Modesto Nuts’ infielders, including 3 Mariners’ top 30 prospects, learn with help from manager

Quinton Hamilton
·7 min read

In the top of the second inning with no outs in a June 22 home contest, the Modesto Nuts were looking to keep an already rolling Fresno Grizzlies team off the basepaths.

The Grizzlies, who were one game ahead of the Nuts in the California League North standings, held a 3-0 lead, scoring all three runs in the top of the first inning.

The first two Grizzlies batters made contact, hitting hard ground balls to second base. Both times infielder Cole Young smoothly scooped up the ball and delivered a strong throw to first to record the inning’s first two outs. They won’t make any SportsCenter Top 10 highlight reel, but Nuts manager Zach Vincej knows making the routine play always will be important for an infielder.

“When you make the routine plays, it brings so much value to the team,” he said. “You’re not going to see the routine plays on TV all the time, but over a course of a season, when you’re catching the ball, and you’re throwing the ball across the diamond and hitting guys in the chest, it means a lot to the team.”

The Modesto Nuts manager Zach Vincej, middle, signals to the catcher during the game with the Fresno Grizzlies at John Thurman Field in Modesto, Calif., Thursday, June 22, 2023.
The Modesto Nuts manager Zach Vincej, middle, signals to the catcher during the game with the Fresno Grizzlies at John Thurman Field in Modesto, Calif., Thursday, June 22, 2023.

Young, a smooth 19-year-old infielder and the Mariners No. 2 prospect, was drafted in the first round of the 2022 Draft and after just seven games in rookie ball, was called up to Modesto at the end of last season. He impressed, slashing an impressive .385/.422/.539 in 10 games.

He also worked closely with the Nuts strength and conditioning team, adding 12-15 pounds of muscle in the off-season.

“Playing in Arizona in the ACL League, it’s a lot different than Low-A ball,” Young said. “I went into that off-season realizing what I need to do each day to take care of my body. Those two weeks definitely helped.”

In baseball there is always something to learn, and Young has a great teacher. Vincej played minor league baseball and won a Rawlings Minor League Gold Glove Award as a shortstop with Double-A Pensacola in the Cincinnati Reds organization in 2016.

“In the beginning of the year, I’d ask him a ton of questions, but now since we’re in the middle of the season I feel like I’ve already asked him enough questions,” Young said. “We go out there and just do our routine every single day. If he sees something I need to work on, he’ll tell me. He’s been really helpful and I feel like I’ve gotten a lot better at defense, especially the past few months.

“I remember asking him ‘Do you ever get annoyed that I ask too many questions?’ and he was like ‘No, ask away.’”

Vincej says though he is still in the early stages of his career, Young has done a great job picking up on positioning, who is on the mound, picking up on pitches and his anticipation as an infielder.

“He’s been really good about understanding the intangibles that come with playing shortstop every day. That’s been a growing part of his game because there comes a lot of responsibility with playing shortstop at a high level; it’s not just all skill stuff,” Vincej said. “I think he definitely has the skills. We’ve cleaned up a lot of things and he works his tail off every single day, which makes my job easy.

“The growth that he’s showing on a daily basis is super impressive, especially for a guy his age. His maturity is really coming through.”

The Modesto Nuts Cole Young tracks a fly ball during a game with the Fresno Grizzlies at John Thurman Field in Modesto, Calif., Thursday, June 22, 2023. Fresno won the game 4-3.
The Modesto Nuts Cole Young tracks a fly ball during a game with the Fresno Grizzlies at John Thurman Field in Modesto, Calif., Thursday, June 22, 2023. Fresno won the game 4-3.

Young is primarily a shortstop, but has played second base growing up and during his time in Modesto. Also in his draft class is fellow shortstop Josh Hood, the Mariners No. 28 prospect. The two manned the infield until Hood was placed on the injured list June 13. Shortstop Michael Arroyo, the Mariners No. 10 prospect, was called up from the ACL Mariners to Modesto and has also manned the infield.

With Hood back in the lineup, the three work together on the dirt, alternating between second, shortstop and third base.

“I’ve been around the infield at short, second, third and it’s been great. I love learning new positions,” Hood said. “It’s actually pretty exciting to get to learn and master a new position and still play at a high level. Wherever the team needs me, I’m ready to play. I’m always looking to get outs on defense and get some runs with my bat in the lineup.”

Fresno Grizzlies take fielding practice before the game with the Modesto Nuts at John Thurman Field in Modesto, Calif., Thursday, June 22, 2023. Fresno won the game 4-3.
Fresno Grizzlies take fielding practice before the game with the Modesto Nuts at John Thurman Field in Modesto, Calif., Thursday, June 22, 2023. Fresno won the game 4-3.

Recent Transactions

June 29

  • INF Gabe Moncada reinstated from the Injured List

  • UTIL Brett Rodriguez placed on the Development List

June 27

  • OF Bill Knight reinstated from the Injured List

  • INF Edryn Rodriguez transferred from Modesto to ACL (ROK)

  • RHP Jack Parisi transferred from Arkansas (AA) to Modesto

June 24

  • INF Josh Hood reinstated from the Injured List

June 14

  • C Andrew Miller transferred from Modesto to Everett (A+)

  • INF Gabe Moncada placed on the Injured List

  • INF Justin Lavey transferred from ACL Mariners to Modesto

Late-game heroics

In a 4-3 home win over the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on June 10, Cole Young drove in the tying and winning runs on a single to right field off reliever Madison Jeffrey for the Nuts’ sixth walkoff win of the season. Bill Knight (Single), Tatem Levins (Sac Fly), and Andrew Miller (Double), and Curtis Washington Jr. (HBP, E3) are responsible for the other five walk-off home wins this season.

Young also drove a pitch over the right field fence on June 28 in the top of the ninth inning to break a 4-4 tie against the San Jose Giants. The two-run home run was his fourth of the season and powered the Nuts to a 6-4 win.

See Mariners top talent

The Nuts roster currently features six of the Mariners’ Top 30 prospects, according to MLB Pipeline: INF Cole Young (2), OF Gabriel Gonzalez (6), INF Michael Arroyo (10), RHP Michael Morales (19), RHP Tyler Gough (23) and SS Josh Hood (28).

Former Nuts heading to MLB All-Star Weekend

A pair of former Nuts are heading to Seattle for the MLB All-Star Weekend to participate in the Futures Game July 8. Harry Ford and Jonatan Clase, who both spent the entire 2022 season in Modesto, have moved up the ranks and continued to catch the eye of the baseball world.

Ford, who shined for Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic, is the Mariners’ top prospect and MLB.com’s No. 28 overall prospect. As of June 30, the catcher has played 66 games for High-A Everett AquaSox, posting a .253/.405/.418 slash line with 63 hits, 11 doubles, three triples, eight home runs and 39 RBI.

Clase is a speedy outfielder who started the season in Everett and was called up to Double-A Arkansas Travelers. Clase is the Mariners’ No. 11 prospect who as of June 30 has played in 46 games for Arkansas and posted a .209/.321/.429 slash line with 37 hits, eight doubles, nine home runs and 30 RBI.

Upcoming home games

The Nuts finish their road series with the Giants on Tuesday, July 3, and turn around the next day for the start of a six-game homestand against Cal League opponent Stockton Ports. The series will start with an Independence Day celebration July 4 with a postgame fireworks display. The Nuts are 12-3 against Stockton this season and host the Ports for the first time since the end of April when they swept Stockton 6-0. The Nuts finished the first half of the season 34-32.

The Modesto Nuts pitcher Tyler Cleveland throws with a sidearm delivery during a game with the Fresno Grizzlies at John Thurman Field in Modesto, Calif., Thursday, June 22, 2023.
The Modesto Nuts pitcher Tyler Cleveland throws with a sidearm delivery during a game with the Fresno Grizzlies at John Thurman Field in Modesto, Calif., Thursday, June 22, 2023.
The Modesto Nuts second baseman Cole Young fields a grounder during a game with the Fresno Grizzlies at John Thurman Field in Modesto, Calif., Thursday, June 22, 2023. Fresno won the game 4-3.
The Modesto Nuts second baseman Cole Young fields a grounder during a game with the Fresno Grizzlies at John Thurman Field in Modesto, Calif., Thursday, June 22, 2023. Fresno won the game 4-3.
The Modesto Nuts’ Milkar Perez fights through a broken bat for a single during the game with the Fresno Grizzlies at John Thurman Field in Modesto, Calif., Thursday, June 22, 2023. Fresno won the game 4-3.
The Modesto Nuts’ Milkar Perez fights through a broken bat for a single during the game with the Fresno Grizzlies at John Thurman Field in Modesto, Calif., Thursday, June 22, 2023. Fresno won the game 4-3.