Modesto Nuts say goodbye to fans in final home game

John Thurman Field hosted the last series of affiliated pro baseball in Modesto this week as the Nuts played the Stockton Ports.

Sunday, the series finale was filled with fan engagement events and special ceremonies.

Pregame in the beer garden, Nuts players signed autographs, greeting hundreds of fans with smiles and opened sharpie pens, ready to ink their names on shirts, jerseys, baseballs and caps. In the Dust Bowl Pavillion was the final day of a garage sale and a silent jersey auction. Game-worn jerseys were given to winners after the last out.

When the gates opened at 11:05, fans piled into the ballpark and many stayed until the last out was recorded. Masses of fans gathered on the party decks, resting in the shade to avoid the 100-plus degree heat while not missing a second of the historic game.

Walter Ford started the first home game of the season and the last.

Ford gave up a pair of home runs, but also struck out five batters in five innings of work. Through the first eight innings, Austin St. Laurent, Aiden Taurek and Cesar Quintas each drove in a run and after Jean Munoz did not allow a hit in the eighth and ninth innings, the Nuts went into the last half inning trailing 5-3.

Catcher Connor Dykstra hit the Nuts last minor league home run at John Thurman Field, launching a pitch over the left field fence, but the Nuts could not cut more into the lead, falling 5-4.

Fans gathered down the first base line postgame, cheering for Nuts players as they exited to the home clubhouse for the final time in Modesto. A larger-than-usual contingent of supporters gathered by the home bullpen, taking photos and asking for autographs. Players gifted some lucky young fans their personal bats and baseballs.

“They gave it all they had until the final out,” Nuts general manager Veronica Hernandez said. “Even postgame right now, they care, and it shows. Within the fans you see that. I see the fans talking about individual employees in different departments and those employees step up. It’s beautiful to see one person make such a difference in a community. And we have that 200-times across the stadium,”

Modesto plays its final series as a franchise on the road next week, traveling to San Jose for a six-game set Sept. 1-7.

This story was originally published September 1, 2025 at 3:50 PM.