The 2016 Pacific Association season was the fourth season of the Pacific Association. There was a four team 78 game schedule. Most series included a three-game series with each team having 39 home games.
The San Rafael Pacifics entered the season as defending champions, having defeated the Sonoma Stompers 4–3 in the league's 2015 championship game.
The season concluded on August 28, with the Sonoma Stompers winning both halves, becoming outright champions.
Team and rule changes The four teams in the league played a 78-game schedule. Each team played 39 games for the first and second half of the season.
In June, the Stompers signed two female players to their roster. Kelsie Whitmore and Stacy Piagno were the third time since the 1950s that women were on a professional baseball team.
In July, Anna Kimbrell joined Piagno and Whitmore to become the first female battery in professional baseball.
Regular season standings as of August 28, 2016
Pacific Association+ Regular Season Standings Pos Team G First half Second half Season record Pct. GB1y – Sonoma Stompers7823–1624–1547–31.603--2e – San Rafael Pacifics7821–1820–1941–37.5266.03e – Pittsburg Diamonds7819–2017–2236–42.46211.04e – Vallejo Admirals7815–2417–2232–46.41015.0
y – Clinched division x – Clinched playoff spot e – Eliminated from playoff contention
Statistical leaders
Hitting Stat Player Team Total HR Jake Taylor San Rafael Pacifics 16 AVG Joel Carranza Sonoma Stompers .316 RBIs Jake Taylor San Rafael Pacifics 74 SB Darian Sandford Vallejo Admirals 99
Pitching Stat Player Team Total W J.R. Bunda, Mike Jackson San Rafael Pacifics, Sonoma Stompers 8 ERA Patrick Conroy San Rafael Pacifics 2.12 SOChris Cummins Pittsburg Diamonds 102 SV J.R. Bunda San Rafael Pacifics 11
To qualify as league leader for hitter, AVG - Minimum of plate appearances of 2.7 per team game. To qualify as league leader for pitcher, ERA - Minimum inning(s) of .8 pitched per team game.
Playoffs Format In 2016, The winner of the first and second half would have played in a best-of-one championship game. However, The Sonoma Stompers won the first half with a 23–16 record and the second half with a 24–15 record, naming them the outright champion.
Individual Awards Award Player Team Most Valuable Player Joel Carranza Sonoma Stompers Pitcher of the Year Patrick Conroy San Rafael Pacifics Reliever of the Year J.R. Bunda San Rafael Pacifics Rookie of the YearMarquis Hutchinson Vallejo Admirals Manager of the Year Takashi Miyoshi Sonoma Stompers Executive of the Year Theo Fightmaster Sonoma Stompers
Defensive Players of the Year
Position Player Team C Mason Morioka Sonoma Stompers 1B Lydell Moseby Vallejo Admirals 2B Chase Tucker San Rafael Pacifics SS Daniel Gonzalez San Rafael Pacifics 3B Gerald Bautista Vallejo Admirals LF Mark Hurley Sonoma Stompers CF Zack Pace San Rafael Pacifics RF Tim Williams Vallejo Admirals P J.R. Bunda San Rafael Pacifics
Notable players Former Major League Baseball players who played in the Pacific Association in 2017 Jose Canseco (Pittsburg) Aaron Miles (Pittsburg) Trent Oeltjen (Pittsburg)
Other notable players who played in the Pacific Association in 2017 Anna Kimbrell (Sonoma) P. J. Phillips (Vallejo) Stacy Piagno (Sonoma) Clayton Tanner (Pittsburg) Kelsie Whitmore (Sonoma)
References