BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- The Blaze franchise may be leaving Bakersfield, but it doesn't mean the city will be without professional baseball next season.

In an ABC23 exclusive, Sports Director Pep Fernandez has discovered that Golden Baseball League Chief Executive Officer Dave Kaval toured Sam Lynn Ballpark on Tuesday, and met with Kern County officials about bringing a GBL team to Bakersfield.

The Golden Baseball League is an independent league on the West Coast featuring eight teams from Canada to Orange County, and cities in between, ABC23 reported.

GBL Commissioner Kevin Outcalt said that if the Blaze franchise leaves town, the GBL is ready to expand to Bakersfield and bring a team to Sam Lynn Ballpark.

The Blaze is currently the single-A affiliate for the Texas Rangers.

Blaze General Manager Shawn Schoolcraft said the Rangers are ready to leave the California League for the Carolina League because of lagging attendance and the worsening condition of historic Sam Lynn Ballpark -- which was built in 1941.

Schoolcraft said if the Rangers had a better ballpark for the Blaze to play in they wouldn't consider moving the team to the East Coast.