RISING STAR at Minute Maid Park for Astros games at night — but it was all worth it to him . Following the 2018 baseball season , Hartman was hired as the assistant head groundskeeper for the Round Rock Express , the Astros ’ Triple-A affiliate at the time , and was there until the spring of 2021 .
“ March of ‘ 21 was insane ,” Hartman said . “ My boss , Nick Rozdilski , asked if I saw the job opening in Wichita . I didn ’ t think I was ready for a head groundskeeper job , but he said that they called looking for someone , and he recommended me . I went up for the interview , and 90 minutes later they offered me the job . I ’ ve been the head guy for the Wichita Wind Surge ever since . I was only 24 years old , and it was crazy how fast it happened .”
Ever since joining the Texas League , one of Hartman ’ s main goals was to bring the industry together .
“ When I got into the Texas League in 2021 , none of the groundskeepers knew each other ,” Hartman said . “ After my first year , I just started progressing and reaching out to other groundskeepers in the league . This past SFMA Conference in Salt Lake City , we had eight out of the 10 teams in the Texas League represented .”
To be chosen as a Rising Star in the industry is a testament to his efforts .
“ It ’ s humbling ,” Hartman said of the award . “ I personally didn ’ t realize how big of an impact I have on the industry . I love going to the conference every year , meeting old friends , making new ones and having success on and off the field .
“ I ’ ve always had attention to details and how much details make the bigger picture ,” Hartman said . “ That goes all the way back to my dad telling me that in high school . Izzy would drill that into my head and Nick would do that too . Nick would point out if I missed little things as an assistant , like if I missed a spot backfilling edges . It ’ s little things like that , but it goes a long way .”
Although Hartman doesn ’ t have a whole full-time staff under him , he still treats his crew of high school and college interns as if they ’ ve been working in the industry for years .
“ I haven ’ t had to pull the leash on them that much ,” Hartman said . “ They know when it ’ s time to work , it ’ s go time . But other than that , they like to hang out in the break room , bring their game consoles and go out to eat . I ’ ve started a Snapchat group with them . It seems like kids will respond faster to a Snapchat than a text or a call these days . They do have fun and enjoy this job , and I think that ’ s a way to inspire the next generation of sports field managers .”
Hartman has already had multiple interns go on to do bigger and better things within the industry , such as Seth Harvey currently at Oklahoma State ; Austin Layton working with the Seattle Mariners ; and Jakob Scales who will be going to school in Surprise , Arizona , and working at the spring training facility of the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals .
“ I ’ ve got other kids who have an interest in groundskeeping , but I think watching them move on and progress is the most rewarding part of the job ,” Hartman said . Hartman ’ s message to young people considering a career in sports field management is that it ’ s hard work , but it ’ s rewarding .
“ We can physically see what we ’ re doing and the benefits of it ,” he said . “ Not knocking office jobs , but I don ’ t understand how people can sit in front of a computer all day . In school , I didn ’ t like being cooped up in a classroom , I wanted to be outside on the baseball field .”
Hartman is drawn to the outdoors when not at work , as well , and can be found on the water boating , wakeboarding and jet skiing . He ’ s particularly busy in the offseason when it ’ s cold outside .
“ I have a love of snowboarding and it works out perfectly with the baseball season ,” said Hartman . “ From Thanksgiving to March 1 , I tell people not to talk to me because I ’ ll be on the slopes in Colorado at least once a month during the offseason .” SFM
— Article written by Robert Augsdorfer , assistant editor
WHAT THEIR NOMINATOR HAD TO SAY :
“ Since Ben ’ s arrival to the Wind Surge , he has always been a bright spot in the organization . He is a team player ; he will do anything and everything to lend a hand to coworkers to ensure events run smoothly . Ben is great at his job but is still learning and adapting daily , like any good groundskeeper does .” sportsfieldmanagementonline . com October 2023 | SportsField Management
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