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Hammons Field Groundskeeper Wins Minor League Award

Hammons Field Groundskeeper Wins Minor League Award

Hammons Field Groundskeeper Wins Minor League Award

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Brock Phipps has won the ‘Sports Field Manager of the Year’ award for the Double-A division for the seventh time and the first time since 2016.

The award is given by the Sports Turf Managers Association and Minor League Baseball.

Winners across the minor leagues were recognized for their work providing safe and great looking playing fields.

For the full press release, see below.

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Sports Turf Managers Association, Minor League Baseball Announce
2019 ‘Sports Field Managers of the Year’ Sponsored by STMA and Echo Tools
Award Recipients Honored at Baseball Winter Meetings in San Diego on December 9

(LAWRENCE, Kan.) – Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) and Minor League Baseball (MiLB) award the 2019 ‘Sports Field Managers of the Year’ sponsored by STMA and Echo Tools.

This year’s winners continuously demonstrate the hard work and passion needed to provide attractive and safe playing fields at all levels. Amongst the honorees are multiple repeat winners including one sports field manager who is being recognized for the third consecutive season. Award recipients will receive this top honor at the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings during the Awards Luncheon on Monday, December 9, at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront in San Diego, California.

Award winners include:

  • Triple-A – Matt Parrott, Charlotte Knights (Charlotte, N.C.)
  • Double-A – Brock Phipps, Springfield Cardinals (Springfield, Mo.)
  • Single-A – Mitch Hooten,  West Michigan Whitecaps (Comstock Park, MI.)
  • Short Season or Rookie – Ross Baron, Vancouver Canadians (Vancouver, B.C.)

“The stellar submissions for this year’s MiLB Sports Field Manager of the Year awards highlights the critical role that STMA members play in presenting first class venues for players, coaches and fans,” says Kim Heck, CAE, CEO of STMA. “We are proud to honor the widespread talent and tireless commitment to excellence of our Minor League Baseball sports field managers.”

Matt Parrott from the Charlotte Knights (International League) repeats for a third time as the Triple-A ‘Sports Field Manager of the Year’ award winner after receiving the honor in 2017 and 2018. He also won the award in the Double-A class in 2011 as a member of the Bowie Baysox (Eastern League). Parrott’s other accolades include winning the ‘Eastern League Diamond Pro Sports Field Manager of the Year’ in 2011, 2014, and 2015.

Brock Phipps wins the Double-A ‘Sports Field Manager of the Year’ award for the seventh time as a member of the Springfield Cardinals (Texas League). He previously won the award in 2008 and from 2013 through 2016. Hammons Field, home of the Cardinals where Phipps is the Head Groundskeeper, has become one of the most decorated venues in professional baseball, winning Double-A Field of the Year a record setting six times.

Mitch Hooten from the West Michigan Whitecaps (Midwest League) wins the Single-A ‘Sports Field Manager of the Year’ award for the first time. His team worked diligently to provide a premier playing surface for the future stars of the Detroit Tigers. A 2012 Graduate of Mississippi State, Hooten spent the 2016 season as the Head Groundskeeper for the Beloit Snappers.

Ross Baron wins this year’s Short Season/Rookie ‘Sports Field Manager of the Year’ award as a member of the Vancouver Canadians (Northwest League). He began his career in 2012 when he completed an internship with the World Series Champion Washington Nationals. A native of Gibsons, B.C., this marks the first time that a Canadians Head Groundskeeper has been recognized with the award.

Since 2000, STMA and MiLB have honored members who manage fields in Triple-A, Double-A, Single-A and Short Season or Rookie divisions. Winners are selected via a 12-member awards committee, compiled by STMA. Each nominee is independently scored on cultural practices, game day routine, resource utilization, staff management and the groundskeeper’s involvement and support of the sports field industry. Previous MiLB award winners can be found at stma.org/milb.

STMA.org | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube
More information: 800.323.3875.

About STMA
STMA is the non-profit, professional association for men and women who manage sports fields worldwide. Since 1981, it has provided education, information and practical knowledge in the art and science of sports field management. More than 2,700 members across 32 local chapters oversee facilities at schools, colleges and universities, parks and recreational facilities, and professional sports stadiums. Sports include football, baseball, soccer, lacrosse, softball, rugby and horse racing.

About Minor League Baseball
Minor League Baseball, headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, is the governing body for all professional baseball teams in the United States, Canada and the Dominican Republic that are affiliated with Major League Baseball® clubs through their farm systems. Fans are coming out in unprecedented numbers to this one-of-a-kind experience that can only be found at Minor League Baseball ballparks. In 2019, Minor League Baseball attracted 41.5 million fans to its ballparks to see the future stars of the sport hone their skills. From the electricity in the stands to the excitement on the field, Minor League Baseball has provided affordable family-friendly entertainment to people of all ages since its founding in 1901. For more information visit MiLB.com.

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