AstroTurf honors lifelong fan and Syracuse student with trip to Game 2 in Toronto
SYRACUSE, N.Y. | AstroTurf.com | October 29th, 2025 — Syracuse student and aspiring sports announcer Finn O’Brien attended Game 2 of the World Series in Toronto. The baseball enthusiast witnessed the historic game at Rogers Centre between the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers courtesy of AstroTurf®.
A lifelong baseball fan, player, announcer, and turf management crew member, Finn has been a fixture in Central New York’s baseball community for more than a decade. He’s currently studying at Syracuse InclusiveU, an education program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Finn is majoring in Sports Management and set to graduate in 2026 with the dream of building a career in sports.
- He’s been part of the Challenger Baseball League since 2010, playing and helping make the game more inclusive for others.
- In 2023, he joined the turf management crew for the Syracuse Mets, where he continues to care for the field and support game-day operations.
- That same year, Finn represented his league at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, as part of a Challenger exhibition team.
- In 2024, he served as an announcer for the Syracuse Spartans, adding play-by-play excitement to local summer league games.
- He’s also traveled to many MLB stadiums to watch his cousin and MLB player Tim Locastro — also the former fastest man in the league — play in the majors.
“For Finn, this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Kristine O’Brien, Finn’s mother. “His dream is to be a professional sports announcer, and he loves being in a professional stadium listening to those announcers. Though he didn’t speak until he was 6 years old, Finn is proof that every voice finds its time to be heard.”
Get Your Field:
Finn’s trip to Rogers Centre—and its AstroTurf field—was part of AstroTurf’s “It’s All About The Play” campaign to celebrate the fans whose love for baseball extends far beyond the stands — and bring them even closer to it.
“Finn’s story captures what makes baseball truly special — the community, the tradition, and the people who keep the spirit of the game alive,” said Aaron Klotz, AstroTurf Director of Baseball. “We want to celebrate fans like Finn who bring heart and energy to the game at every level — from local fields to the World Series.”
For more information about AstroTurf and its innovative turf solutions, please visit astroturf.com.
About AstroTurf® Corporation
AstroTurf® Corporation is the original inventor and innovator of synthetic sports surfacing, leading the industry for 60 years. Known for pioneering surfacing solutions, AstroTurf® Corporation delivers cutting-edge products focused on performance, safety, and sustainability.
The company’s portfolio includes AstroTurf® fields, the trusted name in synthetic turf; Rekortan® tracks, the benchmark for elite running surfaces; Laykold® courts, the premier choice for tennis and multi-sport court play; and SYNLawn®, the industry leader in residential and commercial landscaping solutions. These products are the original brands in their respective categories and set the standard for quality and innovation in sports and recreational surfacing.
AstroTurf® is dedicated to creating world-class sports and recreational environments that inspire athletes and elevate communities. For more information, visit astroturf.com.
About Sport Group
Sport Group is a leading designer, manufacturer and installer of artificial surfaces serving the global sports flooring, leisure and landscaping and industrial markets to over 70 countries globally. Headquartered in Burgheim, Germany, the company’s brand portfolio includes AstroTurf® (the iconic brand that invented the industry), Polytan®, SYNLawn®, LigaTurf®, Poligras®, Rekortan®, and Laykold®.
Sport Group is an industry leader in green technologies, pioneering sustainable products and services such as the world’s first carbon neutral soccer turf, the world’s first carbon zero field hockey turf and development of the industry’s first, and only, turf recycling facility capable of recycling EPDM rubber.
The company has approximately 2,400 employees and operates nine vertically integrated manufacturing facilities and 31 distribution centers across the Americas, EMEA and Asia-Pacific regions. For additional information about Sport Group, please visit sportgroup-holding.com.
