Meet the person in charge of making the Columbus Clingstones’ field look pristine
When you look at the field while attending a Columbus Clingstones baseball game at Synovus Park, the grass is so pristine, one might think it’s artificial turf.
However, it’s real grass that is kept up by the grounds crew that works for the Clingstones. Brendan Seaver, director of field operations for the Clingstones, said they mow the grass every game day and have to make sure the plate and pitching mound are compliant with MLB standards.
Seaver said what most people don’t see is all the work the grounds crew does on bye weeks when the team is away. The grounds crew aerates the grass and top dresses it (spreading a layer of compost or sand over the grass, according to Lawnstarter) to keep it healthy, Seaver said.
He said he ended up in the profession by “complete accident.” During an internship in 2016, Seaver was doing merchandising work when he got thrown into taking care of the field, he said.
During a second internship in ticketing, he got thrown into grounds crew work once again.
After graduating from college, Seaver said, he moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho, to work with a short-season team, where he fell in love with the profession.
“Being the first one here in the morning, getting to see the sun come up, seeing fresh grass, being able to still be a part of baseball in that way, in a way that I have skills for, just kind of went from there, and now we’re 10 years in and still doing it,” he said.
Seaver played Division III college baseball at North Park University in Chicago for two years and at Marion University in Wisconsin for two years.
Going from being on the field to helping take care of it, Seaver said, he sees it from a different angle.
“You still get that little bit of rush getting to the ballpark every day,” he said.
When he watches a Clingstones game, Seaver said, he looks to see what he can fix and other things, such as how the ball rolls or the players’ footing on the field.
When asked how it feels to watch the players play on the field he maintains, Seaver said, “It’s very rewarding.”
The players will express their appreciation to the crew, he added.
This story was originally published April 3, 2026 at 2:21 PM.