From the Ice to the Infield: How Las Vegas Became a Major League City
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Las Vegas’ transformation from a sports afterthought to a thriving major league destination is a story of calculated growth and undeniable local passion. Fueled by the success of the Golden Knights, the city is now poised to welcome the Oakland Athletics, building upon a deeply rooted baseball culture that has quietly produced a disproportionate number of MLB stars.
The arrival of the A’s, slated to open a $2 billion stadium on the Strip in 2028, isn’t simply another team relocating; it’s the latest chapter in Vegas’ evolution into a true sports mecca. But how will this new arrival impact the existing baseball landscape, nurtured for decades by local coaches and a steady stream of homegrown talent?
A Battle Born Pipeline
For years, Las Vegas has been a breeding ground for baseball excellence. The region has consistently produced franchise-altering players like Greg Maddux, Bryce Harper, Kris Bryant, Joey Gallo, and Barry Zito – a remarkable output for a city not traditionally known as a baseball hotbed. Currently, nine active MLB players hail from Southern Nevada, with a similar number working their way through the minor league system. Tate Southisene, a recent state champion shortstop from Basic Academy, was drafted 22nd overall by the Atlanta Braves this summer, continuing the trend.
Don Logan, president and COO of the Las Vegas Aviators, the Athletics’ top minor league affiliate, has witnessed this pipeline firsthand over decades of service. “You’ll get a very baseball-biased opinion from me, but I think it’s founded in fact,” Logan says. “And the fact is that a disproportionate number of baseball players have come out of Southern Nevada.” Logan’s career began with the team in 1984, guiding it through name changes from the Stars to the 51s and finally to the Aviators in 2019, coinciding with a move to the $150 million Las Vegas Ballpark in Summerlin. “Major league sports were inevitably going to come to the Valley. The market grew so much, and having the MLB here is the culminating element,” he states. “Having had some role in developing us as a baseball market, it was gratifying. It made all those long, hot nights at Cashman Field worthwhile.”
Sun, Sand, and Skipper Savants
While the Aviators provide a crucial development platform, the true foundation of Las Vegas’ baseball success lies in its coaching. Former high school coach Rodger Fairless stands out as a pivotal figure, amassing an unparalleled 12 state championships in a 19-year career, including six consecutive titles with Green Valley High School from 1993 to 1998. His teams boasted future MLB veterans like Maddux, Mike Morgan, and Tyler Houston, resulting in a stunning 493-80 career record.
Fairless’ influence extends far beyond his win-loss record, shaping a coaching tree that includes NCAA skipper Steve Rodriguez and Las Vegas High School coach Sam Thomas. Thomas, who played for Fairless in the early 1980s and caught pitches from Maddux, credits his mentor with instilling a winning culture. “I have a mental book of all the coaches I’ve ever had or known, and Fairless probably has 80 out of 100 chapters,” Thomas says. “The competitiveness was unreal, and anybody that played for Fairless knows it was a winning and learning culture that translated to the next level better than any I’ve ever seen.”
Thomas’ own coaching career has been marked by success, recently surpassing 500 career wins. However, he downplays his time as Maddux’s catcher, stating, “Greg is Greg. He’s arguably one of the best pitchers in the history of the game. I was just the guy who caught his pitches his junior year.” His tone shifts when discussing Bryce Harper, whom he coached at LVHS in 2008 and 2009. “His family lived two blocks away from the school, and when I first saw him play in eighth grade, it was like winning the lottery,” Thomas recalls. “I’ve yet to find another player with his work ethic, but as talented as he was, people also don’t understand that he was one of the best teammates you could ever have.” Thomas notes that Harper’s early fame, fueled by media attention, ultimately served as a source of inspiration for countless young players. “For him to be the player that he is today, after going through all of that, is just a credit to him and his family. To me, that puts him above everybody else.”
A Full Count for the Future
College of Southern Nevada head coach Nick Garritano represents another vital link between the region’s baseball legacy and its future. A former player himself, Garritano took the helm at CSN in 2010, one year after Harper was drafted. “I can tell you right now that Harper’s name comes up in many of our recruiting conversations,” Garritano says. “These kids were four or five years old when he started and have always known him as one of the faces of baseball. Some parents don’t realize a [junior college] kid could do that. Well, it’s happened before here at CSN.”
Garritano’s teams have consistently sent players to MLB clubs, and he anticipates the A’s arrival will further fuel local interest in the sport. “Our Valley has grown to close to three million people. That’s already so many more high school baseball players out there than there ever were,” he explains. “I think the A’s influence will only entice even more young kids into playing, because they’re going to see the faces of the game come in and out of town regularly.”
However, with the Aviators already offering affordable family entertainment and the presence of the Golden Knights, Raiders, and Aces, A’s owner John Fisher faces the challenge of attracting local fans to 81 home games on the Strip. Garritano predicts success, stating, “You’ve got to make it affordable and friendly for the local fans—and you’ve got to win.”
The arrival of the Athletics marks a new era for baseball in Las Vegas, building upon a foundation of homegrown talent, dedicated coaches, and a growing passion for the game. As the city continues to evolve into a major league destination, the future of baseball in the Valley looks brighter than ever.
