SAN FRANCISCO — Unlike its new food offerings or enhanced WiFi network, one upgrade at Oracle Park was installed over the offseason without fanfare. It will likely go unnoticed by fans, but especially on a dark and damp home opener, it wasn’t overlooked by relievers in both bullpens.
“It’s so cold out there,” reliever John Brebbia said.
“Usually you’re down there with your jacket and beanie,” added lefty Scott Alexander.
“I’m hearing rumors of a heated bench,” submariner Tyler Rogers said. “That would be nice, really nice.”
Rejoice, relievers: Rogers heard right.
A pair of 12-foot heated benches made their debut in the outfield bullpens Friday. Made by the same company that installed the sideline seating at Levi’s Stadium and more than 20 other NFL venues, frigid relievers on both clubs will now be able to plop down and warm up. While many ballparks that deal with weather conditions have climate-controlled rooms in their bullpens, Oracle Park is the first in MLB to feature heated benches.
Powered by 110-volt electricity and clean-burning natural gas, the benches are painted white, while the one in the Giants’ bullpen is accented with black-and-orange stripes and the team logo. While both the Giants and their opponents gain to benefit, there is one advantage in the home bullpen: relievers will have a view of the field, while those in the visitor’s ‘pen will be stuck looking at the back of the outfield wall.
“I can’t wait,” Brebbia said. “That’s a life saver.”
“The heated benches will be very welcomed,” said Brant Whiting, who has spent more time out there than most as the Giants’ bullpen catcher since 2019. “Anything to stay warm.”
Any fan who can proudly wear a “Croix de Candlestick” pin understands that summer baseball in San Francisco isn’t always a blissful experience. Their newer waterfront ballpark is somewhat better at shielding the conditions, but there is no escaping the frequent wind, fog and moisture that passes through the Golden Gate on most days during the season.
The ballpark’s orientation means those behind home plate and in the dugout are somewhat protected. But out in center field?
“We don’t have too much coverage down there,” Whiting said. “It gets pretty cold, especially at night with the wind.”
“Technically we have heaters down there,” Brebbia said. “but unless you’re touching the metal that the heat is coming off of, you don’t feel it. Then, of course, when you touch the metal, you get burned. Not a happy medium.”
“Last year I started wearing two socks,” Rogers said. “That changed my world.”
Nobody in the bullpen is clamoring to return to their original locations, in foul territory in left and right field. But at least the bullpen denizens could spend most of the game in the dugout, rather than exposed to the conditions.
It’s not just comfort: Relievers should be able to get ready quicker and worry less about injuries if they’re warm all game.
“We all warm up and do our prep work before the game but you end up sitting out there for a couple hours,” Alexander said.
“I think it’s going to be really helpful for the guys,” Whiting said. “Anything to get them a little bit warmer before they get into the game is going to be huge.”
If you’ve made it this far, perhaps you’re wondering, what about me? Why do the players get to keep warm, while fans are left to fend for themselves? Well, you’re not alone.
“I’m sure the fans also feel our pain,” Whiting said. “Maybe get the bleachers heated benches.”
Brebbia agreed.
“I’m not in control of any team’s budgets,” he said, “but I like to think if I were, I’d swing a few in there.”
Then again …
“Of course, I’ll start complaining about it being too warm at some point,” Brebbia said. “Because I’m a miserable person, like, they should have air-conditioned benches, too! I can always find a problem if you need it.”
