Idaho Falls Chukars

Idaho Falls Chukars
Founded in 1940
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Team logoCap insignia
Class-level
Current Rookie Advanced (1964–present)
Previous Class A (1963)
Class C (1940–1942, 1946–1962)
Minor league affiliations
League Pioneer League (1940–1942, 1946–present)[1]
Division North Division
Previous leagues
 Utah–Idaho League (1926–1928)
Major league affiliations
Current Kansas City Royals (2004–present)
Previous
Minor league titles
League titles (7)
  • 1952
  • 1963
  • 1970
  • 1974
  • 1998
  • 2000
  • 2013
Division titles (7)
  • 1978
  • 1982
  • 1998
  • 2000
  • 2006
  • 2007
  • 2013
Team data
Nickname Idaho Falls Chukars (2004–present)
Previous names
  • Idaho Falls Padres (2000–2003)
  • Idaho Falls Braves (1993–1999)
  • Idaho Falls Gems (1992)
  • Idaho Falls Braves (1986–1991)
  • Idaho Falls Eagles (1985)
  • Idaho Falls A's (1982–1984)
  • Idaho Falls Angels (1966–1981)
  • Idaho Falls Yankees (1962–1965)
  • Idaho Falls Russets (1940–1942, 1946–1961)
Colors Burgundy, silver, black[2]
              
Mascot Charlie the Chukar
Ballpark Melaleuca Field (2007–present)
Previous parks
 McDermott Field (1978–2006)
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
 Elmore Sports Group
Manager Omar Ramirez
General Manager Kevin Greene

The Idaho Falls Chukars are a professional baseball club based in Idaho Falls, Idaho. The Chukars are a Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. They play their home games at Melaleuca Field, which has a seating capacity of 3,600. The dimensions of the ballpark are 350' to left field, 390' to center field, and 335' to right field. The playing surface is natural grass (Kentucky bluegrass).[3]

The team plays in the Pioneer League, a short-season league operating from June to early September, which is designated as Rookie Advanced League. They adopted the name the Chukars following a fan vote when the major league affiliation changed after the 2003 season. A chukar is a game bird found in the region.[4] The Chukars are the only professional sports team in Eastern Idaho and have one of the most loyal fanbases in the Pioneer League.

Franchise history

After fielding a team in the Utah–Idaho League from 1926 to 1928, the franchise restarted in 1940 and were called the Russets, playing in the Pioneer League.[5] The team has played each season since then, under various major league affiliations and nicknames, except for three years that the Pioneer League suspended operation due to World War II. Some famous baseball alumni of Idaho Falls teams are Billy Martin, Joe Maddon, Jose Canseco, Mike Moustakas, Eric Hosmer and Billy Butler. The Chukars are the only professional sports team in Eastern Idaho. More than one million fans have attended Idaho Falls home games since the team moved into Melaleuca Field in 2007.

Current roster

Idaho Falls Chukars roster
Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • -- Derrick Adams
  • 32 Jonathan Bowlan
  • 26 J.C. Cloney
  • -- Dillon Drabble
  • 33 C.J. Eldred
  • 40 Jordan Floyd
  • 36 Robert Garcia
  • 34 Tyler Gray
  • 24 Stephen Greenlees
  • 51 Jon Heasley
  • 28 Jaret Hellinger
  • 22 Jackson Klein
  • 25 Joey Markus
  • 45 Christopher Marte
  • 23 Connor Mayes
  • 21 Michael Messier
  • 15 Domingo Pena
  • 29 Jose Ramirez
  • 35 Nathan Webb

Catchers

  • 31 Jesus Atencio
  •  7 Brady Cox
  •  8 Nathan Eaton
  • 30 Nick Hutchins

Infielders

  •  0 Offerman Collado
  • 12 Julio Gonzalez
  •  9 Kyle Kasser
  • 19 Reed Rohlman

Outfielders

  •  6 Jose Caballero
  •  4 Kyle Isbel
  •  2 Tyler James
  •  1 Andres Martin
  • -- Isaiah Smith

Manager

  • -- Omar Ramirez

Coaches


7-day disabled list
* On Kansas City Royals 40-man roster
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
† Temporary inactive list
Roster updated June 29, 2018
 Transactions
→ More rosters: MiLB • Pioneer League
 → Kansas City Royals minor league players

Broadcasting

All exhibition, regular season and postseason games can be heard on KSPZ (ESPN Radio affiliate) 980 AM - 105.1 FM and 94.5 FM throughout Eastern Idaho in Idaho Falls and Pocatello. The signal also reaches part of Western Wyoming. John Balginy has been the "Voice of the Chukars" since 1985. For 2017, Logan Ratick is the Director of Broadcasting & Media Relations, serving as the solo play-by-play voice for all road games and working in the booth with Balginy for all home games.

The press box at Melaleuca Field is named after Jim Garchow, who was the team's play-by-play broadcaster for 39 season until his passing after the 2009 season.

Notable alumni

Numerous Idaho Falls alumni advanced to Major League baseball, some alumni of note include:[1]

References

  1. 1 2 https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?city=Idaho%20Falls&state=ID&country=US&empty=0
  2. ↑ "Chukars Proudly Release New Logo". Idaho Falls Chukars. November 18, 2003. Archived from the original on January 4, 2004. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  3. ↑ "About Melaleuca Field". MelaleucaField.com. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  4. ↑ Hill, Benjamin (July 14, 2017). "On the Road: Idaho Falls' 'Mother Chukar'". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Idaho Falls Russets". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  6. ↑ http://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com/the-strange-saga-of-clancy-smyres-and-why-his-autograph-is-more-valuable-than-babe-ruth/
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