Larry DiVito 
Head Groundskeeper // Minnesota Twins
2024 Class of Pioneers in the Field

Baseball is the quintessential American pastime, where the diamond serves as a stage for dreams, heroes and our favorite stories. 

With a deep admiration and love for the game, much of Larry DiVito’s life has been set within the four corners of a baseball diamond. DiVito has starred in every role from player to coach in America’s favorite pastime. For the past three decades Larry Divito, CSFM, has taken the stage as a groundskeeper. His top billing spot has been with the Minnesota Twins since 2009 as the Head Groundskeeper. As many of us know, being a head groundskeeper in baseball requires an unprecedented dedication. Throughout DiVito’s extensive resume, baseball serves as the commonality. We asked Larry what it was that kept him in baseball for all these years? DiVito didn’t hesitate with his answer, “I love this game, I respect the game. I love to see things run properly for a sport I have great passion for. And game days, I love game day. That’s what keeps me going.” 

While his love of the game is what has made him a respected groundskeeper in our industry. DiVito credits his knowledge of baseball getting him through those early days. Through his own player experience and then evolving into a coaching role, DiVito knew how the ball should play and how the mound should react. Then through trial and error and industry resources, DiVito built a resume of sports field expertise. DiVito said, “with coaching, I had the opportunity to work on the field. I learned the grass along the way and I heavily relied on SportsField Management Magazine in those early development years.

I feel indebted to those resources, the vendors who answered my questions and the peers or mentors who helped keep me going. (DiVito spoke of mentors like David Benoit, Bob Christofferson, Eric Hansen and Mike Tamburro) Because of those lifelines, at the completion of the 2023 season I will have worked 2,143 consecutive games in professional baseball.” In a full circle moment, DiVito attained his CSFM, Certified Sports Field Manager, designation through the Sports Field Management Association in the spring of 2021. Notably, the SFMA also played a role in helping set the stage for DiVito’s personal life. Larry met his wife Theresa at a conference in 2007, the two were married in 2010 and now share a son and daughter. 

DiVito reflected on his time in baseball and said, “working in baseball requires a different breed. There is so much complexity ingrained into the daily grind of our jobs. You have to strive for a level of perfection most people wouldn’t have the persistence to achieve.” 

Those who have worked with or for DiVito know a part of his legacy will be that relentless desire for perfection. Nick Wilz, Territory Manager for Sports Fields at Heritage Professional Products Group, met DiVito in 2010 when applying for a crew position with the Twins. Wilz said it’s Larry’s meticulous approach to perfecting his craft that left a lasting impression with him after all these years. Wilz said, “if you are a professional baseball player, you want to play on a field that Larry takes care of. He plugs away for hours, day after day, to make sure the players always get the truest hops on the infield skin. Players appreciate that they have the perfect footing as they accelerate through the bases. Larry ensures the grass has the perfect fertility program in order to hold up against the rigors of an MLB season and extra events. Larry’s field always looks and performs its best for the fans watching and the players taking the stage.” 

"[...] if you are a professional baseball player, you want to play on a field that Larry takes care of. He plugs away for hours, day after day, to make sure the players always get the truest hops on the infield skin. Players appreciate that they have the perfect footing as they accelerate through the bases. Larry ensures the grass has the perfect fertility program in order to hold up against the rigors of an MLB season and extra events. Larry’s field always looks and performs its best for the fans watching and the players taking the stage."

Nick Wilz, Territory Manager for Sports Fields at Heritage Professional Products Group

DiVito’s desire for perfection goes beyond the necessity of player safety and aesthetics. At the Major League level, DiVito’s diamond is presented on a national stage. The visibility of DiVito’s work and the field has gained a reputation within the league, making Target Field a facility that MLB players want to play in. Further, DiVito believes that the visibility for himself, his crew and their work creates visibility for us all. DiVito said, “I strongly believe in putting our work in the spotlight. Visibility for what we do here at Target Field promotes our profession. It promotes the incredible work my crew accomplishes every season and gains visibility for everyone in our industry. Visibility helps grant us the tools we need in order to do this job and puts us in the right rooms to explain the whys behind our tasks. I’ve been given opportunities to help build with the grounds in mind and it was important I was there. I may not have always been the most liked in the room, but I know it was necessary for me to be there making my case. Managing up, explaining the why, setting expectations and taking the time to educate are all the vital components of our jobs that become easier when we have more visibility as an industry.”

In many ways DiVito hopes to be able to give back to the industry by creating visibility and sharing knowledge. Give back to an industry that welcomed him and gave him a chance to have a front row seat to the game he has spent his life loving. Billy Pipp, Vice President of Grounds Management with HES, met DiVito in 2006 when applying for a position with the Washington Nationals and credits DiVito as being one of the most genuine individuals he’s ever met. 

"I strongly believe in putting our work in the spotlight. Visibility for what we do here at Target Field promotes our profession. It promotes the incredible work my crew accomplishes every season and gains visibility for everyone in our industry. Visibility helps grant us the tools we need in order to do this job and puts us in the right rooms to explain the whys behind our tasks. I’ve been given opportunities to help build with the grounds in mind and it was important I was there..."

Larry DiVito

Pipp went on to say, “this industry gave Larry a chance and in turn he paid it forward by giving others their start, their chance to stay in the game. Larry has cemented himself in this industry because his work will go on to have a legacy because of all those he taught along the way. Larry has a ‘coaching tree.’ All the greatest coaches out there talk about their ‘coaching tree.’ Guys that worked with Larry when they were starting out still look up to him and learn from him. They still talk about him, I still talk about him. There are so many of us from the industry that started under the Larry DiVito tree, it’s amazing. I don’t think there was ever a bad day working for Larry – teaching moments – but never bad. Working for Larry helped mold me into who I am today.” 

"[...] Guys that worked with Larry when they were starting out still look up to him and learn from him. They still talk about him, I still talk about him. There are so many of us from the industry that started under the Larry DiVito tree, it’s amazing. I don’t think there was ever a bad day working for Larry – teaching moments – but never bad. Working for Larry helped mold me into who I am today."

Billy Pipp, Vice President of Grounds Management with HES

Larry DiVito’s story in baseball has had a long run, with an ever-changing cast of characters. He has helped put our industry in the spotlight by being dedicated to baseball, perfecting his craft and giving others the chance to play a role in the game.