Idaho Falls Chukars

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]

Idaho Falls Chukars
Founded in 1940
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Team logoCap insignia
Minor league affiliations
ClassRookie Advanced (1964–present)
Previous classesClass A (1963)
Class C (1940–1942, 1946–1962)
LeaguePioneer League (1940–1942, 1946–present)[1]
DivisionNorth Division
Previous leagues
Utah–Idaho League (1926–1928)
Major league affiliations
TeamKansas City Royals (2004–present)
Previous teams
Minor league titles
League titles (8)
  • 1952
  • 1963
  • 1970
  • 1974
  • 1998
  • 2000
  • 2013
  • 2019
Division titles (8)
  • 1978
  • 1982
  • 1998
  • 2000
  • 2006
  • 2007
  • 2013
  • 2019
Team data
NicknameIdaho 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)
ColorsBurgundy, silver, black[2]
              
MascotCharlie the Chukar
BallparkMelaleuca Field (2007–present)
Previous parks
McDermott Field (1978–2006)
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
Elmore Sports Group
ManagerOmar Ramirez
General ManagerKevin Greene

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.

Franchise history

After fielding the Idaho Falls Spuds 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.

Roster
Idaho Falls Chukars roster
Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 23 Derrick Adams
  • 51 Brad Bonnenfant
  •  0 Christian Cosby
  •  7 Brady Cox
  • 50 Cody Davenport
  • 52 Jonah Dipoto
  • 33 Grant Gambrell
  • 34 Bryar Johnson
  • 43 Joe Lienhard
  •  9 Austin Manning
  • 48 Alec Marsh
  • 41 Jose Ramirez
  • 29 Stephen Ridings
  • 24 Augie Sylk
  • 49 Anthony Veneziano
  • 31 Chih-Ting Wang
  • 30 Cole Watts
  • 35 Nathan Webb

Catchers

  • 19 Michael Emodi
  • 25 Wyatt Mascarella
  • 40 Paul Mondesi
  • 26 Stephan Vidal

Infielders

  • 21 Rhett Aplin
  • 20 Clay Dungan
  •  8 Jimmy Govern
  •  2 Tyler James
  • 13 Jose Marquez
  • 15 Brady McConnell
  •  1 Kember Nacero
  •  3 Hector Pineda
  • 46 Tyler Tolbert

Outfielders

  • 22 Isaiah Henry
  • 12 Juan Carlos Negret
  •  6 Ismaldo Rodriguez
  • 45 Isaiah Smith

Manager

  • 11 Omar Ramirez

Coaches


7-day injured list
* On Kansas City Royals 40-man roster
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
† Temporary inactive list
Roster updated January 14, 2020
 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 2020, Tyler Petersen 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.

Notable alumni

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

  • Jose Canseco 1989
  • Jake Peavy, 2007
  • Kansas City Royals Billy Butler, 2011
  • Mike Moustakas, Game 1, 2015 World Series

References
  1. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?city=Idaho%20Falls&state=ID&country=US&empty=0
  2. "Chukars Proudly Release New Logo". IFChukars.com. MLB Advanced Media. 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'". MiLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. 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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