Kansas City Royals Moving in Stadium Outfield Walls

The Kansas City Royals are moving in fences at Kauffman Stadium in an effort to make it a more hitter-friendly ballpark.

Both the left- and right-field walls will be moved in nine to 10 feet, beginning close to the foul poles and tapering toward center field, which will stay at 410 feet from home plate, while the wall height will be lowered from 10 feet to 8 1/2 feet in most places. 

A team-provided diagram showed the left- and right-field corners at 347 and 344 feet, respectively, nine feet shorter than their current dimensions. The left and right field walls will also be nine feet closer at 364 feet.

Kauffman Stadium is already considered to be an above-average offensive park because of its massive outfield, which promotes doubles and triples, but has suppressed home runs, which has led to hitters changing their approaches in road games. The Royals had previously moved their fences in 10 feet between 1995 and 2003, which saw a spike in home run totals, before returning to their original dimensions in 2004.

	Old (Feet)	New (Feet)
Left Field Line	356	347
Left Field	373	364
Left Field Alley	389	379
Left Center	405	405
Center Field	410	410
Right Center	405	405
Right Field Alley	389	379
Right Field	373	364
Right Field Line	356	344