Albuquerque Isotopes (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) groundskeeper Jarad Alley and the playing surface at Isotopes Park have been named the best in Triple-A Baseball, Minor League Baseball and the Sports Turf Manager’s Association announced today.Albuquerque Isotopes (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) groundskeeper Jarad Alley and the playing surface at Isotopes Park have been named the best in Triple-A Baseball, Minor League Baseball and the Sports Turf Manager’s Association announced today.
Alley, who in August earned the title of top groundskeeper in the Pacific Coast League for the second year in a row, edged Toledo Mud Hens turf manager Jake Tyler of the International League for the title of top playing surface in Triple-A Baseball out of 30 total fields. Alley will be presented with the award in December at the Baseball Winter Meetings in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Sports Turf Manager Of The Year award is voted on by league managers and is based upon 11 different criteria, including overall playing surface, outfield/infield turf, pitcher’s and bullpen mound condition, and overall professionalism of the grounds crew.
"I’d like to thank the SMTA and Minor League Baseball for this tremendous accolade and recognizing the role we play in the success of Minor League Baseball,” said Alley. “I’d additionally like to thank the managers across the PCL for singling us out for providing a safe and aesthetically pleasing field surface."