HARTFORD, Conn. — The Hartford Yard Goats can add another victory to their most successful season in franchise history.
Yard Goats Field Operations Manager Matt Piersanti has been named the Eastern League & Double-A Head Groundskeeper of the Year.
According to Major League Baseball and a release from the Yard Goats, Hartford’s Dunkin’ Park had the best playing field in all Double-A baseball in 2024.
“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’s getting recognized by the MLB.”
The award is chosen by the MLB with nominations given by individuals across the country, including field managers, all who provide feedback throughout the season regarding the quality and condition of each stadium’s playing field.
Piersanti, a Guilford native, was hired as Field Operations Manager for the Yard Goats in 2022. He arrived in Hartford after working as the head groundskeeper for the Missoula PaddleHeads in Montana, a franchise that is part of an MLB partner league.
Piersanti also gained experience while working on the fields at the University of Portland in Oregon. He is a graduate of Elon University in North Carolina and received a certificate of Turfgrass Management from UMass Amherst.
This is the fourth time a Yard Goats groundskeeper has been formally recognized. Kyle Calhoon was selected as the Eastern League Sports Field Manager of the Year in 2017, 2018 and 2022.
The 2025 season for the Yard Goats kicks off on Friday, April 4, at Dunkin’ Park against the Somerset Patriots, the New York Yankees’ affiliate who eliminated the Yard Goats from the playoffs this fall. Season tickets are available here. Individual tickets and promotional information will be available later.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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