Upgraded bullpens and batting cages give Seattle an edge this spring
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Welcome to ¡°campus,¡± where the class of baseball is in full session.
That¡¯s the word that the Mariners have used to describe their overhauled facilities at the Peoria Sports Complex, which features a refurbishment to their batting cages, their bullpens and the area where catchers and infielders do their specialized drills and there's now a more synergetic connection to all of these sectors from the weight room, dining room and the rest of the indoor space.
¡°It¡¯s fantastic what they were able to do,¡± Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. ¡°It¡¯s going to add a lot to what we can do here as a staff, and the guys have really responded well. The ability to train in there and get work done is fantastic. It¡¯s really exciting to see that change for us here in Peoria.¡±
The final product has yielded what many say has a much more big league feel, the need for which became evident in recent years as many of the facilities became antiquated.
To newcomers, it has a novel, state-of-the-art look in line with the rest of the more polished spring facilities across MLB. Yet, it hits home even more for those who¡¯ve been around a while. Fans on the backfields can see a difference, too, but the Mariners explicitly retained all access that was permitted to those attending workouts on the backfields.
Broadly, there¡¯s something new -- or better -- for virtually every player in camp.
¡°There's connection between our position players and pitchers,¡± said Mariners vice president of Major League operations Jack Mosimann, who helped spearhead the efforts. ¡°The primary goal was to optimize the flow from our gym to the agility area to the next station in their daily schedule.¡±
Bullpens
Two plyometric walls were added between the bullpens and gym, one with a flat ground and another with a portable mound to resemble a game-like angle. These are used for weighted-ball exercises and more in prep for throwing.
The Mariners also trimmed from six bullpen mounds to four and aligned them with the pillars that uphold the canopy providing shade for the catchers, directly behind each plate. The pillars now house Trackman technology permanently and feed data instantaneously into the 55-inch, sun-bright TVs designed to withstand outdoor heat. The screens hang from the rafter over the mounds and are slanted toward each to allow pitchers to decipher the data more seamlessly. Before, video staff would haul out Trackman on tripods, then feed the info via a portable TV or iPads.
They also moved the fence back roughly four feet to allow for more pitchers, coaches and front-office personnel to observe directly behind the mounds. Moreover, an 8-foot-tall black windscreen behind the plates that blocked that view was replaced with a four-foot rail and backstop netting, allowing for an unobstructed view from the catcher¡¯s vantage.
The new digs are obviously useful throughout camp but could be more so as Opening Day approaches.
¡°Even if it's a small advantage on one day over the course of six weeks or whatever, especially when you're trying to get fine-tuned for the first game of the season, that you have to be ready to go right away, I think that's a huge thing,¡± pitcher Logan Gilbert said. ¡°We've talked about in the past how we've been really good over the course of the year, but we want to start off really strong.¡±
Drainage used to be an issue after rainfall, which is why turf was installed throughout most of the area, replacing grass that used to be in the bullpens and concrete that separated the ¡®pens from the outdoor stretching surface leading into the weight room.
Catchers and infielders area
Seattle infield coach Perry Hill got a massive upgrade to his ritualistic morning drills, having previously used the concrete wall attached to the kitchen for players to take grounders.
¡°The turf is way easier on my knees,¡± the 72-year-old joked.
Hill still has his wall, but it¡¯s now on the other side of the ¡®pens, putting them directly in front of the barrier to fans, who are only separated by a four-foot fence instead of the much higher chain linked one before.
¡°Our fans are the heart and soul of this organization,¡± said Mariners VP of fan experience Malcolm Rogel, who was a key figure to the project, ¡°and a trip from Seattle to Arizona is a big commitment. They deserve a great experience while here in Peoria.¡±
The adjacent turf, also in front of fans, is where catchers conduct their drills. Three additional spots were added, as was more durable turf with slightly different fiber more conducive for hard-bouncing balls and with a closer resemblance to dirt.
Both the catchers¡¯ and infielders¡¯ areas are roughly an 18-inch step down from the bullpens, too, a byproduct of the concrete removal and drainage renovations.
¡°We made a conscious effort to create an area that specializes in our defensive identity -- 27 outs, no more,¡± Mosimann said.
Batting cages
The Mariners flipped the orientation of the cages, swapping the batter¡¯s boxes with the flat mounds where machines or coaches throw from, to move the hitters closer to the stretching area and weight room. It sounds tertiary, but it ties into the goal of synergy and flow.
Outdoor lounge chairs were also added, replacing portable stools and bleacher-style benches, and two TVs were installed for leisure, with MLB Network as regularly scheduled programming.
¡°You can literally just go and hang out,¡± Julio Rodr¨ªguez said, ¡°and watch people hit, and it's very comfortable. So you'll be able to focus and, like, do what you need to do and get it done and get out.¡±
Organically, players have regularly stayed late because of how amenable the new setup is. And once they¡¯re gone, Ichiro Suzuki regularly takes his hacks.
But, the cages are also far more functional than their predecessors.
HitTrax, which records exit velocity, launch angle and more, is installed to all four, whereas it was available previously in only one cage. And the Trajekt machine, the hyper-advanced appliance that mirrors every pitcher in baseball, is on the far end.
And for aesthetic flavor, the back wall features three massive images of Suzuki, Edgar Martinez and Ken Griffey Jr. -- each mid-swing-- stenciled against the backdrop of Seattle¡¯s skyline.
How it came together
Throughout spring and the regular season, the Mariners regularly scout other teams¡¯ facilities and talk to players about their needs.
The club consulted 65-plus personnel -- players, coaches and front-office members -- over the last year for how they could enhance the Spring Training experience, then they secured contractors in September.
Mosimann collaborated daily with Rogel and also the organization leaned heavily on Chris Calcaterra and Michael Beach with the City of Peoria during the construction process.
Yet the turnaround time was tight, with just the offseason to work with, and construction didn¡¯t begin until just before Thanksgiving.
¡°I didn't think it was going to be done in time,¡± said Raleigh, who lives in Arizona in the offseason and was regularly working out in Peoria. ¡°But the guys put it together quick. It was awesome. Once the turf went down, it was like boom, boom, boom.¡±
Mosimann and the Mariners are breathing a little easier these days, after everything came together at the finish line. But he¡¯s ambitiously pondering even more.
"We've been discussing next steps in Arizona and how to continuously advance our facilities to help promote a first-class and year-round operation," Mosimann said. "We believe this renovation helps set the tone and provide a fresh look."