New Turf Coming To Legends Field: Monarchs Partner With Mammoth Sports Construction

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The home of the Kansas City Monarchs is entering a new era.

The four-time league champions have partnered with Mammoth Sports Construction to install a state-of-the-art synthetic turf playing surface at Legends Field for the 2025 baseball season.

Mammoth, a national leader in sports construction, has worked with some of the most iconic teams in the country, including the University of Nebraska, the University of Kansas, and the Sioux Falls Canaries, a division rival of the Monarchs in the American Association.

Construction on the new surface will begin in early March and is expected to be completed by April 21, in time for Monarchs training camp. The Monarchs’ first regular-season game on the new turf will be their season opener on Friday, May 9. Tickets are on sale now at this link or by calling 913-328-5618.

“This is a game-changer for Legends Field,” said Mark Brandmeyer, owner of the Kansas City Monarchs. “This investment ensures that our players have a top-tier playing surface while also allowing us to host more events year-round. It’s a win for the Monarchs, the fans, and the entire Wyandotte County community.”

The new surface will cover over 129,000 square feet. The MMTH Turf surface is 1.75 inches thick and features multiple forms of turf for different areas of the playing surface.

“Legends Field is home for us,” said Jake Farrant, CEO of Mammoth Sports Construction. “Our team has spent a lot of time in its stands watching baseball with our families. This one is special for us.”

In addition to high-level baseball, the new surface will allow Legends Field to host more events than ever before, including concerts, community and charity events, and corporate outings. The resilient nature of the surface will also reduce weather delays and rainouts compared to natural grass.

“This is great news for our ball club and our entire organization,” Monarchs field manager Joe Calfapietra said. “We’re going to get an A-plus, reliable playing surface for years to come. I feel so confident in our team and our ballpark going forward.”

The Monarchs organization is providing full financial backing for the project, a commitment to the future of Legends Field and baseball in Wyandotte County.

As part of the renovation, the Legends Field will retain a natural pitcher’s mound, allowing Monarchs pitchers to enjoy a superior surface for every pitch of the 2025 season.

The Monarchs will update fans throughout the installation process on their social media channels over the next several months.

About the Kansas City Monarchs

The Kansas City Monarchs are a professional baseball team in the American Association, an MLB Partner League. 2025 will be their 22nd season at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas. In 2020, the team partnered with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and changed their name from the T-Bones to the Monarchs in honor of the legendary Negro League franchise that played from 1920 to 1965.

About Mammoth

Mammoth is a modern master build firm dedicated to building places where passion and community collide. The company consults, creates, and constructs sports projects of every size, including for the NFL, Big 10, SEC, Big 12, MIAA, NSIC, NAIA, GLVC, KCAC, Heart of America, and Gulf South conferences, along with hundreds of high schools. Its services include sports consulting, architecture and engineering, and full-service marketing. Mammoth is based in Meriden, Kansas and has offices in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Kansas City, Missouri, and Lenexa, Kansas. Learn more at mammothbuilt.com.

Homefield Kansas City

Monarchs Partner With Homefield Kansas City

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The Kansas City Monarchs and Homefield Kansas City have formed a new partnership allowing Monarchs players and staff to take advantage of one of the region’s best training facilities.

Located less than 10 minutes from Legends Field, the Homefield Kansas City Showcase Center will provide professional-level training to Monarchs players. Homefield’s approach will build tissue resiliency, promote pattern stability and express strength through force absorption and force transmission. Homefield performance coaches also emphasize movement literacy in three dimensions to optimize preparedness on the field.

“A lot of professional facilities do not what we have here, so we’re very blessed to have the facility, the equipment, and most importantly the coaches on staff,” Homefield performance coach Tyler Disney said. “I’m really excited to get the Monarchs in here so we can work with them.”

“Our players deserve the very best to help them perform at the highest level,” said Monarchs owner Mark Brandmeyer. “We’re thrilled to partner with Homefield as we work to make every one of our players the best they can be.”

The four-time league champion Monarchs open their 2025 season May 9 from Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas. See the team’s full roster here.

About the Kansas City Monarchs

The Kansas City Monarchs are a professional baseball team in the American Association, an MLB Partner League. 2025 will be their 22nd season at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas. In 2020, the team partnered with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and changed their name from the T-Bones to the Monarchs in honor of the legendary Negro League franchise that played from 1920 to 1965.

Jorge Bonifacio

Monarchs Sign Former Royal Bonifacio

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Former Royals star Jorge Bonifacio is returning to Kansas City to play with the Kansas City Monarchs.

The four-time league champions have signed the outfielder for the 2025 season, the Monarchs announced Tuesday.

Bonifacio, 31, played three major-league seasons with the Royals from 2017 to 2019. He slashed .247/.319/.408 and hit 21 home runs over 187 games with Kansas City.

The Dominican outfielder also played in The Show with Detroit in 2020 and Philadelphia in 2021. His most recent pro action came in the Mexican League in 2024.

Bonifacio and the Monarchs open their 2025 season on Friday, May 9 from Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas. Tickets are on sale now.

“We are really excited about signing Jorge Bonifacio,” Monarchs manager Joe Calfapietra said.”He’s a right-handed power bat that has plenty of veteran experience. We have some quality hitters right now, and he’ll be right in the middle of that.”

Born in Santo Domingo, Bonifacio brings a veteran presence to the Monarchs. The righty hitter has played over 1,700 professional games across his 15-year career, notching 1,560 hits and 184 home runs.

In addition to his summer ball accomplishments, Bonifacio has 12 seasons of experience in the Dominican Winter League with Licey and Gigantes.

Bonifacio is the first former major leaguer to join the Monarchs for 2025. The Monarchs now have 14 players in the fold for the upcoming season, including six pitchers and eight position players. See the Monarchs’ full roster here.

The Monarchs have won three American Association championships, in 2023, 2021 and 2018 when they were known as the Kansas City T-Bones. The T-Bones’ first championship came in 2008 when they won the Northern League title. A Partner League team, the Monarchs are not affiliated with any one MLB organization, meaning their primary goal is winning championships for Kansas City.

About the Kansas City Monarchs

The Kansas City Monarchs are a professional baseball team in the American Association, an MLB Partner League. 2025 will be their 22nd season at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas. In 2020, the team partnered with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and changed their name from the T-Bones to the Monarchs in honor of the legendary Negro League franchise that played from 1920 to 1965.

Josh Hendrickson

Aussie Lefty Hendrickson Signs With Monarchs

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Josh Hendrickson

KANSAS CITY Kan. — A proven starter with Triple-A experience has joined the Kansas City Monarchs. The four-time league champions have signed Australian left-hander Josh Hendrickson for the 2025 season, the Monarchs announced Monday.

A Royals draft pick in 2018, Hendrickson signed with the Phillies the following season and reached Triple-A in 2023. The southpaw owns a career 4.42 ERA and 8.7 K/9 over 71 affiliated games (41 starts).

Hendrickson and the Monarchs will open their 2025 season on May 9 from Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas. Tickets are on sale now.

“We’re excited about Josh Hendrickson joining our team,” Monarchs manager Joe Calfapietra said. “He’s shown with the Phillies that he can have success at the sports upper levels. We feel like he can come in and do really well.”

Hendrickson, 27, is the third Australian player to join the Monarchs for 2025. He joins infielder Rixon Wingrove and utility man Robbie Glendinning.

Born in Adelaide, South Australia, Hendrickson grew up in Perth, on the country’s west coast. He played two years of junior college baseball in the U.S. before The Royals drafted him in the 20th round in 2018. Hendrickson declined to sign and instead attended the University of San Diego.

The Phillies picked Hendrickson up in the 38th round of the 2019 draft. He signed and made his pro debut later that season.

By 2021 Hendrickson was in Double-A, producing a 3.64 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 14 games (11 starts) for Reading. He made his first career Triple-A appearance that season, throwing 4.1 innings for Lehigh Valley.

Hendrickson’s 2022 was cut short by injury, but he returned to make 21 starts for Reading in 2023, striking out 77 batters in 98 innings pitched. He did not play in 2024.

Hendrickson is the 13th player to sign with the Monarchs for the 2025 season. See the team’s full roster here. American Association teams can carry up to 30 players on their spring training roster, which is cut to a 25-man roster for Opening Day.

Sean Rackoski

Former Jayhawk Rackoski Signs With Monarchs

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Sean Rackoski

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A former Kansas Jayhawk with Triple-A experience is joining the Kansas City Monarchs’ pitching staff. Sean Rackoski has signed with the four-time league champions, the Monarchs announced Thursday.

Rackoski, 29, was one of the American Association’s top relievers in 2023 with the Sioux City Explorers. Serving as the X’s closer, he posted a 2.17 ERA and 1.15 WHIP while finishing second in the league with 20 saves.

“Sean Rackoski’s competitive nature really stands out to me,” Monarchs manager Joe Calfapietra said. “He always wants the ball, and he has what we think is plus stuff. He’ll be an asset to our pitching staff.”

The Monarchs open their 2025 season on May 9 from Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas. Tickets are on sale now.

The right-hander played three seasons at KU, beginning the 2017 campaign as the Jayhawks’ Friday night starter.

Rackoski signed with the Blue Jays as a free agent out of college and made it to Triple-A in the Blue Jays’ system with Buffalo in 2022. He owns a 4.34 ERA and 9.3 K/9 across four minor-league seasons.

After his impressive 2023 with the Explorers, Rackoski played winter ball in Mexico, where he earned a 2.33 ERA as the closer for Mayos de Navojoa.

Rackoski’s most recent pro action was in the Mexican League, where he made 11 total appearances for Puebla and Oaxaca in the 2024 campaign.

A native of Arizona, Rackoski now makes his home in the Kansas City area.

“We’ve had great success with our players that lived here in Kansas City, and helped us win,” Calfapietra said. “I think there is a true comfort level when you have an opportunity to play professionally at home.”

The Monarchs have 12 players signed for the upcoming season, including five returners from their 2024 squad.

Leam Mendez

Monarchs Sign Former Yankees, Blue Jays Prospect Mendez

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KANSAS CITY Kan. — A young pitcher with swing-and-miss stuff has joined the Kansas City Monarchs. Leam Mendez has signed with the four-time league champions, the Monarchs announced Wednesday.

A Cuban-born right-hander, Mendez owns a 3.25 ERA over two seasons with the Yankees and Blue Jays systems. The 25-year-old has struck out just under 10 batters per nine innings in his young career.

“We think Leam Mendez is someone that can really help us,” Monarchs manager Joe Calfapietra said. “He has strikeout ability, some international experience, and affiliated time. We’re looking forward to welcoming him to Kansas City.”

The Monarchs open their 2025 season on May 9 from Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas. Tickets are on sale now.

Born in Ciego de Avila, Cuba, Mendez made his pro debut in 2022 in the Yankees system. He posted a 3.78 ERA over 14 Florida Complex League appearances before being promoted to Single-A Tampa later in the year.

He played in the prestigious Arizona Fall League in 2022, recording a 3.95 ERA over nine appearances with Mesa.

Mendez joined the Blue Jays organization for 2023. He spent most of the year with Single-A Dunedin, earning a 2.88 ERA and a late-season promotion to High-A Vancouver to finish the year.

Mendez also has experience in the Puerto Rican winter league, making five appearances with Mayaquez in the 2023-24 season.

The Monarchs have signed 11 players for the upcoming season, including five returning players. See the team’s full roster here.

Christian Colón

Christian Colón Named Monarchs Hitting Coordinator

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A World Series hero is returning to Kansas City as a coach with the Kansas City Monarchs. Christian Colón, a World Series champion with the 2015 Kansas City Royals, has joined the Monarchs as their hitting coordinator and third-base coach, the four-time league champions announced Monday.

“I can’t wait to see everybody at the ballpark,” Colón said. “I’m going to give you my all. Whatever our players need to get better, and to get to the next step of their career.”

The Monarchs open their 2025 season on May 9 from Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas. Tickets are on sale now.

Colón brings six years of MLB experience to the Monarchs’ dugout. That includes an integral role in the Royals’ 2014 and 2015 postseason runs, including the game-winning hit in Game 5 of the 2015 Fall Classic.

“During those runs, in ’14, ’15, it was really cool to see how the players embraced the fans, and the fans embraced the players,” Colón said. “It was a great connection, and I’m excited to get back to Kansas City.”

More recently, Colón served as the manager of the Arkansas Travelers, the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, during the 2024 season. He came to the Travelers from the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, a Royals Double-A affiliate where he served as bench coach for two seasons.

“We’re honored and excited to have a guy like Christian Colón join our organization,” Monarchs manager Joe Calfapietra said. “He’s a guy who wants to come back to Kansas City and be a part of this organization. We hope this opportunity will be beneficial for both him and our team as he works to become a manager in the major leagues.”

A native of Cayey, Puerto Rico, Colón joins an experienced Monarchs staff. Pitching coach Matt Hall also boasts big-league time in addition to Calfapietra’s 24 years of professional managing experience.

Drafted fourth overall by the Royals in 2010 out of Cal State Fullerton, Colón owns 94 MLB hits in 161 games with the Royals, Marlins, and Reds. His most recent big-league action came in the 2020 season.

Colón signed with the Monarchs as a player ahead of the 2021 campaign, but was picked up by the Blue Jays organization before the season began.

The Monarchs have signed 10 players for the 2025 season, including five returners from their 2024 squad.

“The players we’re getting, they’re guys who really have something to prove, they’ve still got a lot of game left,” Colón said. “I’m excited to be a part of that.”