of affordable family entertainment,” Minor League Baseball President and CEO Pat O’Conner said in a statement.

“These are unprecedented times for our country and our organization as this is the first time in our history that we’ve had a summer without Minor League Baseball played.”

In a statement on Tuesday, Fresno Grizzlies President Derek Franks said the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals “had been preparing for this outcome over the past few months,” but called the news “devastating.”

“As I have talked to some of our fans over the past couple of weeks, hearing about the shared love of the game constantly reestablishes to me how important baseball is to our community and our country. The passion and joy that our crowd brings to every single home game is second to none. We truly have the best fans in Minor League Baseball and remain devoted to giving you the best experience in family fun and entertainment,” Franks said.

The team is already working on the 2021 season.

It has also continued with its promotions, season or no.

Earlier this month the Grizzlies partnered with The Rolling Donut to produce a series of mini-donuts coated in sour sugar in celebration of National Donut Day.

The baseball team also partnered with boutique Root General to create a limited-edition T-shirt for Juneteenth. The Fresno Tigers tribute T-shirt payed homage to a team that had a short run in the West Coast Negro Baseball League.

The Rawhide, Visalia’s Class-A ball club, said it also is now planning for its 2021 season, which will be the 75th anniversary of minor league baseball in the Tulare County city.

Announcement of the cancellation was not unexpected. The Professional Baseball Agreement between the majors and the minors expires after this season, and MLB has proposed reducing the minimum affiliates from 160 to 120.

MLB already told clubs to retain expanded 60-player pools, of which 30 players can be active during the first two weeks of the season, starting in late July.

This story was originally published June 30, 2020 at 3:13 PM.