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First Preseason Practice Brings Utah Baseball Another Step Toward Opening Day
1/12/2026 2:20 PM | Baseball
Countdown stands at 32 days until season opener
SALT LAKE CITY – The University of Utah baseball program on Monday made another stride toward full opening of Charlie Monfort Field at America First Ballpark, as the Utes held their first full team practice of the 2026 preseason.
Head coach Gary Henderson's squad will begin the new campaign on Friday, Feb. 13 at Fresno State, leading up to the first home game scheduled for March 6 vs. Grand Canyon. The latter will not be just another game; rather, it will be a celebration as the Utes open a place designed to serve not only as the team's home—but as a community asset.
After spending a majority of the last 30 years playing in downtown Salt Lake City, Charlie Monfort Field at America First Ballpark will give the Utes a permanent home on campus and offer a variety of other areas designed to support the student-athletes on and off the field.
The ballpark's FieldTurf playing surface is surrounded by 1,200 chairback seats plus a grass berm in the outfield, allowing the Utes to welcome up to 3,000 fans on gameday. Inside, the program has a variety of support spaces including a clubhouse, lounge, film room, weight room, sports medicine suite and equipment storage. The upper level includes a donor space, coaches' offices, recruiting area and a press box with full capacity for game operations, media coordination and broadcasting.
Additionally, adjacent to the playing surface is an indoor facility, offering batting tunnels and a fully resourced pitching lab. It also serves as a space for Utah alumni in pro baseball to come back and train during the offseason.
When gameday arrives and Utah takes the field, an experienced combination of returners and new faces will comprise the squad. Right-handed pitcher and All-Big 12 selection Colter McAnelly is back, as are a variety of familiar names on the pitching staff, in the infield and outfield, and at catcher. Eighteen newcomers dot the roster, with 15 members of that group bringing prior college baseball experience to the Utes.
The team's complete roster is available by clicking here. Ticket information will be announced soon.
Follow Utah Baseball
Keep up with the Utes by following @utahbaseball and by visiting www.UtahUtes.com. Download the Utah 360 app here.
Head coach Gary Henderson's squad will begin the new campaign on Friday, Feb. 13 at Fresno State, leading up to the first home game scheduled for March 6 vs. Grand Canyon. The latter will not be just another game; rather, it will be a celebration as the Utes open a place designed to serve not only as the team's home—but as a community asset.
After spending a majority of the last 30 years playing in downtown Salt Lake City, Charlie Monfort Field at America First Ballpark will give the Utes a permanent home on campus and offer a variety of other areas designed to support the student-athletes on and off the field.
The ballpark's FieldTurf playing surface is surrounded by 1,200 chairback seats plus a grass berm in the outfield, allowing the Utes to welcome up to 3,000 fans on gameday. Inside, the program has a variety of support spaces including a clubhouse, lounge, film room, weight room, sports medicine suite and equipment storage. The upper level includes a donor space, coaches' offices, recruiting area and a press box with full capacity for game operations, media coordination and broadcasting.
Additionally, adjacent to the playing surface is an indoor facility, offering batting tunnels and a fully resourced pitching lab. It also serves as a space for Utah alumni in pro baseball to come back and train during the offseason.
When gameday arrives and Utah takes the field, an experienced combination of returners and new faces will comprise the squad. Right-handed pitcher and All-Big 12 selection Colter McAnelly is back, as are a variety of familiar names on the pitching staff, in the infield and outfield, and at catcher. Eighteen newcomers dot the roster, with 15 members of that group bringing prior college baseball experience to the Utes.
The team's complete roster is available by clicking here. Ticket information will be announced soon.
Follow Utah Baseball
Keep up with the Utes by following @utahbaseball and by visiting www.UtahUtes.com. Download the Utah 360 app here.
Players Mentioned
RHP
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