Longtime Fresno Grizzlies President and General Manager Derek Franks is leaving the team.
The Grizzlies announced Wednesday that Franks is leaving the organization after 22 years.
Driving the news: Franks has been with the team since 2004, where he started as an intern in the ticket office.
- He worked his way up to become the team’s general manager in 2015, where he has been in charge of the team’s operations and promotions since.
- Franks navigated through multiple ownership changes, staying on when Fresno Sports & Events purchased the team in 2018 and when Diamond Baseball Holdings took over in 2023.
Zoom in: Franks helped shepherd the Grizzlies through the turbulent start to the decade when Major League Baseball implemented significant reforms to its minor league system.
- MLB restructured Minor League Baseball ahead of the 2021 season, reducing the number of total teams from 160 to 120, giving each MLB team 30 clubs. While the Fresno Grizzlies were not shut down, they were demoted from Triple-A to become the Low Single-A affiliate for the Colorado Rockies.
- Franks was also instrumental in some of the Grizzlies’ popular promotions, including renaming the team to the Fresno Tacos for one night a year.
- He was named the 2015 Pacific Coast League Executive of the Year.
What they’re saying: “The past 22 years have been a dream come true,” Franks said. “I grew up in this organization, and it shaped far more than my career, it shaped my life. I met my wife because of this job. My kids grew up at the ballpark. I built friendships here in Fresno and throughout Minor League Baseball that I know will last a lifetime.”
- Franks said he is incredibly grateful to Diamond Baseball Holdings for the expertise, support and belief that the ownership group has brought to the Grizzlies.
- “They’ve strengthened the foundation in meaningful ways, and I leave knowing the team is in a great place with a phenomenal ownership group,” Franks said. “I’m proud of what we’ve built, thankful for the friendships that will last a lifetime, and excited to watch the Grizzlies continue to thrive in the years ahead.”
What we’re watching: The Grizzlies plan to announce a new President and General Manager next week.
