The new Fresno Grizzlies open their home season on Tuesday night, and the team will be under new ownership.

There’s good news for fans. Not only have the Grizzlies dropped their lowest-priced ticket from $12 to $10, but they’ve started the season on a hot streak, having swept three road games from the San Jose Giants

Fresno faces Inland Empire at 6:50 p.m. on Tuesday to open a 66-home game California League schedule.

Friday nights continue with a fireworks show after the game.

Promotions on the first stand include a replica jersey giveaway (Friday), kids TV stars Bluey and Bingo appearance (Saturday), and Bark in the Park (Sunday).

Soliz: Teaching Professionalism

Steve Soliz is already managing some of the most talented baseball players around. Returning for his second season skippering the Single-A Grizzlies, Soliz has 30 ballplayers to teach.

Soliz wants to acclimate them to the daily grind.

“We’re just teaching them what the life of a professional baseball player is like, the day-to-day,” Soliz said.

New players are transitioning from a few games a week in high school or college to six in a row every week as a pro.

“It’s not going to pause for anybody whether you’re going good or going bad. So we are they are their first experience with the daily grind, the ups and downs, the successes and the failures. So we are basically setting the template for how we work, the discipline … to get in the gym and the ability to bring your game consistently on a daily basis,” Soliz said.

The Grizzlies list seven international players — six from the Dominican Republic, and one from Cuba — on the roster. Soliz plans to rely on his staff to help bridge the language barrier.

“I’m from California, a Mexican American. But, I understand more Spanish than I speak,” Soliz said.

Soliz says getting to know the player helps ease the challenges.

“Your relationship grows and then … it carries over onto the baseball field. So there are challenges early on. But once you get to know somebody and get … the trust and develop a personal relationship, coaching them is no different,” Soliz said.

Developing the Lineup

The Minors are mainly for developing players. Soliz says that the parent club Colorado Rockies gives him certain leeway to manage.

“That being said, there are some preferences and players that they like to see more at-bats out of,” Soliz said. “There are some guys that take precedence over others, as far as on the pecking order … I’ve got basically a template to work with, but daily the lineup’s mine.”

Pitcher usage is more controlled by the big club. The Rockies determine which pitchers will throw, and for how long. Soliz and pitching coach Rolando Garza determine how the pitchers are used in the game.

Andrews is Back

EJ Andrews Jr. (that’s Emmanuel James for those scoring at home) returns for his third season with the Grizzlies. He is a Fresno regular — playing in college at Fresno State.

He has mixed feeling about yet another season in Single-A ball.

“Coming back to Fresno for me is always a good thing. I love coming back to Fresno. Got family and friends out here, all my college guys, Bulldogs, and stuff like that. But I mean, baseball-wise, probably not the best thing,” Andrews said.

“At the end of the day, I have a jersey, so I still have a chance of making big leagues and everything like that,” Andrews said.

He spent the offseason working on his swing with coaches in Las Vegas.

Soliz says Andrews’ prior years with the Grizzlies don’t really count as he wasn’t an everyday player.

“The idea is to get him playing every day and … getting a more consistent basis going, get him going, and hopefully (he) can get out of here on his way to the Northwest League,” Soliz said.

Being a veteran of Fresno baseball, Andrews is the go-to concierge for his teammates.

“I just told the guys it’s like, hey, if you guys need any recommendations, places to kind of hang out … just let me know and I’ll help you guys out,” Andrews said.

His top eatery pick — a dual tri-tip choice of Doghouse Grill or Mike’s.

Mahoney is Grizzlies Top Pitcher

Jack Mahoney is the highest draft pick on the Opening Day roster. He was taken in the third round last year (77th overall pick) from the University of South Carolina.

Mahoney said this is the first time he’s been in California. He looks forward to being out on his own.

“Being in a new city is different, but it’s been good so far. It’s there’s some good parts on here and good food too,” Mahoney said.

Main Street Burgers has been his early go-to favorite.

Mahoney grew up in Algonquin, Illinois — “right outside of Chicago and grew up there for a majority of my life. It was good and a lot of … cornfields. But also a good bit of buildings around. Kind of got to teach yourself how to have fun, but I love growing up there, and obviously I’m far away from home now, but the same thing.”

One of his favorite players was former Chicago Cubs star Kris Bryant, now with the Rockies.

“(I was) trying to … be as professional as I could,” Mahoney said. “It’s cool to be in the same building as him and kind of makes it pretty real now.”

Soliz looks forward to managing Mahoney.

“(He’s a) great competitor in the limited time I saw him in spring training. He’s got a nice fastball, is not afraid to use it. Two breaking balls, slider, a little curveball change-up. But, what I’ve seen from him, obviously, this stuff is there … he’s second to none,” Soliz said.

Upgrading Ballpark

The team continues to upgrade Chukchansi Park in downtown Fresno, mainly to comply with Major League Baseball standards.

“We have spent the entire off-season renovating our clubhouses and, behind the scenes tunnel area for the team. So you’re talking state-of-the-art weight room. You’re talking brand new layout for the clubhouse, including commissary area, new lockers, coaching areas, both for the home side and the away side to really make the experience for the players the best possible,” Grizzlies marketing manager Jonathan Bravo said.

The short wall in right field will be raised a few feet. Former Grizzlies prospect Juan Guerrero knows all too well about the short wall. In 2022, he fell over the wall making a great catch.

A rotational advertising sign — Major League style — will be behind home plate.

About the New Ownership

Diamond Baseball Holdings became the fourth owner of the Grizzlies since the team’s 1998 inception. Major League Baseball formally approved the sale earlier this year, after it was announced last November.

DBH has been on a Minor League baseball buying spree. The group has purchased (or have sales pending) for more than 30 franchises since 2021 — including the Grizzlies’ California League rivals San Jose and Inland Empire.

Venture capitalist firm Silver Lake Partners is the parent company of DBH. The baseball group used to be part of the sports and entertainment Endeavor company (a major investor of the parent company of  UFC and WWE). Endeavor spun off DBH and sold it to Silver Lake Partners in 2022. Now, Silver Lake is reportedly going to take Endeavor private.

Previous ownership groups include Fresno Diamond Group (John Carbray), Fresno Sports Management (Chris Cummings), and Fresno Sports and Events LLC (Michael Baker).