WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In previous stops of his career, a homecoming game for Rowdy Tellez still meant those interested in seeing him play needed to make the trek to either San Francisco or Oakland.
On Monday night, it meant a 15-mile drive up either Interstate 5 or Highway 99 from his hometown of Elk Grove.
“I’ve never played a big league game here. Never played a minor league game here. The only time I played in this stadium was a high school game,” Tellez said. “So it is pretty cool to be back.”
The M’s are making their initial visit this week to California’s capital city, which until this season was a minor league baseball town.
But it’s a place Seattle will get familiar with over the next three seasons as Sutter Health Park, just across the river from downtown Sacramento, will serve as the temporary home for the Athletics before an alleged move to Las Vegas.
Seattle was welcomed to Sacramento this time around by a warm, blustery day which kicked up pollen in the air and made life miserable for anyone with allergies. When the M’s return in July, all three games will be played at night to try and combat temperatures that will be pushing triple digits.
And unless you played in the Pacific Coast League at some point, it was the first visit to town for most of the roster.
“I think just getting a feel for it. Getting a chance to swing the bat in the batter’s box, getting a chance in the outfield to see where the ball carries and whatnot, infield, the grass, all that,” M’s manager Dan Wilson said. “It’s just like getting used to any other new ballpark and our guys will be ready for it.”
For the record, this series is not the first time the Mariners have played at the ballpark, which was known as Raley Field previously.
The M’s played a spring training game against the Texas Rangers at the ballpark in 2003 just before the start of the regular season. It was a random matchup the result of the M’s season-opening series in Japan that year getting canceled following the start of the Iraq War.
Most of the facility still screams minor leagues, or has a spring training feel. And while that’s good enough for the PCL, it leaves something to be desired in the majors. The one exception might be the visiting clubhouse, which was remodeled before the season and, while still a little cramped, was more than serviceable. Those who played here in the past indicated the new setup was a significant upgrade.
Just one thing about that, though. The clubhouses for both teams were out beyond the left-field wall rather than behind or underneath the dugouts. Better not leave anything behind when game time rolls around.
For those who had played at the ballpark previously the placement of the clubhouses was familiar. What felt odd was being there for an MLB game.
“It kind of feels kind of weird, but it is what it is sometimes,” M’s infielder Leo Rivas said.
There aren’t many on the Mariners roster who played previously in West Sacramento — which is its own city and located in Yolo County, with the river just a few hundred yards away the dividing line. A handful of pitchers. Rivas had a share of games during his time with the Rainiers.
But no one can likely match the amount of time third base coach Kristopher Negrón has spent in the park.
“I love this ballpark. I have a ton of good memories being out here being local,” Negrón said.
Negrón grew up about 25 minutes west of the ballpark in Vacaville and was a star at Vanden High School, but never got the chance to play at the ballpark until he was in pro ball. And then he ended up in the stadium a lot, whether it was playing in Reno or Tacoma in the PCL or the season he served as the manager of the Rainiers.
“I don’t know how many games. I think I did fairly well, but I’m not sure,” Negrón said.
Arozarena out of the lineup; Gilbert day off
Randy Arozarena was out of the starting lineup Monday after leaving Sunday’s game in Texas early due to a sore right hamstring. The move was precautionary and Arozarena said he thinks it’s a temporary absence, which for a lineup that’s been beset by injuries early on seems like good news.
“I mean, I think I’m playing tomorrow,” Arozarena said via interpreter Freddy Llanos before Monday’s opener.
Arozarena said the first moment he felt something in the hamstring came as he was running to first after singling in the sixth inning against the Rangers. ROOT Sports cameras picked up Arozarena stretching his leg after reaching first base and he was replaced in the bottom of the inning.
Wilson considered Arozarena day-to-day. Arozarena said he hasn’t had hamstring issues in the past.
“It’s nothing serious right now,” he said.
Logan Gilbert, currently on the injured list due to a flexor strain, did not play catch Monday after starting to throw a little bit over the weekend in Texas.
Player of the week
A trio of players in the M’s minor league system earned player of the week awards.
Dominic Canzone was named Pacific Coast League player of the week after hitting .368 with four homers and six RBI for Tacoma.
Victor Labrada was the Texas League player of the week after batting .524 with 11 hits, nine RBI and two homers for Double-A Arkansas.
And Lazaro Montes was the Northwest League player of the week after hitting .381 with two homers for Single-A Everett.
