Newly Hatched Yuba-Sutter Freebirds Launch 2026 Season
As part of the Pioneer Baseball League’s weekly spotlight series leading into Opening Day, the league is highlighting each of its four new clubs joining the PBL in 2026. This week’s focus: the Yuba-Sutter Freebirds
The Pioneer League's newly renamed Yuba-Sutter Freebirds are ushering in a new era at Bryant Field in Marysville, CA with upgraded ballpark amenities, a renewed fan experience, and a bold new identity centered around fun, family-friendly minor league baseball.
With Opening Day less than two weeks away, the Freebirds have announced several new ballpark upgrades aimed at enhancing the fan experience, including expanded food and beverage options and a new program of in-game entertainment.
After playing the 2025 season as the Yuba-Sutter "High Wheelers" following the club's relocation from Davis, CA, the organization sought to develop a new identity more closely tied to the local community alongside major investments into Bryant Field and the overall game-day experience under the club's new ownership group, Innovation Baseball Partners.
Created in collaboration with Asheville, NC based design firm Project 13, the "Freebirds" brand identity pulls inspiration from two unique parts of the region: the wild chickens that have become the community's unofficial mascots throughout the Yuba-Sutter region and the aviation history of nearby Beale Air Force Base.
"We weren't trying to make just another baseball brand," said Project 13 founder Richard Norris. "The identity had to feel authentic to Yuba-Sutter. This community already had so much personality to pull from; our job was to bring that to life in a way people here could feel connected to."
For the Freebirds, that meant embracing a more creative and daring approach. "Sometimes taking a big swing means breaking the 'rules' of baseball," General Manager Harrison Shapiro said.
Beyond the new identity, the Freebirds are pairing the 2026 season with major upgrades throughout historic Bryant Field while preserving the intimate, close-to-the-action atmosphere that has long made the ballpark one of the best venues in Northern California to attend a ballgame.
A new first base patio will feature a full bar and street tacos, creating a new social gathering spot along the first base line. In left field, a brand-new kid's zone will include a bouncy house, inflatable games, cornhole, and an air-conditioned tent designed for younger fans and families.
Additional improvements across the ballpark include upgraded concessions and merchandise areas, increased shaded seating, fresh paint and signage reflecting the team's new identity, colorful LED lighting along the outfield fence, and an expanded between-innings entertainment program aimed at providing fans with an exceptional and fun experience for every game. New food offerings, including cheesesteaks and 10-inch pretzel dogs, are also part of the club's effort to make Bryant Field a true summer destination for families throughout Yuba-Sutter.
For more information and to order tickets go to: https://tickets.freebirdsbaseball.com/
