Construction crews work on the infield at SunTrust Park, the Atlanta Braves’ new baseball stadium in Atlanta, on Thursday. With only about three weeks remaining before the Braves return from spring training to play the Yankees in an exhibition game, finishing touches are being placed on the team’s new suburban SunTrust Park.
Construction crews work on the infield at SunTrust Park, the Atlanta Braves’ new baseball stadium in Atlanta, on Thursday. With only about three weeks remaining before the Braves return from spring training to play the Yankees in an exhibition game, finishing touches are being placed on the team’s new suburban SunTrust Park. Credit: AP PHOTO

ATLANTA — Workers grooming the infield dirt at the Braves’ new SunTrust Park on Thursday wore hardhats that cast a misleading image.

Most of the hard work is complete.

“We are completely through with the major elements of the construction of the ballpark,” Braves president of business Derek Schiller said.

That leaves about three weeks for finishing touches before the first official unveiling when the Braves play the New York Yankees in an exhibition on March 31. Only season-ticket holders are invited, and Schiller says a crowd of about 20,000 is expected.

Schiller acknowledged the new park must be accompanied by improved play from the Braves, who finished last in the NL East in 2016.

“We came out of two years in a row where we struggled as a team and conversely struggled at the gate,” he said. “It’s not lost on us we have to deliver two things at once. We have to make sure the baseball environment at this new ballpark has everything to offer, and I believe will satisfy even the most discerning baseball fans. Then we also have to deliver a very good baseball team.”

There will be open ticket sales for a Georgia-Missouri college game on April 8. That will be the final public trial run before Atlanta’s home opener on April 14 against San Diego.