Seattle City Wire

The Seattle Mariners hired the Tacoma Rainiers' head groundskeeper as its assistant groundskeeper for the 2021 baseball season at T-Mobile Park.

Michael Huie was the Rainiers' head groundskeeper for five years.

"Prior to being named head groundskeeper for the Rainiers in 2015, Huie was briefly a member of the Mariners seasonal grounds crew at T-Mobile Park during the 2015 season," the Seattle Mariners organization said in a January release. "While in Tacoma, Huie managed the needs of the Mariners AAA affiliate as well as a pair of professional soccer teams that call Cheney Stadium home."

Michael Huie, right. | Facebook

Huie was groundskeeper from June to November 2015 for the Seattle Mariners; groundskeeper for the Baltimore Orioles from February to June 2015 and head groundskeeper for the West Michigan Whitecaps from October 2012 to October 2014, Huie's LinkedIn profile said.

"Michael and his team were able to successfully manage the near-constant conversion of the field at Cheney Stadium between baseball and soccer while meeting all three teams' needs," Mariners Director of Grounds Tim Wilson said in the release. "His experience and knowledge of maintaining fields at a very high level make him a great addition to the T-Mobile Park team."

A golfer since high school, Huie took classes in turf management after someone suggested the career, the South Sound Talk reported.

"I golfed a lot in high school," he said, the South Sound Talk reported. "I love golf, loved being on the course. I didn't know what I was going to do after high school, so someone suggested that I try turf management."

He is a graduate of Walla Walla Community College's turf management program.

"Huie enjoys golfing and camping. He and his wife Jessica live in Renton. They welcomed their first child, daughter Chandler Brooke Huie, on Dec. 19," the Mariners said in the release.