Smokies to Convert Knoxville Field for Dual Baseball and Soccer Use

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The Tennessee Smokies baseball team has hired a new groundskeeper with Major League Baseball experience to help convert the Covenant Health Park field between a baseball diamond and soccer pitch, a process that proved challenging in 2025 due to an overwhelming amount of rain.

Why it matters

The Smokies' home field in Knoxville needs to be able to accommodate both baseball and soccer events, requiring specialized expertise to properly maintain and transition the playing surface between the two sports. Hiring an MLB-experienced groundskeeper signals the team's commitment to ensuring the field is ready for dual-sport use.

The details

The Smokies' groundskeeper will be responsible for managing the complex process of converting the field between baseball and soccer configurations, which involves adjusting the soil, grass, and other playing surface elements. This was a challenge in 2025 due to excessive rainfall, highlighting the need for specialized expertise to handle the transitions smoothly.

• The Smokies will begin using the converted field for the 2026 season.

What’s next

The Smokies will work closely with the new groundskeeper throughout the 2026 offseason to ensure the field is properly prepared for the upcoming dual-sport schedule.