Touching on history: Modesto Nuts honor locals in last season at John Thurman Field
The foul lines are painted, the grass is manicured and the Modesto Nuts are back in town. It must be baseball season.
The Modesto Nuts kicked off the 2025 season Tuesday, welcoming the media to John Thurman Field to talk with new players, returning players and the new team manager.
When it was announced that this year would be the Nuts’ final season in Modesto after DBH bought the Nuts, the team said in a press release that “home games throughout the season will be dedicated to honoring and celebrating the club’s storied history in Modesto.” That starts with honoring some of the locals through a ballpark staple: beer. On the first-base side of the ballpark will be a “Craft Zone” stocked with drinks from local breweries including 1870, Track 424 and Dust Bowl.
“We want to touch base on the history that we’ve had here in Stanislaus County and the Central Valley and illuminate the amazing impact, sharing those moments and making a lot more of those moments,” team general manager Veronica Hernandez said. “We’re leaning in on celebrating local and cherishing our last season.”
On the field, the goal is to maintain the championship culture built by former manager Zach Vincej, who was promoted to the High-A Everett AquaSox this year. The Nuts claimed California League titles in 2023 and 2024, and after the 2024 title, Vincej was named Baseball America’s 2024 Minor League Manager of the Year.
“I think every team entering the season is hoping they win it all,” Hernandez said.
With last season’s win, the Nuts secured back-to-back California League championships for the first time in team history. According to MLB.com, it is the first time in 14 years that a California League team repeated.
In the minor leagues, it is unusual for championship teams to continue their success because the best players typically get promoted. But the Mariners have the No. 5 farm system in the entire MLB, meaning they’re known for drafting well and developing their players. Winning it all this season would mean securing an almost unprecedented three-peat.
“That’s definitely what’s hopefully on everybody’s mind,” returning outfielder Curtis Washington Jr. said. “I know that’s what’s on my mind: coming back, getting another ring, going for a three-peat. I know this is the last year of the Modesto Nuts. The fans have been hearing about back-to-back, I’m sure they want back-to-back-to-back.”
Top-rated infielder in town
One of the Mariners’ top five prospects, switch-hitting shortstop Felnin Celesten, is in town to start the season. According to the prospect list on MLB.com, Celesten is the No. 5 prospect just after former Nuts Colt Emerson, Lazarom Montes, Cole Young and Harry Ford.
He signed for $4.7 million in 2023 and makes his highly anticipated debut in Modesto this season after battling through injuries his first few years in the Mariners organization.
At media day, the 19-year-old said he is excited to get his career in Modesto underway.
Ring night Saturday
For the second year in a row, the Nuts will celebrate a championship. At Saturday’s 6:40 p.m. game against San Jose, the first 500 fans will receive replica rings. This year’s championship memorabilia is bigger, heavier and more intricate than last year’s ring, as is customary with the second ring in a back-to-back championship run.
“The fans are truly getting something special,” Hernandez said. “It truly is a mirror of what the actual rings that the players and front office staff got.”
Saturday’s fan engagement event will be part of an opening weekend packed with promotions. Friday, in addition to being Opening Day, is Cancer Awareness Night. Sutter Health will provide information about cancer, point out cancer support groups and raise funds for cancer patient programs.
Sunday will feature the decades-long traditional reading program, which has been in Stanislaus County since 2002.
Other themed nights and special events include:
▪ Free admission to all Sunday Modesto Nuts home games for kids 12 and under
▪ Saturday, May 17 — Los Alebrijes de Modesto Latino Night, presented by Save Mart
▪ Saturday, June 21 — Los Alebrijes de Modesto Carros Locos
▪ Thursday, July 3 — Independence Day fireworks, presented by Valley First Credit Union
▪ Friday, Aug. 29 — Final Farewell Fireworks Show
Curtis Washington Jr.’s focus on approach
There aren’t many position players returning from last season, but one of the few familiar faces will be outfielder Curtis Washington Jr. His first year in Modesto two seasons ago, he was working on being a switch hitter. Now, as a back-to-back California League champion, the West Memphis, Arkansas, native has a mature approach to his third season of affiliated ball.
“Having a routine, specifically speaking for (when I’m at) the plate,” Washington said of his focus this offseason. “When I hit from the cages all the way up to my routine on the on-deck circle to when I walk up to the plate.”
Like many prospects rising through the ranks, patience is key. He is hoping a call-up comes, but until then, here in Modesto, he can serve as a model for the younger players on the team.
“Some of the guys haven’t had much experience in pro ball and this is their first year here,” the 24-year-old said. “I just want to give them some of my experience from the past couple years I’ve been here.”
New manager takes over
There is a new lead man in Modesto after two-time championship manager Vincej earned a promotion to manager the High-A Everett AquaSox this season.
Vincej’s message to his teams was a continued focus on the process of being a professional baseball player, and that is what new manager Luis Caballero wants to continue. He also wants to continue the success come game time and back up the team’s back-to-back championships.
“That definitely raises the bar coming into the year,” he said. “We’re thinking about getting out there on the field and competing every day. I think that’s something the team did really well the last two years and we’re looking forward to doing that.”
Caballero has experience both at John Thurman Field and as a manager. First, during his playing career in the Mariners organization, he competed for the Bakersfield Blaze, a Mariners minor-league affiliate at the time, and played against the Nuts when they were members of the Colorado Rockies organization in 2015.
“I had never been to the home clubhouse,” Caballero joked, “but it’s definitely better to be on this side than the other side.”
He is entering his fifth season managing after spending the previous four seasons managing Mariners rookie ball teams. He spent one season as the manager of the Dominican Summer League team and spent the past three seasons managing the Arizona Complex League team. Any player you saw come through the Nuts, including top prospects and Cal League champions Colt Emerson, Cole Young and Tai Peete, played rookie ball under Caballero.
“I’m really looking forward to keep doing my job, which is helping players get better every day, and hopefully we can do that with some winning,” Caballero said.
