There may be baseball returning to Suplizio Field this summer, if a new proposal garners enough support from Grand Junction City Council.

For the past 15 years, Suplizio Field had been the summer home to the franchise known originally as the Grand Junction Rockies (and later Jackalopes and Humpback Chubs). But when the franchise announced their impending relocation in September, it figured to leave Grand Junction without a professional baseball team.

But according to a release from the City of Grand Junction, another independent baseball league has issued a proposal to have a new franchise play their home games at Suplizio Field beginning in 2026.

Over the course of the offseason, the Pioneer League — the independent league that the Jackalopes were affiliated with — announced not only the relocation of the Jackalopes but also the departure of the Colorado Springs-based Rocky Mountain Vibes. The franchise known formerly as the Northern Colorado Owlz, who were forced out of their home stadium in Windsor in June, finished out the season in Colorado Springs before also announcing they would be leaving the Centennial State, leaving the Pioneer League without an operating presence in Colorado.

With the league’s departure, the only independent semi-professional baseball team currently based in the state are the Trinidad Triggers of the Houston-based Pecos League. Now, that league is looking to expand by putting a new franchise in the Grand Valley.

According to a release from City Council, the City of Grand Junction issued a Request for Proposals to replace any potential lost income in the wake of the newfound vacancy at Suplizio Field. Evidently, the Pecos League has answered the call.

In contrast to the more Savannah Bananas-esque Pioneer League, the Pecos League prides itself on producing a more traditional baseball product — in fact, the league is currently the only professional league operating in the United States that does not allow teams to utilize designated hitters. The 16-team league currently has franchises located in Texas, California, New Mexico, Arizona, Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas, alongside the Colorado-based Triggers and a potential Grand Junction franchise.

According to a staff report from City Council’s workshop session on Monday, the proposed franchise would play only 18 games at Suplizio Field this summer, a step back from the 45 the Jackalopes played at home annually. This would allow “other uses at the stadium and also reduces wear and tear on the complex,” according to the staff report on the proposal, presented by GJ Parks and Recreation Director Ken Sherbenou.

Though the City of Grand Junction has yet to formally accept the league’s proposal to bring a new franchise to town, the league already owns the domain name grandjunctioncliffhangers.com, from which they are selling T-shirts and jerseys branded in black and orange that sport the nickname Cliff Hangers.

According to the release, City Council is set to discuss the proposal to bring a Pecos League franchise to Grand Junction on Feb. 4, with a formal decision regarding the introduction of a new franchise expected to be announced next week.