Grand Junction Jackalopes

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Grand Junction Jackalopes
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Minor league affiliations
ClassIndependent (from 2021)
Previous classesRookie (1978–1985, 1987–2020)
Previous leagues
Pioneer League (1978–1985, 1987–2025)
Major league affiliations
TeamIndependent (from 2021)
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Minor league titles
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  • 1981
  • 2022
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  • 1981
  • 1988
  • 1989
  • 2018
  • 2022
Team data
NameGrand Junction Jackalopes (2023–2025)
Previous names
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  • Grand Junction Rockies (2012–2022)
  • Casper Ghosts (2008–2011)
  • Casper Rockies (2001–2007)
  • Butte Copper Kings (1978–1985, 1987–2000)
ColorsPurple majesty, sky blue, desert sunset[1]
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MascotJake the Jacked-alope
BallparkSuplizio Field (2012–2025)
Previous parks
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PresidentMick Ritter
ManagerFrank Gonzales
Websitegjjackalopes.com

The Grand Junction Jackalopes were an independent baseball team of the Pioneer League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball (MLB) but is an MLB Partner League. They were located in Grand Junction, Colorado, and played their home games at Suplizio Field. They were formerly named the Rockies, after the Colorado Rockies, who were their major league affiliate from 2001 to 2020 prior to the league becoming independent.

Franchise history

The Butte Copper Kings, named for the once-powerful owners of the copper mines of Butte, Montana, began play in the Pioneer League in 1978 as a co-op team with players from the Philadelphia Phillies, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, and Texas Rangers organizations as well as a few free agents.[2]

Beginning in 1987, the franchise had been operated by Silverbow Baseball. It was sold in 1996 to the Goldklang Group in a move necessary to stem conflict-of-interest issues when Silverbow head Jim McCurdy had taken the position of President of the Pioneer League in 1994.[3] Silverbow had attempted to sell the franchise in 1994 to investors from California, but the deal fell through when it was determined that Silverbow owned a lesser percentage of the franchise than he had purported to own.[4]

Following the 2000 season, the team relocated to Casper, Wyoming as the Casper Rockies (and was renamed the Ghosts before the 2008 season,[5]) and affiliated with Colorado.[6]

On January 13, 2011, Casper Professional Baseball Club, LLC announced the sale of the team to Monfort Investment Group, a group headed by Colorado Rockies General Partners.[7] On October 17, 2011, Grand Junction city officials unanimously approved a lease agreement to the team, making Suplizio Field home to the newly renamed Grand Junction Rockies.[8]

File:Grand Junction Rockies logo.svg
Logo of the Grand Junction Rockies, used until 2022

In conjunction with a contraction of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Pioneer League was converted from an MLB-affiliated Rookie Advanced league to an independent baseball league and granted status as an MLB Partner League, with Grand Junction continuing as a member.[9]

On November 4, 2022, the team officially announced their new name of the Grand Junction Jackalopes.[10]

In 2025, the Jackalopes announced that they would adopt the name Grand Junction Humpback Chubs, after a fish found in the Colorado River, for Wednesday home games.[11]

The Jackalopes announced they will be relocating from Grand Junction to a new location in 2026.[12]

Roster

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Active (25-man) Roster Coaching Staff
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Pitchers

  • 12 Josh Agnew
  • 27 Cody Clark
  • 28 Cade Crader
  • 33 Jimmy Dobrash
  • 35 Israel Fuentes
  • 4 Tyler Johnson
  • 31 Alex Leach
  • 23 Brett Matthews
  • 24 Trevin Reynolds
  • 10 Chase Stratton
  • 30 Luke Summers
  • 16 Michael Townsend
  • 49 James Varela
  • 32 Aydan Alger


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Catchers

  • 19 Austin Elder
  • 25 Tyler Sandoval

Infielders

  • 6 Jake Anderson
  • 8 Vinny Esposito
  • 1 Kevin Maldonado
  • 2 Alexis Monge
  • 29 Luke Roskam

Outfielders

  • 18 Josh Elver
  • 21 Jose Gutierrez
  • 20 Dondrei Hubbard
  • 17 Frankie Jezioro
  • 5 Rolando Martinez
  • 11 Nate Scantlin

Manager

  • -- Jimmy Johnson

Coaches

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  • Injury icon Disabled list
  • ‡ Inactive list
  • >§ Suspended list
  • Roster updated April 18, 2024 Transactions

Notable players

Butte Copper Kings,[13] Casper Rockies and Casper Ghosts[14] players who have made appearances on Major League teams:

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References

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  1. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Caputo, Paul (November 4, 2022). "Grand Junction Rockies rebrand as Jackalopes". SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  2. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Pioneer Adds Butte". The Sporting News. February 25, 1978. p. 63.
  3. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Copper Kings Have New Owners, Affiliation". bozemandailychronicle.com. Bozeman Daily Chronicle. June 18, 1996. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  4. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Jury Rules in Favor of Former Cooper Kings Team Owner". bozemandailychronicle.com. Bozeman Daily Chronicle. October 12, 1996. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  5. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Casper Ghosts Launch Glow-in-the-Dark Identity". ghostsbaseball.com. Casper Ghosts. October 31, 2007. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  6. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Affiliations: Pioneer League". The Official Site of the Pioneer League. Pioneer Baseball League. Retrieved May 9, 2011.
  7. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Monfort Investment Group Purchases Casper Ghosts". Official Site of the Casper Ghosts. Casper Ghosts. January 13, 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  8. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Grand Junction officials OK Casper Ghosts' move to Colorado". trib.com. Casper Star Tribune. October 17, 2011.
  9. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Pioneer League named MLB Partner League". Baseball America. November 30, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  10. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Meet the Grand Junction Jackalopes". November 4, 2022. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  11. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Steig, Stina (July 1, 2025) [June 25, 2025]. "Grand Junction minor league baseball team embraces threatened Colorado fish by becoming the Humpback Chubs". Colorado Public Radio News. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  12. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Grand Junction Jackalopes on the Move" (Press release). Stadium Journey. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  13. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Butte Alumni". thebaseballcube.com. The Baseball Cube. Retrieved June 9, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  14. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Casper Alumni". thebaseballcube.com. The Baseball Cube. Retrieved June 9, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)

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