The Pecos League says goodbye to Monterey Amberjacks.The City of Monterey will not renew the Monterey Amberjacks contract for the next five year period which would have included the 2024 season. The Amberjacks were in the final year of a five year contract in 2023. Sollectio Park and Monterey were one of the original Pecos League California Teams launched in the 2017 season when Bakersfield and High Desert left MILB. Sollectio Park is one of the only pieces of flat ground on the Peninsula and is used almost 300 days a year for every sport imaginable. The Amberjacks were only allowed to play Friday/Saturday/Sunday Nights and were never allowed to sell food concessions or take batting practice.
Two players who began their careers as 2017 Amberjacks (Logan Gillapse and Jared Koenig) ultimately reached the Major Leagues.
In 2018 the Pacific Division remained intact until Covid with Bakersfield, High Desert, California City and Monterey. The Amberjacks went 19-43 under Chuck Rocker, James Prockish and Edilson Alvarez. 14 of the their players were signed to the Can-Am League in July including Alvarez who was the first round pick in the CanAM dispersal draft.
In 2019 the Amberjacks finally qualified for the playoffs for the first time in team history. The team finished 36-25 and hosted the teams only playoff game in team history. Despite being swept in the first round by Bakersfield this was the best season yet for the Amberjacks.
Also In 2019 Wasco joined the Pecos League and Tucson rejoined the Pacific to have six teams in the Pacific Division.
In 2021 Adrian Martinez was hired as Monterey Amberjacks Manager. The Amberjacks finished with a 14-24 record. Due to a Covid breakout for Bakersfield, all four Bay Area Teams were left to play in internal tournament won by San Rafael. After Covid wiped out California City and High Desert the Pecos League moved to the Bay Area for 2021 adding Santa Cruz, Martinez and San Rafael and having an all California Division.
In 2022 the Amberjacks again failed to make the playoffs despite having a large lead over Santa Rosa with two weeks left in the season. The Amberjacks finished the season 21-29. In 2022 Tucson rejoined the Pacific Division along with the Santa Rosa Scuba Divers.
For the final Amberjacks season of 2023 the Amberjacks played in all California Pacific Division with Lancaster replacing Tucson. The Amberjacks went 31-18 under Jon Garza finishing in 2nd place in the Division. The City of Monterey did not allow the Amberjacks to host a playoff game. Instead the Amberjacks had to goto Bakersfield where they lost 2 of out 3 games.
The Pecos League will always keep the doors open in Monterey and will return the Pecos League to Six Teams in the Pacific Division for 2024 season.
