The Visalia Rawhide ended their 2026 California League regular season with an 8-3 defeat to the Stockton Ports on September 6 at Valley Strong Ballpark in Visalia, California.
Visalia struck first when Nathan Hall launched a three-run home run in the first inning, marking his third professional homer in just 11 games. However, the Ports quickly responded, plating four runs in the second inning and adding three more in the third to take control of the game. Stockton added another run in the fourth inning, while Visalia was unable to score again.
Pedro Blanco extended his on-base streak to 14 games, capping a standout season. Blanco finished 2026 with 18 home runs—second most by a Rawhide player this decade and fourth in the California League this season—and totaled 66 RBIs, the third highest single-season total in a decade for the team. He also led the club with 91 hits in 107 games played.
On the mound, relief pitchers combined for a strong effort. Ricardo Yan pitched three innings, allowing just three hits and striking out three. Kelvin Rosario and Gregori Ramirez combined to throw three additional scoreless innings of relief.
Looking ahead, the Rawhide will start their 2027 season on April 2 with a three-game road series against the Fresno Grizzlies. Their home opener is scheduled for April 6 versus the San Jose Giants at Valley Strong Ballpark.
CSB Take
Although the Visalia Rawhide closed the 2026 season with a loss, Pedro Blanco’s historic offensive production stands out as a major positive for the team. His combination of power hitting and consistent on-base presence reflects the potential within the Rawhide roster as they develop talent for the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. With these building blocks, Visalia aims to improve team results in the coming California League season starting in spring 2027.
Source: Original report
