Perdue Stadium nearing end of field upgrades

During their 2015 season, rainy weather forced the Delmarva Shorebirds to cancel seven of their 71 home games, allowing them only 64 matchups at home which was a South Atlantic League low.

At the request of their parent organization, the Baltimore Orioles, the Shorebirds are getting an on-field upgrade to keep the field dry and the players playing ball.

“The infield material is being updated with current technology,” And “That’ll allow us to play through a tremendous amount of rain.”, said Shorebirds GM, Chris Bitters.

Wicomico County along with minor league ownership group Seventh-Inning-Stretch and the State of Maryland are funding the project.

County Executive Bob Culver tells 47 ABC that if the county didn’t agree to help pay for the upgrades, it may have jeopardized the team’s stay within the county.

With the funding in place, the 20-year-old field will be getting rid of it’s outdated drainage system and as well as it’s surface.

“Not only will we be able to play through better rain, when it rains, but on events where we may have 2 or 3 inches the night before a game.”

This offseason isn’t the first the ballclub saw drastic changes to their facility. Last year, as apart of Phase 1, new locker rooms and batting tunnels were installed.

This year, an improved field with a modern drainage system. And next year, Bitters says, “Newer lower level seating replacing the current seating that is 20 years-old. The second level bleacher seating will become a regular chair back style seat.” and “a 360-degree concourse, kind of a boardwalk themed deck that will tie off of the berm in left field and wrap all the way around the outfield wall.”

Although the field isn’t ready for action, Bitters tells us he’s already seeing results.

“We were actually able to get out there and watch the rain hit, go down to the drains, and actually follow it through the process.”

Phase 2 field construction is expected wrap up in the next two weeks.