FRISCO, Texas (October 6, 2026) – On Tuesday, Minor League Baseball announced that the Frisco RoughRiders’ David Bicknell has been named the 2026 Texas League Groundskeeper of the Year.
The league winners of the groundskeeper award were selected using the results of surveys of league managers, players and executives throughout the 2026 season along with a nominating committee.
“We are incredibly proud of “Diamond Dave” and we are thrilled that he is being recognized for his efforts,” Scott Burchett, RoughRiders President and General Manager said. “Dave has set a lofty standard over the years for the playing surface at Riders Field and we are pleased that he and his crew are being honored through positive feedback from players and coaches. The quality of a field is one of the first things fans see when they enter any ballpark and Dave always ensures that this field is the best in the league.”
Bicknell completed his 19th season with the RoughRiders in 2026. A Dallas native, Bicknell began his career in sports turf at Texas A&M University, where he earned a degree in Agronomy and assisted in the management of Division I athletic fields. After a few experiences in the golf world, he moved to professional baseball and had stints with the Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers and the San Antonio Missions.
Some notable experiences from Bicknell's career include course prep for the PGA Tour's International event at Castle Pines Golf Club in Denver, as well as serving on the grounds crew during the Red Sox' historic 2004 World Championship season.
Bicknell will be recognized and ceremoniously gifted his award prior to a game during the 2027 season.
For tickets and more information about the Frisco RoughRiders, visit RidersBaseball.com or call 972.731.9200.
About the RoughRiders
The Frisco RoughRiders are the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers and the 2022 Texas League champions. In 2023, the team celebrated its 20th anniversary and has consistently finished in the top five among all Double-A franchises in attendance yearly. In August 2014, the RoughRiders were purchased by an ownership group led by Chuck Greenberg. Since then, the new ownership group, together with the City of Frisco, has spearheaded numerous major franchise enhancements, investing over $8 million in a wide array of facility upgrades and improvements, including a state-of-the-art HD video board, sound system, Bull Moose Saloon, Bullpen Bar, Riders Outpost Team Store and the world's largest water feature in a sports facility, the massive Lazy River. These enhancements earned the Riders and the City of Frisco Ballpark Digest's prestigious "Best Ballpark Renovation" award for two consecutive years (2015 and 2016). More than 230 former RoughRiders players have gone on to play Major League Baseball including current Rangers Jack Leiter, Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford. For more information on the Frisco RoughRiders, please visit RidersBaseball.com or contact zbigley@ridersbaseball.com.