Former MLB groundskeeper Peeler takes on new role at L-R

After a groundskeeping career that spanned more than 30 years and included tenures with numerous Major League Baseball teams, Morganton native Steve Peeler retired in March 2024, with his last job being as the Atlanta Braves’ senior field manager.

But now it’s time for a new endeavor, as it was announced on April 28 that Peeler has been hired as Lenoir-Rhyne University’s athletic field & campus enhancement specialist.

According to a press release posted on L-R’s official athletics website, Peeler will oversee the care, maintenance, and long-term development of all athletic playing surfaces while also contributing to broader campus enhancement initiatives. His work will focus on elevating the quality, consistency, and aesthetics of L-R’s outdoor spaces to ensure that facilities reflect the university’s commitment to excellence.

Following a stint as the Hickory Crawdads’ groundskeeper in the club’s early days, Peeler spent the next three decades helping maintain and renovate fields for such MLB teams as the St. Louis Cardinals, Seattle Mariners, Florida Marlins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Minnesota Twins, Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, and Braves. However, he made the decision to step away two years ago, citing physical issues and the desire to spend more time with family as his primary reasons for retiring.

That being said, what made the 57-year-old decide to look into the job at L-R?

“It was just pure accident,” Peeler said with a laugh. “I was sitting at home not really doing anything, and I saw an ad for a sports field manager. It didn’t list a college or anything, and I just replied to that, and the person that I was talking to told the athletic director. I did not know that this person was there at the time, but the athletic director is Daron Montgomery, and Daron and I met more than 30 years ago with the Hickory Crawdads, so he heard my name and he made it happen. … It’s kind of starting from scratch, and it’ll take us a little while to get everything up and running, but I’m pretty excited about it.”

A 1986 Freedom High School graduate, Peeler later studied turf management at Catawba Valley Community College, which like L-R is located in Hickory. Therefore, this is basically a return to the place where he got his start.

“I get to see the family all the time now, not like when I was in baseball, and that’s a plus,” said Peeler. “And it’s a lot less pressure because when you’re in Major League Baseball, you have to be almost perfect on everything you do, and you’re thrown challenges all the time. I don’t mind the challenges because there’ll be some at Lenoir-Rhyne too, but it’s a great atmosphere.

“They told me to just go out and do what I knew how to do and make them the best campus I can make as far as the athletic fields, and we’re shooting for trying to be the best in the conference and maybe getting national recognition out of our sports fields and athletic program. So, I figured I’d like to have a 10-year plan there and just kind of each season improve on everything we need to do and then incorporate some of the latest technology into it and see where we come out at.”

The aforementioned Montgomery is delighted to have Peeler on board, stating in the press release that L-R is “thrilled to welcome Steve to Lenoir-Rhyne.”

“His positive attitude and willingness to work hard each day will be a terrific fit for L-R and L-R athletics,” added Montgomery. “Our coaches and student-athletes will benefit from his expertise and experience.”