Derek Franks, General Manager

Fresno Grizzlies Triple-A Baseball Club

What we do: Create lasting memories in Downtown Fresno

Education: Fresno State MCJ – public relations major

Age: 30

Family: Wife; Sarah. Daughter; Joni

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You were recently named General Manager for the Grizzlies, what led you to that position, Derek?
I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to work my way up from an intern back in 2004 to General Manager. In Minor League Baseball, you have to balance a lot of hats along the way, so I’ve had a chance to be involved all throughout the organization. What that route has given me is a very unique perspective that has taken me from tickets, to corporate sponsorships, to marketing, and everything in between.

What have been some of the biggest challenges with switching affiliations, Derek?
The biggest challenge has been the misconceptions about what an affiliate change actually means. Our Triple-A franchise rights gives us a guaranteed contract with one of the 30 Major League Baseball teams, which allows you to sign two- or four-year terms. This year, the Giants decided to go to Sacramento, which left us as free agents and the option to sign a contract with the Houston Astros. However, our company has the same ownership, management and staff as before, but the Astros send their players to Fresno to put on the Grizzlies uniform. Some people have thought the team left completely when the Giants left, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. The only place we may go now is the playoffs, since Houston is committed to fielding a very talented team in Fresno.

When the announcement was made, you said you wanted to make Fresno the best minor league team in the country. What steps do you need to take to make that a reality, Derek?
We need to establish a culture that’s not afraid of adapting on a weekly basis, which isn’t always the most comfortable task. We also have to show up every day operating as the best club in the country. That means we pay attention to the little things and treat every day like Opening Night, because quite frankly, every home game is someone’s first night at a Grizzlies game. When our first homestand concludes on April 16th with Tri-Tip Throwdown, I want calls from my peers asking us how we were able to execute at such a high level during the first eight-games of the season. We want to be that visible leader other organizations try to emulate.

How are you looking to engage the community with this new team, Derek?
We introduced new home uniforms that feature our city’s name across the chest, instead of the team name. This isn’t normal, but it sets the tone for being 100% unapologetically Fresno in everything we do. We’ve also shown the ability to meet community needs on the fly, such as running a Thanksgiving Supper Giveaway drive last November, a Coat and Blanket Drive in December, and visiting hundreds of schools during our Wild About Reading from December through March that encourages students to improve their literacy. Triple-A Baseball is the core of our existence, but we want to also be known as a leader in community-centric events and engagement that are non-sports related.

Lately, the Grizzlies have been highlighting the history of professional baseball in Fresno. In your opinion, what is it about the area that makes it such a good fit for the sport, Derek?
There is a rich baseball history in this town. Baseball in Fresno goes all the way back to the late 1800s and the “Outlaw” League. Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig barnstormed Fresno and played games here in the 1920s. The St. Louis Cardinals won two World Series championships in the 1940s when they had Fresno as their affiliate. The Giants had tremendous success with us as well, winning three World Series in five years with talent that has a lot of Fresno connections. There’s also a lot of talent that has come from area high schools and have gone on to be Hall of Famers. I don’t know what is it about Fresno, but it’s always been a baseball town. Houston Astros President of Business Operations Reid Ryan called it the “Fresno Magic” when they visited last fall and said he hoped it would rub off on the Astros in their pursuit of a championship.

Who has been a mentor for you and what did you learn from him/her, Derek?
My father has always been my mentor. He taught me to read the box score when I saw a kid, and I fell in love with the game of baseball because of him. My parents taught me to be humble and pay my dues. I’ve been very fortunate to have so many brilliant people take interest in me and offer to share their knowledge and experiences with me since I got into baseball. I’m where I am today because so many people invested time in me and I couldn’t be more thankful for it.  

What are your roots in the San Joaquin Valley, Derek?
I was born in Avenal, California and grew up in Kingsburg. I went to Reedley College before attending Fresno State. My roots here are pretty deep. I’ve started my own family here in Fresno and hope to be here forever.

Where was your first job and what did you learn from it?
I started throwing the Fresno Bee on a paper route when I was in the eighth grade. I tossed the newspaper every day, rain or shine, holidays, and every day in between for four straight years. Paper carriers are independent contractors, so you run it like a little business. If people didn’t pay their bill, it was taken out of my earnings. In the last few years of doing it, The Bee would fine you $1 for every complaint that got called in by one of the subscribers on your route. So that meant if I did a lousy job, or gave a half effort, I lost money. With nearly 400 houses on my route, I could end up owing more money than I made if I racked up complaints. It was a great experience that taught me to always give it my all. I liked the fact that I didn’t just make money by showing up; I had to earn it and make my customers happy to succeed. It was a great life lesson.

What do you like to do in your spare time, Derek?
I spend as much free time as I can with my wife and daughter. The baseball business keeps you away from home a lot, with early mornings and long nights, so I cherish every moment I have with them. During the offseason, I’m able to get out a little more and get a round of golf in.