The Springfield Cardinals (AA affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals) promoted two of their sports field managers. Derek Edwards is now the director of field and stadium operations, and Nathan Strait was promoted to manager of field operations.
The leader of one of the most decorated grounds crews in Minor League Baseball, Edwards has had a hand in curating the award-winning playing surface at Hammons Field since the inaugural season in 2005. Promoted to director of field operations in 2022, Edwards’ role is now expanding once again to include stadium operation oversight as well as assisting in future stadium and field capital improvements.
After eight seasons with the club, Strait will now manage daily field operations at Hammons Field. He has been a member of the front office in multiple capacities since 2016, originally as a seasonal member of the grounds crew at Hammons Field before shifting to be an inside sales associate and community marketing coordinator inside the office. The outdoors called Nathan back to the crew in a full-time capacity as the field operations coordinator in 2022.