Squirrels' Petrella named Eastern League Head Groundskeeper of the Year

RICHMOND, Va. – Richmond Flying Squirrels Director of Field Operations James Petrella has been named the 2026 Eastern League Head Groundskeeper of the Year, Minor League Baseball announced on Tuesday.

Petrella, who has overseen the field operations for the Flying Squirrels for five seasons, received the honor for the first time. It is also the first selection for the award in Richmond’s franchise history.

“Without question, James is one of the best in the business,” Flying Squirrels Chief Operating Officer Ben Rothrock said. “We are extremely proud of James and grateful to see his dedication, hard work and commitment to this organization recognized with this award. James and the entire field crew work tirelessly to provide one of the best playing surfaces in the game. His expertise, flexibility, and preparation provide a significant impact to what we are able to accomplish in this facility. He takes a tremendous amount of pride in his work, and it shows on the big stage every single night.”

Petrella, who joined the Flying Squirrels ahead of the 2022 season, is a native of Tacoma, Wash. He has worked in Minor League Baseball since 2014.

“This award really recognizes the work our entire crew puts in,” Petrella said. “My name is on the award, but it is a testament to the dedication and commitment of our staff, including Field Operations Manager Noah Bard and Field Operations Coordinator Camden Elmore. With enthusiasm, they all embraced the challenges of our first season at CarMax Park.”

Petrella and his crew were also recognized with the Field of the Year Award by the Virginia chapter of the Sports Field Managers Association in 2024.

Along with his staff, Petrella has done work assisting Richmond Public Schools with their athletic fields. He has also worked with local turf and landscape management high school programs, including Thomas Dale and Atlee High Schools, as well as Future Farmers of America programs at schools around the Richmond region to provide hands-on opportunities for students.

Under Petrella’s direction, the Flying Squirrels grounds crew has received notoriety for their creative designs on the field coordinating with various theme nights during games at CarMax Park, artistically dressing up the area around home plate and other areas of the field for Military Appreciation Night, River City Night, Wedding Night, Virginia Tech Night, Heavy Metal Night and others.

“We think it’s fun,” Petrella said. “Our crew loves to put those together. We enjoy collaborating to contribute to the gameday fan experience. You never know who is going to be in the ballpark on a given night to notice the details of a theme night extend all the way to the field.”

Prior to joining the Flying Squirrels, Petrella served in a similar role with the Altoona Curve, Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, from 2020-2021. He worked with the Akron RubberDucks, Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians, from 2014-2016 and again from 2018-2019. Petrella interned with the Seattle Seahawks and worked with the gameday grounds crew for the Tacoma Rainiers, Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, in 2017.

The 2027 Flying Squirrels season opens Friday, April 2 at CarMax Park against the Altoona Curve. Season Memberships for the 2027 season are on sale now at SquirrelsBaseball.com.