As Roadsters make ballpark improvements, one piece of history remains unchanged
The lockers in Modesto’s professional ballpark have history.
Some of baseball’s biggest names, past and present, played about 66 home games a season of affiliated minor league baseball in Modesto. The former Modesto Nuts had some of the top prospects in Major League Baseball.
Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez and Cole Young came through Modesto on their way to being starters with the Seattle Mariners. Trevor Story, Nolan Arenado and more were Modesto Nuts when the team was part of the Colorado Rockies organization.
The clubhouse down the first base line was considered home, where players spent more time sitting in those lockers than they did with their own families.
That’s why, while everything will look different at Modesto’s most historic sports landmark, the lockers will stay the same.
Before opening day of the Pioneer Baseball League season on May 19, the Roadsters will add coats of paint, new padding on the outfield and behind home plate, and sponsor signage around Modern Woodmen Field. Roadsters owner Dave Heller and general manager Michael Neis gave The Bee access to the locker room and previewed future improvements.
Roadsters manager J.T. Snow strategized with stadium operations director Jason Gales and other ballpark renovation organizers to keep the brown wooden lockers because of the legacy. Those same major-leaguers who started their journeys in Modesto will serve as inspiration for the next hopefuls who come through the home clubhouse as one of the newest PBL franchises cements its legacy in Modesto.
Renovations began in January, and the clubhouse has a whole new look. The team’s “M” is visible upon entry and a large Roadsters logo is on the back wall. The historic lockers have been upgraded, equipped with individual charging stations for each player. TVs are on the walls and there are plans for food stations and other amenities to help the players feel at home during the long season.
Painting across the ballpark continues. Bleacher stairs and dugouts already have their coats, and workers continue with concession stands, the outfield wall and the press box. Eight-foot-tall sky-blue padding will be added to the outfield wall below the red paint. Mocse Credit Union has branding on the center handrails, and the Modesto Irrigation District has its name on the press box.
Light-blue padding will replace the green that lined the low wall behind home plate.
“It’s all taking shape, it’s all starting to come together,” Heller said. “It’s a really exciting feeling.”
This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 12:30 PM.
