Isotopes Groundskeeper Finds Pay Dirt with Another Honor

The awards keep mounting for Albuquerque Isotopes Director of Field Operations Casey Griffin, being named the 2016 Triple-A Sports Turf Manager of the year by the Sports Turf Managers Association.

After being named the Pacific Coast League's Sports Turf Manager of the Year in August, Griffin and Isotopes Park have been honored as creating and cultivating the best playing surface in all of Triple-A baseball for the 2016 season.

This is the first time since 2008 that the award comes back to the PCL, with former Isotopes head groundskeeper Jarad Alley earning the honor in 2008.

The award encompasses the overall quality of the playing surface, as well as pre-game set-up, field markings, professionalism of the grounds crew, along with grading in seven other categories. 

Winners are selected by a 16-member awards committee, compiled by the STMA. The nominees are independently scored on a number of categories, including support of the turf industry.

Griffin was also honored by the STMA in July, winning the organization's inaugural "Stars and Stripes" contest.

"It truly exemplifies the group effort put in by our entire crew through the season, most notably our full time staff of Clint Belau, Davin Sandia, and Brenden Shaffer," said Griffin. "The direct impact that we as sports turf managers can have on the game is a direct correlation on why we love to do what we do."

Griffin is in his fourth season as Director of Field Operations, having originally joined the Isotopes organization in 2009.

"Casey is a true professional, and it's great that he and his entire crew are being honored for the job they do," said Isotopes General Manager John Traub. "Casey is defined by his work ethic, pride, skill and integrity. I know that there is nobody more deserving to win this award."

The STMA will present Griffin with his award at the Baseball Winter Meetings awards luncheon on December 5 in National Harbor, MD.