Hartford Yard Goats' Groundskeeper Among Nation's Best

Hartford Yard Goats

HARTFORD, CT — The man behind a Hartford-based baseball stadium's iconic field was recently honored by the league as one of the best groundskeepers in 2024.

The Hartford Yard Goats, the AA Eastern League affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, said Minor League Baseball named Yard Goats Field Operations Manager Matt Piersanti has been named the Eastern League and AA Head Groundskeeper of the Year.

The award is selected by Major League Baseball with nominations made by individuals across the industry, including field managers, who provide feedback throughout the season on the quality and condition of the playing field.

It is the fourth time that a Yard Goats groundskeeper has been chosen for the top field award.

Kyle Calhoon was selected as the Eastern League Sports Field Manager of the Year in 2017, 2018 and 2022.

Piersanti is currently in his third season with Yard Goats as field operations manager after being hired by the club in 2022.

The Guilford native came to the Yard Goats after serving as the head groundskeeper of the Missoula PaddleHeads in Montana as part of the MLB Partner League.

Piersanti also worked on the fields at the University of Portland in Oregon. He graduated from Elon University in North Carolina in 2021, and received a certificate of Turfgrass Management from UMass Amherst.

“We take great pride in our field, and this is a very deserving award for Matt, and the grounds crew at Dunkin’ Park,” Yard Goats General Manager Mike Abramson said. “Matt shows dedication, passion, and attention to detail in providing the best field for our players, and it’s great to see that he is getting recognized by MLB.”

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