1997 Visalia Oaks Roster
Team Record: 71-69
Finished 2nd in the CL's Freeway Division
Manager: Tony DeFrancesco (71-69)
Affiliation: Oakland Athletics
Location: Visalia, California
Ballpark: Recreation Park
Attendance: 80,078, Avg. 1,144 in 70 home dates
Playoffs - San Bernardino Stampede 2 games, Visalia Oaks 0
The Visalia Oaks of the California League ended the 1997 season with a record of 71 wins and 69 losses, finishing second in the league's Freeway Division.
The Oaks scored 763 runs and gave up 809 runs, most in the circuit. Eric Chavez led Visalia with 18 home runs, and Ramón Hernández walloped 15 or more also. Eric Chavez drove in 100 runs. Dave Slemmer paced all qualifying hitters on the roster with a .280 average. Brett Laxton and Todd Abbott topped the squad with 11 wins each, while Brett Laxton recorded a 3 ERA, best among hurlers with significant time on the mound.
Members of the 1997 Visalia Oaks who played in Major League Baseball during their careers were Ryan Christenson, Chad Harville, David Newhan, Kevin Gregg, Billy Brewer, Benito Báez, Ramón Hernández, Eric DuBose, Danny Ardoin, Jeff DaVanon, Eric Chavez and Brett Laxton.
Tony DeFrancesco served as manager.Click on column headings to sort.
| Player | Bats | Throws | Birth Date | Height | Weight | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Todd Abbott | R | R | September 13, 1973 | 6'4" | 200 | Little Rock, AR US |
| Oscar Abreu | R | R | February 21, 1976 | 6'1" | 175 | Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional DO |
| Danny Ardoin | R | R | July 8, 1974 | 6'0" | 205 | Mamou, LA US |
| Benito Báez | L | L | May 6, 1977 | 6'0" | 160 | Bonao, Monsenor Nouel DO |
| Brad Blumenstock | R | R | February 19, 1975 | 6'6" | 225 | Carbondale, IL US |
| D. J. Boston | L | L | September 6, 1971 | 6'7" | 230 | Cincinnati, OH US |
| Billy Brewer | L | L | April 15, 1968 | 6'1" | 175 | Fort Worth, TX US |
| MacGregor Byers | R | R | July 22, 1974 | 6'0" | 185 | Houston, TX US |
| Dionys Cesar | S | R | September 27, 1976 | 6'1" | 194 | Yamasa, Monte Plata DO |
| Eric Chavez | L | R | December 7, 1977 | 6'1" | 215 | Los Angeles, CA US |
| Ryan Christenson | R | R | March 28, 1974 | 5'11" | 175 | Redlands, CA US |
| Jeff DaVanon | S | R | December 8, 1973 | 6'0" | 185 | San Diego, CA US |
| Eric DuBose | L | L | May 15, 1976 | 6'3" | 230 | Bradenton, FL US |
| Joe Espada | R | R | August 30, 1975 | 5'10" | 175 | Santurce, PR |
| Duane Filchner | L | L | February 28, 1973 | 6'1" | 185 | Allentown, PA US |
| Kevin Gregg | R | R | June 20, 1978 | 6'6" | 245 | Corvallis, OR US |
| Chad Harville | R | R | September 16, 1976 | 5'9" | 180 | Selmer, TN US |
| Ramón Hernández | R | R | May 20, 1976 | 6'0" | 220 | Caracas, Distrito Federal VE |
| Mike Holmes | R | R | October 11, 1975 | 6'2" | 200 | Greensboro, NC US |
| Bob Kazmirski | R | R | June 24, 1972 | 6'3" | 200 | Van Nuys, CA US |
| Brian Kern | R | R | May 11, 1974 | 6'0" | 185 | Benton, IL US |
| Mike Koerner | L | L | March 28, 1976 | 6'0" | 190 | Stratford, NJ US |
| Eddie Lara | R | R | October 30, 1975 | 5'10" | 180 | Bani, Peravia DO |
| Brett Laxton | L | R | October 5, 1973 | 6'2" | 205 | Stratford, NJ US |
| Todd Mensik | L | L | February 27, 1975 | 6'2" | 190 | Chicago, IL US |
| Alex Miranda | L | L | May 14, 1972 | 6'2" | 205 | Miami Beach, FL US |
| Kevin Mlodik | R | R | August 21, 1974 | 6'1" | 205 | Stevens Point, WI US |
| Chris Morrison | R | R | April 3, 1972 | 6'0" | 195 | Albany, NY US |
| David Newhan | L | R | September 7, 1973 | 5'10" | 180 | Fullerton, CA US |
| Jake O'Dell | R | R | September 22, 1973 | 6'1" | 205 | Carmel, CA US |
| Jose Paulino | R | R | January 24, 1977 | 6'4" | 180 | San Cristobal, San Cristobal DO |
| Troy Penix | L | L | August 25, 1971 | 6'4" | 230 | Stockton, CA US |
| Juan Perez | L | L | March 28, 1973 | 6'0" | 178 | La Romana, La Romana DO |
| Joe Petcka | R | R | October 20, 1970 | 6'3" | 195 | Clintonville, WI US |
| Roberto Ramirez | R | R | March 18, 1970 | 6'2" | 180 | Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional DO |
| Troy Rauer | R | R | November 18, 1972 | 6'4" | 225 | St. Joseph, MO US |
| Dave Slemmer | R | R | March 29, 1973 | 6'0" | 187 | Highland, IL US |
| Andy Smith | R | R | January 29, 1975 | 6'5" | 210 | Kannapolis, NC US |
| Roberto Vaz | L | L | March 15, 1975 | 5'9" | 190 | Brooklyn, NY US |
| Wilfredo Ventura | R | R | October 11, 1976 | 5'11" | 210 | Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional DO |
| Todd Weinberg | R | L | June 13, 1972 | 6'3" | 235 | Fall River, MA US |
Average attendance is based upon the number of actual home dates where known (most leagues from 1992 and later). Where the number of home dates is not known, the average is calculated using half the team's total games.
