Photo of Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento from October 2024 with construction activities evident.

 

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) – When Major League Baseball’s (MLB) Athletics take the field next year at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, they will be treading on a natural sod playing surface as opposed to the synthetic turf as originally planned.

The official announcement came from Major League Baseball in October and was accompanied by a statement. “Based on feedback from players, as well as guidance from Major League Baseball’s long-time field expert, MLB, the Athletics and Sutter Health Park have decided to maintain a natural grass field,” an MLB spokesperson said.

“In light of the players’ clear preference for natural grass, and after weighing with the MLB players association 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,” explained the MLB spokesperson.

This was a much different story from the official news coming out of the MLB and the Athletics back in July 2024. At that point in time, it was reported that the MLB, the Athletics and the River Cats agreed to converting the playing surface at Sutter Health Park to synthetic turf. In July, MLB’s commissioner Rob Manfred, commented on the playing surface situation and the need for a hydration element to battle the hash Sacramento summer heat while speaking to the Baseball Writers Association in July 2024.

“We think that’s the best that we can do in terms of playing surface in the heat,” Manfred reported referring to the switching to synthetic turf. “The vast, vast majority of the games can be played at night when it’s cooler,” Manfred continued. “We picked the playing surface in consultation with the MLBPA… and it has a specific hydration component to it in terms of water being added to cool the surface.”

Whatever the reason for the switch back to sod, baseball players and fans alike will appreciate the natural playing surface over synthetic turf.

Messenger Publishing Group reached out to Sutter Health Park officials regarding the status of the new sod install, noting that the River Cats are scheduled to host the San Francisco Giants in an exhibition game on March 23. A response had not been received by press time.