Temperatures are expected to be in excess of 105 degrees on Sunday in Las Vegas, which could result in the Athletics and Colorado Rockies playing in one of the hottest MLB games on record, depending on what site is used for the game’s official temperature.
The Las Vegas Valley is expected to hit a high of 106 degrees that day, according to the National Weather Service’s Las Vegas office, which would rank the game among the hottest played outdoors in MLB history.
The official temperature for the city is clocked each day at Harry Reid International Airport.
A’s first baseman Nick Kurtz, who has played some games with the Aviators in the Vegas heat, said he’s not sure that he’s prepared for it, but he plans to stay hydrated and grind through it.
“It’s our job to go out there and play,” Kurtz said. “That’s what we intend to do no matter the conditions.
“Is it going to always be fun? No. Will it be really hot and really brutal at times? Yeah. But our job as players is to go out there and do what we can to win the game.”
Kurtz said several A’s players have experience playing in Las Vegas with the Aviators during the summer, and they could have a slight edge on the Rockies.
Hottest games in history
The hottest outdoor game on record over the past 30 years was on Sept. 9, 2020, when the Houston Astros played at the Los Angeles Angels and the temperature hit 109 degrees at Anaheim Stadium, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
The second hottest outdoor game was also at Anaheim Stadium on July 6, 2018, a matchup between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Angels where 108 degrees was reached.
Game-time temperature readings have only been kept consistently during the past 30 years, but recording the temperature has varied. Some stadiums check the temperature a few hours before a game and some teams base their game records on temps they observed online instead of a thermometer at the ballpark, according to Elias.
High temp timing
The high temperature in Las Vegas usually hits between 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on a given day in June, according to the National Weather Service, with the first pitch set for 12:05 p.m. Sunday.
The two nine-inning games during the A’s first three-game Las Vegas series this week with the Milwaukee Brewers averaged 2 hours and 40 minutes, not including the 4-hour-and 14-minute game on Monday, that went to 12 innings.
Summerlin relief
But MLB players and fans are likely to find some relief as the weather in Summerlin, where Las Vegas Ballpark is located, is expected to be a few degrees cooler than what’s recorded at the airport.
“Since you are in higher elevation in Summerlin where the ballpark is, you could see a few degrees cooler, maybe between 102 to 104 degrees,” NWS meteorologist Morgan Stessman said. “It looks like we’re looking at mostly clear skies on Sunday.”
It’s a dry heat
A’s catcher Shea Langeliers, said although it will be hot, he much rather play in the dry desert climate, as opposed to a humid one.
“I would prefer the dry heat,” Langeliers said. “The humidity kind of feels like you’re underwater. You can’t stop sweating. Obviously, you still sweat out here, but it’s a little bit different.
“When I played here in ‘22, I don’t remember having to do a whole lot of jersey changes like I did playing in the Southern League in Mississippi.”
A’s Manager Mark Kotsay said he doesn’t see the expected heat on Sunday being a big factor, since both teams have to play in the same elements.
“Wherever we play our focus is on the game and how we have to go out and perform and be a really good ball club,” Kotsay said.
Climate-controlled future
When the A’s relocate to Las Vegas in 2028, they will play in a $2 billion indoor ballpark being constructed on the Strip where weather won’t be an issue.
The domed stadium will be climate-controlled, with a first-of-its-kind air conditioning system, where the air is blown from underneath seats in the ballpark.
The stadium will have an outdoor feel, with a giant glass curtain wall in the outfield that will look out toward the Strip and let plenty of natural light in during the day.
Contact Mick Akers at makers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2920. Follow @mickakers on X.
