Husqvarna Partners with Louisville Bats to Bring First Robotic Mower to Pro Baseball
Husqvarna is bringing its Ceora robotic mower to the baseball diamond just in time for the 2022 season.
The Louisville Bats, Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, reports that they are leading off their season by implementing the Ceora robotic mower system at Louisville Slugger Field in Louisville, Kentucky. The Bats are the first organization in North America to incorporate the technology into their field management. Entering the season, no other professional baseball team in North America is employing the use of a robotic mower.
“The Louisville Bats take tremendous pride in their ballpark, and Ceora is the perfect solution to maintain the turf of Louisville Slugger Field,” says Husqvarna’s Jason Connor, director of commercial robotics. “Husqvarna is proud play a part in their continued efforts to be more efficient and sustainable.”
“I met Brett Myers, Bats’ VP of operations, during the 2021 GIE+Expo in Louisville,” Connor continues. “Brett is always looking for ways to improve his operation and felt Ceora was the next ‘big thing’ they needed to take seriously. I met him at the ballpark [and] he gave me a red carpet tour of his amazing facility. During the tour, we quickly agreed that building a partnership would be great for Husqvarna and the Louisville Bats.”
With the Ceora robotic mower, the Bats’ grounds team can define the work areas, set schedules and choose different cutting heights from their handheld device. The frequent, systematic high-precision mowing will ensure that the field is game-ready at all times. Its satellite-based EPOS technology (Exact Positioning Operating System) eliminates the need for physical boundary wires, and Ceora is designed to perform even in the toughest weather conditions, so the turf is prepped regardless of rain.
“The Louisville Bats are proud to partner with Husqvarna to bring this new technology to the world of Minor League Baseball,” says Myers. “We are excited to be at the forefront of turf-management innovation and implement the very best solutions at our facility.”
The Bats organization “embraces change and leans forward,” says Connor. “They represent a significant sign that leagues and franchises are evolving with a technology solution that offers efficiencies and significantly reduces their carbon footprints. As an industry leader, I see tremendous enthusiasm and interest in robotic mowing and am confident it will re-shape the future of turf care, especially with sports field venues and complexes.”
The Bats will unveil the new mowing system for their 2022 home opener on April 5 against the St. Paul Saints (Triple-A Minnesota) at Louisville Slugger Field.
HUSQVARNA
www.husqvarna.com/us
LOUISVILLE BATS
www.milb.com/louisville
