A record amount of rain hit San Diego Sunday night and into Monday leaving some parts of the city with more than five inches of water. San Diego’s baseball stadium left the Padres home field looking more like Petco Lake than Petco Park.
The silver lining in all of this is that it’s a good thing the Padres have just over a month before they play in the season opener against the San Francisco Giants on April 7. The baseball team wasn’t impacted with players and the coaching staff enjoying the sunshine with spring training taking place in Peoria, Ariz.
Rain delay @PetcoPark,don't get to say that often in SoCal! Amendments tilled in, graded, and sod underway! #rains @Padres @SimplotPartners pic.twitter.com/PrAS8kMbt0
— Paul Wizikowski (@PaulWizikowski) February 27, 2017
Good thing @Padres are in Arizona for #Springtraining — Petco Park flooded today https://t.co/YxeVwo8kqA pic.twitter.com/EhsVhA2CQb
— FOX 5 San Diego (@fox5sandiego) February 28, 2017
The record rainfall caused power outages on top of a number of other problems in southern California. Officials said that drains at Petco Park couldn’t keep up with the heavy rain which led to the field flooding for a day.
Ground crews didn’t expect any water damage with the standing water since the grass was taken out before hosting a Monster Jam event.
Of course, when the images surfaced on social media, fans didn’t hold back from cracking some jokes and having a good time.
Padres should think about signing this player to a contract. Outstanding outfield coverage makes up for poor arm strength https://t.co/1XY8Kph3oq
— Patrick Carr (@patrickcarr_) February 28, 2017
I'm not really surprised that PETCO Park is flooded, considering the #Padres have been drowning in the standings for some years now
— Justin Cirillo (@JustinCirillo) February 28, 2017
Petco Park was never flooded. Period. pic.twitter.com/Lcaf67jK9L
— VM David (@VocalMinoritySD) February 28, 2017
It's not the Swamp that needs draining… it's Petco Park. #JointAddress #MAGA #draintheswamp pic.twitter.com/lmIEXq7xiC
— Jake Blum (@jakeblum7) March 1, 2017
But by Tuesday afternoon crews had the field drained and were beginning to put the field back together. Luckily no injuries were reported throughout the process.
Sunshine is back in San Diego and all is back to normal. A third of the playing field has already been laid! pic.twitter.com/91KFmvrAEx
— Petco Park (@PetcoPark) February 28, 2017