Familiar faces back in Nuts uniform to defend California League title

The only thing tougher than winning a championship is defending one.

The Modesto Nuts will be tasked with just that when the 2024 season starts Friday, April 5 with a three-game road series against the Stockton Ports.

But Zach Vincej, Nuts manager returning for his second season, realizes last season is in the past. He says he will take last season’s message into the new year: focus on what you can control and don’t let results affect how hard you work.

“For the guys that were here last year, I’m sure they’ll be thinking about it, but it’s our job to focus on the present,” Vincej said at Modesto Nuts media day April 2. “It was a great season last year, but we’re looking forward to what we need to do today. My job as a manager and ours as a coaching staff is to remind them we need to get better today. Last year is last year and keep focusing on what we can control.”

The Nuts went on a 16-game win streak from late-August to early-September which had newly called up 18-year-old 2023 draft pick Tai Peete wondering if winning games would always be that easy.

“It was unreal,” Peete, the Mariners No. 7 prospect, said. “Halfway through, I was thinking ‘Is it usually like this? Do we usually win every game?’ I was kind of confused. We were winning a lot. It was really cool and we never took it for granted, we went out and fought one percent harder every day.”

The Nuts finished the first half of 2023 third in the California League North standings (34-32). Aided by their win streak, they finished the second half a blazing 43-23, clinching first place. They finished second overall with a 77-55 record.

“Earlier in the year, we were letting all of the analytics and all of the little things get into our heads,” said returning pitcher Tyler Gough, “We started to kind of lose ourselves. In that win streak, we were all about doing it pitch-by-pitch, game-by-game. If guys were down, every other guy was boosting him up.

“We won last year and expectations are high, but if we stay with what we were doing last year, taking it game-by-game, we’ll meet those expectations.”

Most of the position players from last season’s championship squad are back, but the pitching rotation is relatively new. Just a handful of names are back and even fewer rotation pitchers return with experience.

To start the season, eight of the Seattle Mariners’ top 30 prospects are in Modesto including top 10 prospects Colt Emerson (No. 3), Lazaro Montes (No. 4), Jonny Farmelo (No. 6), Peete (No. 7) and Michael Arroyo (No. 9). They all saw action during last season’s postseason run.

“The position guys have a feel of what it takes to do what they need to do and focus on the controllables,” Vincej said. “Same with the pitchers, I think it’s good for them to get their first full season of affiliated ball, making sure they’re doing their routines and go about their day and be a true professional every day.”

Gough is a returning pitcher

Tyler Gough is one of the few pitchers returning from last season, but he’s embracing the added responsibility that comes with being a returner. The Mariners assigned nine of last season’s pitchers to either High-A Everett or Double-A Arkansas as the season gets underway. Gough joins Tyler Cleveland, Riley Davis, Yeury Tatiz, Brayan Perez, Gabriel Sosa and Anthony Tomczak as returners.

“With me being a returner, I think there’s going to be a responsibility on my shoulders to lead the pack,” he said. “Being another starter from the squad is going to be a really good opportunity. … I’ve already met some of these guys during spring training, so it’s going to be a really good squad. I’m really excited.”

Gough says he’ll have to learn to play some card games, one thing he knows a lot of guys on the team like to do. He’s also looking forward to the bus rides. Ultimately, though, he says he’s most excited about one thing.

“Winning, man,” he said. “I mean who wouldn’t be? We’ve got a lot of young talent on this team so bonding with those guys and bonding with the older guys and learning about their experiences.”

A top prospect’s new outlook

Colt Emerson has never been a social media guy. He has an Instagram account, but doesn’t have the app app and there isn’t a ton of activity on his Twitter/X account. That’s how he’s always been.

“I like peace in my life,” he said.

That’s one of the reasons the infielder says he doesn’t feel much pressure after being listed as the Mariners’ No. 3 prospect and the No. 83 prospect on the MLB’s Top 100 Prospects list.

“I look at it, I’m very thankful, I thank God for it and I just go about my business,” he said. “I’m not a big social media guy, I’m not a big looking at numbers guy, I’m just here to play baseball and I’m here to win games.”

Emerson believes his background as a multisport prep athlete helps him on the infield. He was an All-State football player in Ohio where he barely left the field, playing receiver, punter and safety.

“Friday nights were the best, but (football) just wasn’t my pathway,” he said. “My early years, I would get beat up. I wasn’t the one doing the hitting. It’s a mental toughness thing. I realized if I can get through that, I can get through playing baseball out here. I can handle a fan yelling at me.”

In addition to working on improving as an infielder, Emerson takes pride in his baptism this offseason.

“I’m trying to build a greater relationship with God and I’m still learning, still figuring things out, but being a Christian is all about taking action. … I’m happy, I’m at peace with myself.”

2023 playoff breakout star ready for first full season

Jonny Farmelo wasn’t in Modesto for long before he made his impact on the team. He was assigned to the Nuts for the postseason on Sept. 12 and the 29th overall pick in the 2023 draft secured his first professional hit just hours after the promotion. He says he took a 7 a.m. flight from Arizona (where the Mariners complex is located), got off the flight in Sacramento, took an Uber to Modesto and all of a sudden was playing that night in Game 1 of the California League Division Series.

“I was going off four or five hours of sleep,” Farmelo said.

He recorded his first professional hits and drove in a run in the Nuts’ 6-5 extra-innings win.

“It was exciting and I didn’t know what to expect. (It was) my first time playing in front of people paying for tickets and fans were in the stands, so that was pretty cool,” he said. “I was able to contribute to the team. I wanted to come and play, but I also wanted to help the team win.”

Days later, in Game 1 of the California League Championship, he hit his first professional home run, a three-run shot to center field in the fifth inning.

Farmelo is the Mariners No. 6 prospect and is looking forward to experiencing his first full pro season, highlighted by his first Opening Day.

“It’s exciting,” he said. “I’m excited to be here and get going. Spring Training went well. It’s time to ball now.

“The biggest thing I want to show is that I can be on the field every night. I want to affect the game in ways other than how I’m hitting because that’s going to range from good to bad, but I want to be able to draw a walk, steal a base, get in scoring position, or make a great play wherever I’m playing.”

Home Opener will recognize last season’s success

Opening Day at John Thurman Field is Tuesday, April 9 for the first game in a six-game slate against the Lake Elsinore Storm. The Nuts will celebrate their 2023 California League championship with fans that day, handing out replica championship rings to the first 500 people in the gate.

No. 4 prospect Montes ready for new season

Lazaro Montes is bringing his power and his cannon right arm back to Modesto after making plays on offense and defense to lead the Nuts to a championship in 2023.

He was assigned to Modesto August 2023 and in just 33 games with the Nuts last season, he hit .321 with seven home runs, 30 RBI, nine doubles and one triple. The Mariners’ No. 4 prospect came up big for the team in the postseason, hitting a home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie Game 1 of the California League Division Series.

Defensively, he consistently made plays from right field throwing out runners in regular season and postseason games. If you see him in person, it’s hard to believe that at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, the Havana, Cuba native is only 19 years old.

With all of the success Montes and the team had last season, he says with the returners the team has, he expects to be in the running again.

“I still have no words for it,” Montes said of winning the championship assisted by bench coach Hecmart Nieves who served as an interpreter. “This year, I want to come in, do my thing and play hard. I’m looking forward to learning from the organization … and having fun with the guys.

“This offseason, I worked on my defense, trying to be the best outfielder I can be out there. I tried to get quicker and get a more consistent swing and I feel like I’m in a good position coming into the season.”

Keeping a patient mindset

Working your way through the minor leagues is tough mentally and physically, especially working up the ranks of the Mariners farm system, which is ranked the No. 18 farm system by MLB Pipeline. It likely can be easy to get restless if a top prospect gets stuck at one level for what he deems is too long, but most of the young guys on the Nuts roster have the right mindset.

“I don’t really pay attention to that,” said infielder Michael Arroyo, the Mariners’ 19-year-old, No. 9 prospect from Colombia, with interpretation from Nieves. “I’m not really into when I’m going to get promoted. I’m just focusing on the process. Right now, I’m playing for the Modesto Nuts and that’s where my focus is. Whatever happens, God has for me.”

Arroyo played 57 games with the Nuts last season, hitting .234 with 49 hits and 23 RBI. Defensively, he can play all over the infield at second base, third base or shortstop, which makes him an intriguing prospect. He signed with the Mariners in 2022, playing rookie ball in the Dominican Summer League then had a stint in the Arizona Complex League before being called up to the Nuts in June 2023. Tuesday will be his first opening day in Modesto.

“There’s always something to work on in baseball,” Arroyo said of areas he tried to improve on this offseason. “I’m really focusing on being more consistent.”