Future of SF Giants affiliate in question amidst stadium conundrum

The SF Giants High-A affiliate is leaving PK (Patrick Kilkenny) Park, the result of the 2025 deadline put in place by the MLB to ensure all minor league parks meet player and patron requirements.

The people of Eugene, Oregon voted against a measure in 2024, which would have granted the Emeralds a $15 million bond to help build the new stadium. The new stadium was pitched in 2021 after the Ems won the High-A West Championship. The Emeralds, who shared PK Park with the University of Oregon baseball team, will now have to find a new home before 2027 due to new MLB guidelines.

Thousands of fans are heartbroken that minor league baseball is posed to leave Eugene this year. It also leaves the question, where will the Emeralds play after 2027?

SF Giants High-A affiliate in question due to stadium issues

In 1955 the Emeralds established a home in Eugene in the Northwest Baseball League, as well as themselves a pillar of the community. With the PNW lacking an MLB team outside of the Mariners, and Eugene being 4-6 hours away from the next MLB team, many residents find themselves rooting for teams in the Pacific Coast and Northwest leagues. For decades people in Eugene have filled their summers with endless hours of Emeralds baseball.

Despite not always being aligned with the Giants, the Emeralds have always grounded themselves in community. Their alternate-identity "Monarcas de Eugene," celebrates the Latin community in Eugene and baseball as a whole. They work with local and national social works groups like Boys and Girls Club, Red Cross, and Eugene Little League just to name a few. The Emeralds are not only a pivotal part of SF Giants development, but to the city of Eugene's identity.

After the realignment of the minor leagues by the MLB in 2020, the SF Giants extended an offer to the Emeralds to become the official High-A affiliate. Prior to 2020, the Emeralds had been the primary affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, but the SF Giants have now been reconnected with their original minor league team.

Notable Giants who have come up through Eugene since 2021 include Patrick Bailey, Luis Matos, Ryan Walker, Marco Luciano, Kai Wei Tang, Carson Weisenhunt and of course Bryce Eldridge.

Lets take a walk back to July 4, 2023. A hot summer night in Eugene, and on any other night the stadium may have been empty by the ninth inning with the Emeralds up three to nothing against the Tri City Dust Devils. But not on this night. No, on this night PK park was still buzzing in the ninth, and budding talent Hayden Birdsong had thrown 11 strikeouts. He was supported by the bullpen to throw a combined no hitter.

The stadium erupted in a standing ovation. Fireworks were set off for the Fourth of July as the Emeralds danced on the infield grass. It was the definition of romance in baseball, and a moment anyone who was in that ball park will remember forever. The combined no-hitter was symbolic of what the Emeralds mean to the City of Eugene: combined effort towards something greater.

The Giants organization needs to figure out a new home for the Emeralds before 2027 comes to ensure there is no hitch in the development process of young talent. Not only is it important as to not impede the development process, but also to maintain the integrity of an organization that is currently living in the shadow of their rivals.

In order to be a legitimately scary team, the Giants need to be committed to winning up and down in the organization from San Jose to Sacramento. Paying attention to the small details not only wins you games, but makes you a historically significant team. In the era of inordinate payrolls and superstar power, it is important for the Giants not to forget that it is their roots that will ground them in their shot at becoming a perennial playoff contender again.

The Emeralds made a great run in 2025, going on a torrid surge in the second half of the season to make it to the playoffs. Unfortunately, they lost in the championship series but it was still a great run for the team.

Anyone who has experienced the Emeralds community knows that they are committed to the organization, and are committed to keeping the team in the area as there are talks of moving the team to the near by town of Medford.

While they have assurance through 2027, the SF Giants organization needs to do the small things right from the top to the bottom, in their pursuit of bringing the Commissioner's Trophy back to San Francisco as well as giving back to the fans who have supported the team despite the lack of baseball in the PNW.