Upgrades coming to Grainger Stadium

Just in time for historic Grainger Stadium's 60th anniversary, the venerable ballpark will be getting a slight facelift.

Although the renovations are minor, they are critical for keeping the Indians baseball team in Kinston.

Team officials sign a player development contract with the home team in Cleveland every two years. This year, the Cleveland Indians requested a series of stadium upgrades in their player development contract for the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

"When they ask for something, we want to make them happy and keep them with us for many years to come," Kinston Indians General Manager Shari Massengill said.

Kinston has hosted the Indians' farm team for 21 years, one of the longest relationships between a major-league baseball team and one of its minor league host cities.

The city would pay for the renovations, since it owns the stadium. The Indians pay about $86,000 a year to lease it.

Grainger Stadium underwent a major overhaul in 2002; the repairs needed now include new carpet in the home team's clubhouse, renovating the umpires' locker room, padding the concrete wall on the first-base side, refurbishing the pitcher's mound in the bullpen and others, said Recreation Director Bill Ellis, who will oversee the repairs.

Ellis said the upgrades will cost about $25,000 and will be spread over two budget years. He said workers will place padding on the wall and re-do the bullpen mound this year.

The wall is about 30 inches high and made of concrete. Massengill said the padding will protect players who slam into it while chasing a foul ball.

"Nobody's been injured yet, but it's something Cleveland's asked us about in the past," she said. "It's definitely something we need to do to avoid any major injuries."

Ellis plans to begin the renovations in January and finish them in time for the K-Tribe's season opener on April 9.

David Anderson can be reached at (252) 559-1077 or danderson@freedomenc.com.