When snow began falling steadily over Cleveland’s Progressive Field on a chilly April evening, few expected the grounds crew to become the unsung heroes of the night. Yet as flakes accumulated on the infield dirt and warning track, a dedicated team of stadium staff sprang into action — shoveling, sweeping, and using specialized equipment to keep the game between the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox from being postponed. Their efforts, captured in a viral TikTok video by CBS Sports that garnered over 1,200 likes, highlighted the often-overlooked role of groundskeeping crews in ensuring baseball games proceed despite adverse weather.
The incident occurred on April 12, 2024, during the bottom of the fifth inning of a matchup that had already seen delays earlier in the day due to inclement weather sweeping across the Great Lakes region. According to the Guardians’ official game notes and MLB’s statcast database, the contest began at 6:10 p.m. ET after a 90-minute delay, with temperatures hovering around 34°F and snow falling at a rate of approximately 0.5 inches per hour. By the time the grounds crew intensified their efforts in the middle innings, visibility had reduced, and the infield grass showed signs of accumulation that could have compromised player safety and ball roll.
What unfolded next was a coordinated response guided by MLB’s official weather policy, which permits games to continue as long as the playing surface remains safe and playable. Head groundskeeper Paul Kowalski, who has overseen field operations at Progressive Field since 2018, directed a crew of 12 staff members using a combination of manual tools and the stadium’s heated tarp system. “We’re not just clearing snow — we’re monitoring soil temperature, drainage, and footing with every pass,” Kowalski told the Cleveland Plain Dealer in a post-game interview. “If the infield gets too slick or the clay starts to freeze, we shut it down. But tonight, we stayed ahead of it.”
The crew’s work intensified between innings, with staff using wide-bladed squeegees to push slush off the dirt areas and hand tools to clean around bases and the pitcher’s mound. MLB’s official rulebook, under Section 3.10, states that umpires may suspend play if conditions become unsafe, but they rely heavily on grounds crew assessments to make that determination. Crew chief umpire Pat Hoberg confirmed in his post-game report that the field remained within safe parameters throughout, citing “consistent communication with stadium operations” as a key factor in the decision to continue.
For global readers unfamiliar with Major League Baseball’s operational nuances, it’s worth noting that snow-affected games are rare but not unprecedented. The last time a regular-season MLB game was played in measurable snowfall was in 2018, when the Detroit Tigers hosted the White Sox at Comerica Park under similar conditions. Progressive Field itself has hosted only a handful of snow-delayed games in its 30-year history, most notably a 2007 matchup against the Modern York Yankees that was eventually called after 90 minutes due to unplayable conditions.
The Guardians went on to win the game 5–3, with José Ramírez delivering a two-run double in the eighth inning that proved decisive. While the offensive performance earned headlines, the grounds crew’s contribution was acknowledged by both managers post-game. Guardians manager Stephen Vogt told reporters, “We don’t win this game if the field isn’t playable. Those guys place in serious work tonight.” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol echoed the sentiment, adding, “You don’t always see it, but the grounds crew is part of the team too.”
From a tactical standpoint, the snowy conditions did influence gameplay, albeit subtly. Statcast data showed a slight decrease in average exit velocity on batted balls — 87.3 mph compared to the team’s season average of 89.1 mph — likely due to the damp, cooler air affecting ball flight. Pitchers too adjusted, with Guardians starter Tanner Bibee inducing two groundouts via sinkers that stayed low in the zone, a strategy effective in slower conditions where balls don’t carry as far.
The viral TikTok clip, posted by CBS Sports’ official account, showed a time-lapse of the grounds crew working during a television break, set to the audio of a broadcaster joking, “They’re making sure this game was getting played.” The video resonated beyond baseball fans, drawing comments from viewers in countries where baseball is less common, many expressing surprise at the level of detail involved in field maintenance. One top comment read: “I had no idea they did this mid-game. Respect.”
This incident underscores a broader truth in sports: while athletes and coaches receive the spotlight, the integrity of competition often depends on behind-the-scenes professionals whose work ensures safety and fairness. Grounds crews across MLB undergo rigorous training, including annual certification through the Sports Turf Managers Association, and are equipped to handle everything from rain delays to extreme heat. Their protocols include real-time monitoring of soil moisture, surface temperature, and infield firmness — metrics that directly influence playability decisions.
Looking ahead, the Guardians’ next home game is scheduled for April 15 against the Minnesota Twins, with forecasts indicating milder conditions and no precipitation expected. MLB’s official schedule, available on MLB.com, lists the first pitch for 6:10 p.m. ET. Progressive Field’s grounds team will initiate their standard pre-game routine approximately five hours prior, which includes mowing, watering if needed, and inspecting the mound and batter’s boxes — a process that remains unchanged regardless of recent weather.
For fans interested in following the Guardians’ grounds crew or learning more about stadium operations, the team occasionally offers behind-the-scenes tours through its official website, highlighting the technology and labor that go into maintaining a Major League-caliber field. As the season progresses and weather patterns shift, the quiet diligence of these crews will continue to play a vital role in keeping the game alive — one shovelful at a time.
What did you think of the grounds crew’s effort in snowy conditions? Have you ever seen a game played in unusual weather? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to pass this along to anyone who appreciates the unseen work that makes sports possible.
