Bulls Head Groundskeeper Selected for World Baseball Classic

Durham Bulls Head Groundskeeper Scott Strickland has been chosen to oversee field operations for the World Baseball Classic.

As most of the baseball nations prepare to watch the World Baseball Classic over the next few weeks, Durham Bulls Head Groundskeeper Scott Strickland will be preparing for another day at the office.

Strickland was chosen by The Brickman Group, an American landscaping company contracted by Major League Baseball to oversee field operations for the World Baseball Classic (WBC), to assist in pre-game and post-game care of the field during first round pool play at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

“This is really a big honor,” Strickland said, “I look at it as an opportunity to represent the Bulls and personally, being able to work an event of this magnitude is special. It’s almost like a pre-season bonus.”

Strickland is the second Durham Bull asked to work in the tournament. Bulls Manager Charlie Montoyo will serve as a coach for the Puerto Rican team.

“It will be fun to start things up about a month earlier than normal,” Strickland said, “It’s especially good to be working with a coach that you already know and like. We’ve already talked, and we’re excited to experience the Puerto Rican culture together.”

The stadium’s field is a synthetic-based surface, unlike the natural grass turf that Strickland maintains at Goodmon Field at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. However, he says he’s up for the challenge.

“The most important thing that we’ll be concentrating on is the dirt, not the turf. Not having to spend time in the morning mowing grass will give us more time to work on the dirt areas of the playing surface. We’ll have the top talent in baseball playing here, so keeping a pristine field is critical.”

Strickland leaves for Puerto Rico on March 6th and will spend a week working at the tournament.

Thanks to DBBC’s Matt DeMargel for this capcom story & photo.