GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) – The Grand Junction Jackalopes’ time in the Grand Valley officially comes to an end, and the team will be relocating, according to a statement from the Pioneer League.
“I am greatly saddened to make this announcement, I know it’s very disappointing for the team’s many fans in the Grand Valley, but after making sincere efforts to keep the team in Grand Junction, it unfortunately didn’t work out as hoped. The PBL will announce shortly where the team will relocate for the 2026 season,” Pioneer Baseball League Team President Mike Shapiro said in a statement.
The Grand Junction Rockies had won a Pioneer League Title in 2022 before rebranding to the Grand Junction Jackalopes.
The Jackalopes had made strides to attact more fans from the Western Slope, including introducing an alternate identity, the “Grand Junction Humpback Chubs” earlier this season.
Originally, the Grand Junction Rockies were an affiliate of the Colorado Rockies in 2011. Prior to that, the team was known as the Butte Copper Kings. The Grand Junction franchise entered the PBL in 1978. Following the 2000 season, the Copper Kings relocated to Casper, WY.
“The Pioneer League remains baseball’s foremost player development league and provides extraordinary, affordable fan experiences in all our local communities. Over this historic season, we attracted over 1 million fans to our charming ballparks throughout the Mountain States and California, and we look forward to introducing our exciting and fun brand of baseball to new communities over the next few years,” Shapiro said in the League’s Statement.
The 2025 Jackalopes finished their final season in Grand Junction on Sunday, with a final record of 41-55.
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