The Altoona Curve have hired Derek Morton to their front office staff as their Director of Sports Turf Management. The announcement was made by Curve General Manager Rob Egan.
Morton will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day maintenance and upkeep of Blair County Ballpark and its new playing surface.
“I’m excited to come to an award-winning organization and be trusted in maintaining such a beautiful ballpark with a great reputation,” said Morton.
Morton is a 2008 graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in Crop and Soil Sciences – Turfgrass Management.
Despite his recent graduation, Morton has already amassed a great deal of experience in professional sports field management working at new Major League and Triple-A ballparks constructed within the last decade. Last October, he completed a four-year stint working on the Detroit Tigers grounds crew at Comerica Park from 2005-08. Morton also spent the summer of 2003 interning on the crew of the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. The 23-year old from Saline, MI garnered previous experience in minor league baseball working with the Tigers’ Triple-A affiliate, the Toledo Mud Hens, at their new downtown facility, Fifth Third Field. Additionally, Morton worked this past summer with the Detroit Lions maintaining the team’s outdoor practice field in Allen Park, MI.
“Derek has a tremendous amount of experience and will be a great addition to our staff,” said Egan. “Combined with a great education in his given field, he’s already worked to help maintain three of the newest and finest fields in baseball in Detroit, Milwaukee and Toledo. He is the perfect fit for the Curve and Blair County Ballpark.”