Even minor league managers have major league dreams.
“That’s my dream, too. I would like one day to be a major league manager. And Plan B is to be part of the minor league team, doing anything they want me to do. That’s why I’m here,” said Cesar Galvez, entering his second season as manager of the Fresno Grizzlies, the Single-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies.
Galvez has been a Rockies lifer as a player and coach since 2010. This is his fourth year overall in Fresno, two as manager and two as bench coach. He started coaching in the Rockies system in 2018. He will turn 35 on July 24.
A Dominican native, Galvez played seven years of pro ball but only four of his 327 career games at the Triple-A level. He uses his experience to motivate his young players.
“It’s tough, but at the same time it’s beautiful, especially when you love the game, when you love playing baseball. It’s so beautiful to be part of any organization,” Galvez said. “What I can say to the players is if you really love it, bring every day your energy and come every day to the park and be ready to go and be ready to keep learning how to play the game. One day, your dream is going to come true.”
Galvez said improving his English skills helps him connect with American and Latin players.
“It’s trying to get better every day, trying to communicate every day clearly to the players and making them understand what we want,” Galvez said.
Galvez listed his former minor league managers Fred Ocasio and Tony Diaz as mentors. He hopes to pass along the same knowledge.
“My goal is to get those players better at what they’re doing here for them and for the organization, and obviously win. Obviously, we want to give Fresno a championship,” Galvez said.
The Grizzlies open the season Friday at Visalia. The team returns home for a six-game homestand against Stockton starting Tuesday, April 7.
Venezuelan Players Quiet on US Conflict
The Grizzlies’ opening day roster features three Venezuelan players: pitchers Marcos Herrera and Angel Jimenez, and infielder Wilder Dalis.
Herrera, entering his fifth professional season, signed with the Rockies as a 17-year-old in 2022. He said he feels good adjusting to life in American baseball.
“A lot of things are different — the language, the food — but that’s what we’re here for, to adjust and improve every day,” Herrera said, with Galvez interpreting. GV Wire also used AI to help transcribe and translate the interview.
His father is a car dealer, and his mom runs beauty parlors.
Herrera started training at age 12.
“What we have here is a high school, but there is an academy in Venezuela. They teach you at age 12. There is a time limit for when you have to sign professionally,” Herrera said.
After games, Herrera prefers staying home playing video games.
“The day-to-day, it’s difficult to do the same thing for five or six months,” Herrera said.
Grizzlies pitcher Marcos Herrera of Venezuela returns for a second season after an outstanding 2025. (Fresno Grizzlies)
At 19, infielder Dalis is the third-youngest player on the roster. He signed as a 16-year-old in 2023 out of Maracay, Venezuela.
“Honestly, that is very nice to hear that I am one of the youngest players here in Fresno. But that has nothing to do with it. We still have to keep working and do the things we need to do,” Dalis said as translated by Galvez and AI.
Dalis played 87 games for Fresno last year, hitting .308 and six homers.
“I really liked being here in Fresno. It’s a very nice vibe, the stadium, the city, I really like it,” Dalis said.
Herrera and Dalis did not have much to say about the conflict between their homeland and the United States. American military forces invaded Venezuela in January, arresting the nation’s president, Nicolas Maduro.
“I was there, but I was always far away and I tried to stay away from all the problems,” Herrera said. He said his family is fine.
Dalis added that he is happy his family is safe.
Grizzlies infielder Wilder Dalis is one of the youngest players on the team. (Fresno Grizzlies)
Top 2025 Draft Picks on the Roster
Shortstop Ethan Holliday returns to the Grizzlies for his second season. The Rockies’ first-round draft pick last year (fourth overall) is the son of former Major Leaguer Matt Holliday and brother of Jackson Holliday of the Baltimore Orioles. His $9 million signing bonus was a record for a high school player.
Pitcher JB Middleton was the Rockies’ second-round draft pick in 2025. The Yazoo City, Mississippi, native pitched last year for the University of Southern Mississippi, where he earned All-America honors. In his junior year in 2025, he posted a 12-5 record with 178 strikeouts in 152 innings. Fresno is his first professional stop.
“It’s exciting. I’m just ready for the opportunity. It’s going to be a lot of fun this year. We’ve got a great group of guys, and I’m ready to get out there,” Middleton said.
He credits his father, Byron, for helping develop his baseball skills.
“My dad always worked with me in the backyard when I was a kid. As long as I can remember, I loved the game, and as I got older, I knew this is what I wanted to do one day and was just lucky enough to have the opportunity to keep doing that,” Middleton said. The initials JB stand for Jonathan Bailey.
Middleton said his slider is the best pitch.
Galvez said his focus for Middleton and Herrera is keeping them healthy.
“If they’re healthy, I know they’re going to do what they’re supposed to do. They’re going to create an impact in this league, because they have the talent,” Galvez said.
Galvez plans to use his starters every five or six days. The first two outings will be purposely shorter, three or four innings, then build from there.
Herrera pitched 21 games last season, his first in Single A, with a 6-7 record and 3.93 ERA. His 102 strikeouts ranked sixth in the Cal League.
The Colorado Rockies have high hopes for last year’s first-round draft pick, infielder Ethan Holliday. (Fresno Grizzlies)
Other Grizzlies Notes …
The team will air 24 road games on terrestrial radio — a combination of signals from ESPN Fresno, 790 AM and 1430 AM. Tim Slack begins his second season on the mic. He is also the team’s media relations contact. All games can be heard through the Grizzlies website.
Players from five nations are represented on the Grizzlies roster: the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic. Of the Americans, players hail from 16 different states. The lone Californian is pitcher Izeah Muniz (West Covina).
Tuesday’s opening night (7:05 p.m. first pitch) will include postgame fireworks and a magnet schedule giveaway for the first 1,500 fans. Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer and the city council are invited to throw out the ceremonial first pitch, an opening night tradition.
The Cal League remains eight teams, but with a new lineup. The Modesto Nuts moved to Ontario, where the team will be known as the Tower Buzzers. With a new stadium, the franchise is now a Dodgers affiliate, switching from Seattle. The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes switched their affiliation from the Dodgers to the Angels, and the Inland Empire 66ers, based in San Bernardino, switched from the Angels to Seattle. The Mariners based their Cal League team in San Bernardino from 1987 to 1994 and 2001 to 2006.
With Ontario now in the league, Visalia (Arizona) shifts to the north division with Fresno (Colorado), Stockton (Athletics), and San Jose (San Francisco). The south division is composed of Rancho Cucamonga (LA Angels), Ontario (LA Dodgers), Inland Empire (Seattle), and Lake Elsinore (San Diego).