The off-season renovations at Rogers Centre, totaling $400 million, have recently been completed, and they have indeed improved the experience for both fans and players. However, these renovations have also brought about significant changes to the field dimensions, which have had a noticeable impact on the gameplay, particularly for outfielders.
Phase 1 of the renovations, which were completed in 2023, focused on the stadium’s upper bowl and the creation of new fan zones. As part of this phase, the left-center field was brought in by seven feet to 368 feet, while the height of the wall was increased significantly to 11 feet, two inches. The right-center field wall was also moved up by 16 feet to 359 feet and its height was raised to 14 feet, four inches.
The second phase of the renovations, completed more recently, reduced the foul territory by approximately 3,000 square feet and installed walls that run alongside the foul lines. Previously, there were low stands in these areas where outfielders could lean into, sometimes even into the laps of fans, to catch a foul ball. The installation of these side walls and the narrowing of foul territory have considerably altered how outfielders like Varsho run to field the ball.
Varsho, who primarily plays in left field, shared his insights on the impact of the new dimensions. He highlighted the need to be cautious when approaching the outfield walls due to their increased height. He emphasized that outfielders now have to slide and maneuver their bodies in such a way to absorb the impact of a collision with the wall. Traditionally, outfielders would run a curved route toward the ball, allowing them to square up to home plate for a more stable catch. However, this is no longer possible due to the reduced foul territory.
Davis Schneider, who plays in left field when Varsho is in center, echoed these sentiments. He acknowledged that he has had to adapt to the new dimensions, which he described as a ‘short foul territory’ that requires outfielders to play differently. He noted that balls hit down the line are less likely to kick out and are more likely to hit the wall and ricochet back into the infield, emphasizing the need for outfielders to adjust their positioning and fielding techniques.
The changes in outfield dimensions have necessitated a greater level of support from the infield. The sharp corners and shorter distance to home make it possible for a hard-hit ball to bounce back into the shallow part of the outfield. To mitigate this risk, shortstops now have to move towards the outfield on a line drive to left field, and first or second basemen have to move towards right field to back up their corresponding outfielders, depending on the positioning of baserunners.
While the Blue Jays have only had a relatively small number of home games so far this year, statistical evidence suggests that the new dimensions have indeed affected the types of hits that are prevalent at Rogers Centre. Baseball Savant, an online resource that tracks detailed data on every pitch, swing, and play throughout the season, provides insights into park factors, which compare every MLB stadium on different statistics like singles, extra-base hits, home runs, strikeouts, runs, and more.
A park factor score of 100 indicates that a stadium is average compared to all other ballparks in the league, while a higher number signifies a higher frequency of a particular statistic and a lower number indicates a lower frequency. Historically, Rogers Centre has been known as a home run hitter’s park, with a park factor score at or above average for home runs in 19 of the 26 seasons between 1998 and 2022. However, after the recent renovations, the park’s home run park factor has dropped to 95, indicating a decrease in the frequency of home runs.
On the other hand, singles have become significantly more common. In the 26 seasons that Baseball Savant has tracked park factor data, Rogers Centre has only been above average for singles three times, with a modest score of 101. This season, it has reached an all-time high of 111 for singles. Overall hits have also increased, with a current park factor rating of 109, which is four points higher than the previous high of 105 in 2003.
In addition to the field dimension changes, new artificial turf was installed during the off-season renovations. Some players, like Isaiah Kiner-Falefa, believe that the new turf may be contributing to the increased frequency of base hits. Kiner-Falefa, who signed with the Blue Jays in the off-season, praised the new turf, suggesting that it may be encouraging outfielders to be less aggressive on fly balls, resulting in more hits that would otherwise be caught.
While the renovations have brought about both challenges and opportunities for outfielders, the overall impact on the gameplay and fan experience at Rogers Centre remains to be fully evaluated as the season progresses.
