I can’t believe that 2025 is my eighth season since I first started doing this.

What began as a happy accident, an unexpected opportunity that led to an interview with Madison Bumgarner on my very first day, has turned into something I could have never imagined. That first question led to me writing a book, starting a blog, and ultimately… well, here I am, still telling stories, still chasing baseball under the brand-new lights in Sacramento.

As I settle in for the 2025 season covering the River Cats and the Pacific Coast League, I can’t help but reflect on how far things have come, not just for me, but for the players who’ve passed through Sacramento on their way to San Francisco or other Major League cities.

Covering Triple-A baseball in the Pacific Coast League is not unlike watching the final stretch of a marathon but the finish line isn’t the Major Leagues, because that’s when it’s just the beginning. After the grind, only then does the real journey begin. But when you’re in Triple-A, you’re so close you can taste it. I’ve had the privilege of watching players make that jump season after season and sadly, I’ve seen careers that ended ever so close.

I remember Logan Webb’s lone start in Sacramento before becoming a staple in the Giants’ rotation. Guys like Heliot Ramos, Casey Schmitt, Luis Matos, and Hayden Birdsong have all spent time here in Sacramento, and it’s been a thrill watching their development into Major Leaguers.

You see many young players in their raw potential in Triple-A, and you see many more players who’ve had a cup of coffee, hoping for another chance. And then one day, you see them on TV wearing the orange and black, and you think, I remember when… I was close enough to see their sweat, hear their words, or get an autograph. Back when no one knew their names and when all they had was talent and hope.

There have been so many unforgettable moments across these eight seasons, but none so far have topped the 2019 season when the River Cats celebrated 20 years in Sacramento with a Triple-A National Championship; a story you can find in my book Let’s Get it All!

This year brought the return of the Giants, who came back to Sacramento for the second year in a row for an exhibition game against the River Cats. The lineup was packed with most of their regular day to day players, rounded out by some guys who would ultimately start the year in Double-A Richmond. In the hearts of the fans, the Giants had the edge, but for the second straight year, the River Cats pulled off the win, this time by a score of 4-3. Even though it was just an exhibition game, and not the Giants’ full roster, there’s something poetic about the River Cats winning these games because they’re beating the very team they’re all working toward joining.

Eight seasons in, and yes, the dog days of summer is always a grind but it’s something I’m willing to endure. The thrill I still get as I step onto the field and head to the photo wells of Sutter Health Park, and the humility I feel when I look into the crowd most every night and see the eyes of those who dream of even getting this close to their favorite players; those are feelings etched into my soul.

While I can honestly say I don’t see this ever becoming my career, I’ve come to accept that I’ve gotten much more out of it because I’ve done it my way. It’s not about stats or scores for me. And while I still love the walk off wins, the smell of the grass, and the game itself; for me, this is about watching dreams come true. It’s about being there when no one else is, and finding something to write about.

So thank you to the River Cats for giving me more than I ever expected. As I head into year eight, I think about the players who made it, the ones still grinding, and those who quietly hung it up. I think about all the late nights spent writing, and the early mornings heading to the day job with baseball still on my mind. And through it all, I’ll still be here, telling their stories through my eyes.