Visalia, CA – Ryder Helfrick, the 15th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, had three hits including a go-ahead home run in his pro debut as the Visalia Rawhide (41-62, 13-24) outlasted the Fresno Grizzlies (57-46, 21-16) 10-9 in 11 innings on Tuesday evening at Chukchansi Park
Helfrick blasted a massive go-ahead solo home run in the eighth inning that cleared the right field ballpark entrance gate. He recorded his first pro hit with a double in the third and added a single in the fourth finishing a triple shy of the cycle.
Fresno tied the game with a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth. The teams traded runs in the tenth with Carson Kerce, D-backs 2nd round draft pick, hitting a go-ahead RBI single in the top half of the inning.
Pedro Blanco played hero in the eleventh inning with a go-ahead RBI single to right field that scored the designated runner Adriel Radney from second.
Raul Garayzar pitched the final three innings without allowing an earned run to secure his team leading seventh win of the season.
Visalia got out to an early lead with Yerald Nin doubling to lead off the second and scoring on a Kerce RBI single.
The Rawhide added four more runs in the fourth. Tytus Cissell hit a double down the left field line and Brayden Dowd, D-backs 3rd round draft pick, drove him in with an RBI double for his first pro hit. Abdias De La Cruz followed with an RBI double off the left field wall and Ivan Luciano hit an RBI single for a 4-0 Rawhide lead.
The Grizzlies then scored seven straight runs with three in the fourth, one in the fifth and three more in the sixth.
In the eighth Kerce led off with a base hit and Dowd walked. Then with two outs Luciano bashed a game tying three run homer over the right field wall. Helfrick would immediately follow with his big fly to give Visalia the lead.
Justin Martinez made an MLB Rehab start for Visalia tossing a perfect first inning with two strikeouts. It was the big leaguer’s first appearance since pitching for the D-backs last June. He pitched for the Rawhide in 2021 as a minor leaguer. Martinez is scheduled to start on Friday as well for Visalia.
Fresno now leads the Highway 99 Rivalry Series 11-8 over Visalia with five games left to play this week.
Game two of the series in Fresno is scheduled for Wednesday at 6:50 PM at Chukchansi Park. Fans can listen to the whole series for free on the Rawhide Broadcast Network via the Rawhide’s website.
The Rawhide return to Valley Strong Ballpark on Tuesday, August 18 to open a six game series with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.
All Rawhide tickets are available through the team’s website and at the stadium box office from 10 AM to 4 PM on weekday gamedays.
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The Visalia Rawhide are the Single-A Affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks playing professional baseball in the Central Valley since 1946. The Rawhide's 2026 theme is "Savor the Season" as the team transforms into the Central Valley Sir Loins on Saturday gamedays.
Stay up to date with the Rawhide on the team’s website and by following the Rawhide on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok and X. The Rawhide play all home games at Valley Strong Ballpark located at 300 N Giddings Street Visalia, CA 93291.
Fans can purchase season ticket packages, group ticket plans, single game tickets and team merchandise through the Rawhide website and at the stadium ticket office sponsored by Kaweah Health. All Rawhide games can be watched on MLB.TV and the Bally Sports Live App with a free radio broadcast also available online. Select home games will be aired on KNXT MyTV53. For more information, visit milb.com/visalia, email info@rawhidebaseball.com or call (559) 732-4433.