A’s to play on real grass in Sacramento, after concerns over heat on turf surface - The Athletic

The A’s are going to play on natural grass in Sacramento, not turf as previously planned, a change preferred by the players and made out of concern for the heat.

Starting in 2025 the A’s are going to share a stadium, Sutter Health Park, with its incumbent tenant, the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats. MLB previously planned to install a synthetic surface in no small part because it could have been more durable with two teams calling the field home. But the temperatures from a synthetic surface might still have been intense during warm-up and batting practice.

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“Since the beginning of this process, we have worked collaboratively with the MLBPA to incorporate feedback from major and minor league players regarding the facilities, amenities, and playing conditions in Sacramento,” a league spokesperson said. “Based on feedback from players, as well as guidance from MLB’s long-time field expert, MLB, the A’s and Sutter Health Park have decided to maintain a natural grass field. Our shared, primary concern is ensuring the best and safest playing surface for the A’s, River Cats, and visiting players.

“In light of the players’ clear preference for natural grass, and after weighing with the MLBPA the potential risks and benefits of maintaining natural grass versus replacing the playing surface with synthetic turf, all the parties are aligned in moving forward with a natural grass field for Opening Day 2025.”

The MLBPA declined comment.

Commissioner Rob Manfred said in July that the league, union and MLB field consultant Murray Cook had picked out a synthetic surface, and that it would have “a specific hydration component to it in terms of water being added to it to cool the surface.”

The league planned — and still plans — to help mitigate the heat by playing as many night games in Sacramento as possible.

Grass fields rarely see temperatures rise above 100 degrees, while turf fields commonly rise above that mark, according to a publication of The National Recreation and Park Association.

In September, player agent Scott Boras publicly criticized the turf plan, citing “the health and safety concern of having AstroTurf at the major-league level, which creates heat in the Valley that’s often in the 100s during the summer.”

Sacramento this summer had the hottest 20-day stretch in its history.

MLB also weighed a hybrid option, where a synthetic surface would have been used on the infield and grass installed in the outfield, but decided against it.

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The A’s plan to play in Sacramento for at least three seasons, and possibly four, ahead of their move to Las Vegas. The team is targeting 2028 for the opening of its new stadium in Las Vegas, but has an option to stay in Sacramento for that season if need be.

Upgrades coming at Sutter Health Park include a new home clubhouse, a new batter’s eye to improve visibility, and dugout and bullpen renovations.

(File photo of A’s owner John Fisher announcing the team will play in Sacramento from 2025-27: Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)

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Evan Drellich is a senior writer for The Athletic, covering baseball. He’s the author of the book Winning Fixes Everything: How Baseball’s Brightest Minds Created Sports’ Biggest Mess. Follow Evan on Twitter @EvanDrellich