![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GVWire-Ad-Get-our-mobile-app-1280x90-1-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nA Dominican native, Galvez played seven years of pro ball<\/a> but only four of his 327 career games at the Triple-A level. He uses his experience to motivate his young players.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s tough, but at the same time it\u2019s beautiful, especially when you love the game, when you love playing baseball. It\u2019s so beautiful to be part of any organization,\u201d Galvez said. \u201cWhat 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Galvez said improving his English skills helps him connect with American and Latin players.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s trying to get better every day, trying to communicate every day clearly to the players and making them understand what we want,\u201d Galvez said.<\/p>\n Galvez listed his former minor league managers Fred Ocasio and Tony Diaz as mentors. He hopes to pass along the same knowledge.<\/p>\n \u201cMy goal is to get those players better at what they\u2019re doing here for them and for the organization, and obviously win. Obviously, we want to give Fresno a championship,\u201d Galvez said.<\/p>\n The Grizzlies open the season Friday at Visalia. The team returns home for a six-game homestand against Stockton starting Tuesday, April 7.<\/p>\n Venezuelan Players Quiet on US Conflict<\/p>\n The Grizzlies\u2019 opening day roster features three Venezuelan players: pitchers Marcos Herrera and Angel Jimenez, and infielder Wilder Dalis.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of things are different \u2014 the language, the food \u2014 but that\u2019s what we\u2019re here for, to adjust and improve every day,\u201d Herrera said, with Galvez interpreting. GV Wire also used AI to help transcribe and translate the interview.<\/p>\n His father is a car dealer, and his mom runs beauty parlors.<\/p>\n Herrera started training at age 12.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat 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,\u201d Herrera said.<\/p>\n After games, Herrera prefers staying home playing video games.<\/p>\n \u201cThe day-to-day, it\u2019s difficult to do the same thing for five or six months,\u201d Herrera said.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cHonestly, 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,\u201d Dalis said as translated by Galvez and AI.<\/p>\n Dalis played 87 games for Fresno last year, hitting .308 and six homers.<\/p>\n \u201cI really liked being here in Fresno. It\u2019s a very nice vibe, the stadium, the city, I really like it,\u201d Dalis said.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s president, Nicolas Maduro.<\/p>\n \u201cI was there, but I was always far away and I tried to stay away from all the problems,\u201d Herrera said.\u00a0He said his family is fine.<\/p>\n Dalis added that he is happy his family is safe.<\/p>\n Shortstop Ethan Holliday returns to the Grizzlies for his second season. The Rockies\u2019 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.<\/p>\n Pitcher JB Middleton was the Rockies\u2019 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.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s exciting. I\u2019m just ready for the opportunity. It\u2019s going to be a lot of fun this year. We\u2019ve got a great group of guys, and I\u2019m ready to get out there,\u201d Middleton said.<\/p>\n He credits his father, Byron, for helping develop his baseball skills.<\/p>\n \u201cMy 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,\u201d Middleton said. The initials JB stand for Jonathan Bailey.<\/p>\n Middleton said his slider is the best pitch.<\/p>\n Galvez said his focus for Middleton and Herrera is keeping them healthy.<\/p>\n \u201cIf they\u2019re healthy, I know they\u2019re going to do what they\u2019re supposed to do. They\u2019re going to create an impact in this league, because they have the talent,\u201d Galvez said.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n![\"Grizzlies](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Grizzlies-pitcher-Marcos-Herrera-of-Venezuela-returns-for-a-second-season-after-an-outstanding-2025-.jpeg\")
<\/a>Grizzlies pitcher Marcos Herrera of Venezuela returns for a second season after an outstanding 2025. (Fresno Grizzlies)<\/p>\n![\"Grizzlies](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Grizzlies-infielder-Wilder-Dalis-is-one-of-the-youngest-players-on-the-team.-Fresno-Grizzlies-841x10.jpeg\")
<\/a>Grizzlies infielder Wilder Dalis is one of the youngest players on the team. (Fresno Grizzlies)
\nTop 2025 Draft Picks on the Roster<\/p>\n
![\"Ethan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/The-Colorado-Rockies-have-high-hopes-for-last-years-first-round-draft-pick-infield-Ethan-Holliday.-F.jpeg\")
<\/a>The Colorado Rockies have high hopes for last year\u2019s first-round draft pick, infielder Ethan Holliday. (Fresno Grizzlies)