Royals Moving In Outfield Fences At Kauffman Stadium

""During the course of the season, we just started doing some research, running some numbers and trying to figure out how much this really impacts our offense. Consequently, how would it affect our pitching staff? Ultimately, we concluded that we would be a better team offensively. With our current pitching staff, the changes in the dimensions wouldn't impact [pitching] negatively as much as it impacts our offense positively.""

"Kauffman Stadium has a reputation as one of the harder parks in which to hit. Statcast's Park Factor data has actually graded it as a decent hitter's park over the past three years. It's in a lopsided way, however. The spacious outfield has made the park more favorable for total hits, especially doubles and triples, but it's a tough venue for power bats. Only Pittsburgh's PNC Park and San Francisco's Oracle Park have suppressed home runs more than Kauffman since 2023. Hitters at Kauffman Stadium have homered on 9.7% of their fly-balls. The MLB average is a couple points higher (11.8%)."

Kauffman Stadium will bring in both outfield corners by nine feet and the center field alleys by ten feet while keeping dead center at 410 feet and slightly reducing wall height throughout. The front office concluded the dimension changes will improve offensive output more than they would harm the existing pitching staff. Statcast Park Factor data shows Kauffman favors hits, especially doubles and triples, but suppresses home runs more than most parks, with a 9.7% fly-ball homer rate versus an 11.8% MLB average. The adjustments should especially help left-handed power threats such as Jac Caglianone, Carter Jensen, and Vinnie Pasquantino.

Read at MLB Trade Rumors