Mitch Riddle has been promoted to the operations manager for the Midland RockHounds after serving as the assistant groundskeeper. This advancement comes as he reaches his eighth year with Midland Rockhounds, having spent a total of seven seasons serving the team.
According to the Midland Rockhounds website, Riddle joined the Midland RockHounds as the assistant groundskeeper in which he served for five seasons. Now, as the head of the operations department, Riddle oversees the operations and maintenance at Momentum Bank Ballpark. He is a West Texas native and a 2017 graduate of Permian High School.
Reflecting on his transition from groundskeeper to operations manager, Riddle shared insights with Midland Times, saying, "Groundskeeping taught me a lot, and with time management, I would say that’s one of the most important parts of this job. We are all on a timeline in life, but in minor league baseball, it stands out because if you’re ready or not, the game starts at 7."
Riddle emphasized the impact his groundskeeping experience has on his new role. "Something else it taught me was attention to detail because when you are helping take care of a field with future big leaguers on it, you want to be the best, so attention to detail is vital."
In his new role, Riddle will be responsible for all aspects of the stadium that extend beyond the field, including offseason cleaning and maintenance. He will also oversee all 69 home games and manage special events.
"This role is different, less dirt and more paperwork,” said Riddle. “Definitely more of a manager role with scheduling part-time employees, overseeing projects, and just making sure everything is where it needs to be."
To learn more about Midland Rockhounds and to view the upcoming schedule, visit the Midland Rockhounds website.