Willy the Wild Chicken, the newly introduced mascot of the Yuba-Sutter Freebirds, was revealed during the team’s Feb. 13 rebrand announcement and will represent the club beginning in the 2026 season. Photo Courtesy of Yuba-Sutter Freebirds

MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - The Yuba-Sutter High Wheelers announced last week that the team is rebranding as the Yuba-Sutter Freebirds, unveiling a new name, mascot and fan-focused improvements set to debut during the 2026 Pioneer League season.

The announcement was made during an unveiling speech at the Yuba-Sutter Chamber Awards Gala on Feb. 13 at Hard Rock Live in Wheatland, where team officials said the change reflects a desire to better represent the spirit and identity of the region, following feedback from local fans after the club’s first season at Bryant Field.

“A sports organization should be representative of the community it plays for,” said Harrison Shapiro, general manager of the Yuba-Sutter Freebirds. “We listened, developed and are now ready to unveil the new team set to represent our region. The Freebirds name represents everything we want this team to be. It’s fearless, it’s fun and it doesn’t take itself too seriously, while still being competitive and proud of where we come from.”

Along with the rebrand, the team introduced its new mascot, Willy the Wild Chicken, described as a quirky but meaningful symbol of the area’s independent character. Team officials described the wild chicken as “a symbol of a community that is fiercely independent, resilient and unapologetically itself” during the unveiling speech.

The organization also tied the “Freebirds” theme to local agriculture and nearby Beale Air Force Base, calling it a tribute to those who work and serve under the open sky.

The franchise began in Davis in 2024 as the Yolo High Wheelers, winning a Pioneer League championship before relocating to Marysville and playing its first season at Bryant Field in 2025. Freebirds co-owner Lon Hatamiya said the team hopes to build on the region’s long-standing baseball traditions, also noting the historic significance of Bryant Field as one of the oldest and most historic baseball parks still in use in the state.

“Baseball has always mattered in this community,” Hatamiya said. “It’s a key part of our summer nights and family traditions. The Freebirds are here to carry that legacy forward while creating something new that the next generation can call their own.”

In addition to new branding and merchandise, the team announced planned upgrades to the Bryant Field game-day experience, including a new hospitality deck and expanded children’s activities.

“This rebrand is about more than a new name or logo,” Shapiro said. “It is about improving the full game-day experience.”

Planned additions include a social deck with a bar behind first base and a new kids zone featuring inflatables, water features and other family-friendly attractions.

The Yuba-Sutter Freebirds are scheduled to open the 2026 season under their new name on May 19 at Bryant Field, with new uniforms and in-park experiences tied to the updated identity. Fans can follow the team on social media or sign up for updates through the club’s official website.

“This is Freebirds baseball,” the organization said. “Reimagined, reenergized, uncaged and ready to take flight.”