Reports surfaced last week that the Blue Jays’ renovations to Rogers Centre would involve some changes to the playing field, and those changes were confirmed yesterday when the team officially announced the dimensions of the newly-reconfigured outfield. Rogers Centre had previously had uniform dimensions in terms of wall size and relative distances from home plate, but now many aspects of the outfield will play a bit differently in 2023. (MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson has a visual aid of the new dimensions within his piece on the outfield changes.)
Formerly a standard size of 10 feet tall, the outfield wall’s size will now be staggered, ranging from eight feet in straightaway center field to 14 feet and four inches for the walls in right-center field and down the left field line. The wall down the right field line will also grow to 12 feet and seven inches, and the wall in left-center will be 11 feet and two inches high. The power alley walls will be heightened as well, but to differing heights — 10 feet and nine inches in right-center, and 12 feet and nine inches in left-center.
As for distances, no changes were made in center field or down the left field/right field line, as those will respectively remain at 400 feet and 328 feet. However, in left-center, the wall will move in slightly to 368 feet (from 375 feet) and the power alley to 381 feet (from 383 feet).
In right-center, there is an even more drastic move to 359 feet (again down from 375) with power alley of 372 feet (from 383). The changes in right field are due to two of the renovation’s most prominent new features — a large fan pavilion and dining area, providing spectators with a new views of both the field and a newly-designed visitors’ bullpen.
Last winter’s renovations at Camden Yards are a recent example of how a ballpark can be significantly altered by a dimension change, as one of baseball’s more hitter-friendly stadiums became a lot more pitcher-friendly once the left field wall was heightened and pushed back almost 30 feet. Rogers Centre has also traditionally been somewhat more favorable to hitters, and in theory, the generally shorter dimensions might further help batters (particularly left-handed hitters), while fly-ball pitchers could see a few more home runs sail out of the yard on balls that would’ve previously been caught. That said, the larger walls should also curb a true offensive explosion.
“It was critical to understand how any modifications would impact play, so where the walls come in, heights go up to offset significant changes,” Marnie Starkman, Blue Jays executive VP of business operations, said in a statement to media. “Our team modelled these adjustments, and we anticipate they will create a similar neutral environment while providing a modernized experience for our fans.”
As Matheson notes, the Jays’ acquisitions of Daulton Varsho and Kevin Kiermaier this offseason were surely influenced by the outfield’s different look. The Blue Jays already wanted to upgrade its glovework in general this winter, but having two excellent defensive outfielders in this newly-shaped outfield should help the club as it figures out exactly how these new dimensions will translate to on-field action.
interesting to see how this will play out
kramps – I don’t like the idea of such high walls, personally I prefer lower walls at farther distances. There is nothing more exciting than a fielder jumping at the wall to take away a homerun … or high-five a fan in the stands as Manny did in Baltimore. LOL
The Rogers Centre is the finest centre in all of baseball.
It is, by far, the nicest active major league stadium in Canada.
It’s also the worst
I wonder how the Blue Jays pitching staff feels about these changes? Toronto’s stadium was already susceptible to HRs and now with such a shorter RF power-alley I’d anticipate a lot more HRs by LHH. The homer dome is back!
Fences will be a lot higher except in straightaway CF.
How many homers have been line shots? As just stated, it was already a park friendly to homers. Count on bigger raises for hitters who play there.
Bring back Polo Grounds type dimensions and let the fun begin.
That’d be awesome. Almost 500 feet to CF, 485 to the power alleys, and little league 280 or less right down the lines! Lots of speed needed in the outfield.
Lmao and put monuments in CF
For those old enough to remember the original Yankee Stadium, that was bizarre.
Check out Philadelphia’s Baker Bowl after the 1937 season. 279 feet to right field corner with a 60 foot wall!
Throw up some 60-ft walls on both ends.
makes me want to throw up
@Craven
Learn something new everyday. Your comment sparked my curiosity about the Polo Grounds. Holy smokes! I had no idea. Thx for schooling me in a good way.
“Dimensions: 277-L, 455-C, 258-R (original), 279-L, 475-C, 257-R (final)”
MacGromit – it’s insane isn’t it? I need to see these dimensions in 2023 lol
Be fun to watch players wear the old gloves too.
Yeah and old heavy AF bats lmao
Imagine they make a short porch…
They should have a window from the bar directly to the visitors bullpen so the drunks can yell at the pitchers warming up every time. That would be a whole new dimension added!
In Toronto?
Those “drunks” will be escorted out more often than not
I thought they just started fights in the fifth deck?
I’m still jealous that Rodger’s Center is the only MLB park that serves beer after the 7th inning.
I guess even the drunks in Canada are polite/nice.
Rogers Centre stops serving alcohol after the bottom of the 7th inning as well..
suffering – Yeah some of the bizarre comments I’ve been seeing here the past month make me think the serving of beer never stops in their home. LOL
MLB rules say alcohol sales stop after the 7th.
You can get beer after the 7th inning. You just have to find the speakeasy.
Sadly drunks are the same everywhere.
While home field advantage is a fun way for teams to use the stadium to their advantage to their roster. I still think it’s weird baseball doesn’t have standard dimensions .
Then you’ll be seriously alarmed to know that the home team’s are allowed to manipulate their baseballs with a humidor.
In the NPB, home teams choose the “ball” to play with. There are like 9 to choose from.
Baseball is wacky.
In Russia, baseball hits you
Its fun but crazy that so much in mlb is not standard. Balls, grass, field dimensions both fair amd foul hell even 2 years ago half the teams played with DH and the others Pitchers hit
They should make the Blue Jay batters hit with hockey sticks. Baseball 9 style.
Baseball is entertainment and standardization doesn’t always equate to fun. Although the league is certainly on the path to eliminate any and all variance.
I dont disagree and i like that fields are different. But nfl, nhl, FIFA, Mls etc. Everyone plays with the same everything, while Judge gets different balls in his games towards the end of the season, LHH hit more HR at Rogers center and Yankee stadium while RHH get the monster at Fenway. Im just saying hiw wildly different Mlb does things. Up untill this year only 2 teams had uniform fields now there is only 1
Not always the case in NHL; Bruins used to have a smaller rink, maybe still do.
Get rid of all the walls and play like it’s the 1800s. Then players would need to work hard for those homeruns.
That’s almost as good as turning the dimensions to Polo Ground status. No fences! Big Dan Vogelbach is slimming down as we speak! LOL
Find a vintage base ball team in your area, and you’ll be able to see this style of play.
@ OldYork – While playing old man’s baseball a few years back, we had one field in the league that didn’t have a left field fence. Pro dimensions, but it was a part of a township park and for whatever reason they wanted to leave it open.
The strongest hitter in the league absolutely crushed one to left off of our pitcher. My LF was already playing as far back as possible…runs after it…the CF comes over for the first relay and he is still 20 feet BEHIND where the fence would have been. By the time that we got the ball back to the infield, the hitter was already back in the dugout after having a quick smoke and cracking open a Red Bull.
Teams with a retractable roof already have an advantage by being able to dictate conditions. Toronto looking to go 81-0 at home.
It helps both teams? if they play indoors when its cold out.; The fans are the only ones that lose as closed Skydome is ass.
Get rid of the Rogers Centre and build a proper baseball stadium. It’s not the 90s anymore.
I’ve never been but they seem to draw well, no?
Rogers is way too cheap, that will never happen 🙁
Well they are spending $300M doing upgrades to the park, they aren’t just playing with the walls.
Yes Old York! That astro turf is still a thing in MLB is bananas! Forget the walls, how balls bounce should be standardized.
These reno’s are around 250mil and the Jays will be a tax paying team this year. A lot of teams fans wish they were that cheap.
Everyone wants a new stadium; but where do you put it? Traffic is already a nightmare downtown.
Make sure to CC your complaint to Arizona, Miami, Tampa Bay and Texas as well.
Also, the bounces are standardized. The ball doesn’t bounce more for the visitor then the home team.
If you’re trying to argue some sort of competitive imbalance, I would argue varying wall heights and distances have far greater overall impact then a few places with turf. Are you going to demand that baltimore get rid of its needlessly quirky dimensions in favour of a completely uniform outfield wall?
Every park is different and it should be. Some places used to (and probably still do) grow their infield grass to great heights to slow the ball on the infield while others do not. Grounds crews have heavily water down dirt infields when a speedy visitor was coming to town to slow them down.
Differing field conditions in MLB has always been a thing. Why should turf be any different then any other variable condition?
This is just year 1 of renos.. theres more upgrading coming after the season is done
If you’re of the opinion of standardizing how balls bounce, then synthetic turf should be the norm at every park.
LOL! The same Toronto fans who cry every year that the owner is cheap are the ones who cry their eyes out online if they have to pay 1/2 what fans pay for a ticket or at concessions in the major markets.
You are 100% wrong on this bud.
Seriously. 300 million to fix that heap? Might as well build. New stadium
I dont want a new stadium. Dodger Stadium is a gem. Angel stadium on the other hand is garbage
Rogers Centre It looks like one big block of concrete. No charm
Kewl-You talking about Chavez Latrine?
I assume that you’ve never been
CopyCats or Copy Birds
Vladdy will now chase Bonds.
He better get his launch angle up or he might just be hitting walls now.
Agreed there were alot of homers last couple of seasons from guerrero that were missiles just clearing the fence now with the higher fences those will stay in play.. qont be surprised of guerrero doesnt hit 30. But every power hitting left hander will love coming to toronto lol. How funny will it be if all these changes being done for the fans interaction infact hurts the power hitter of the jays haha.
Or maybe it forces the jays hitters to start using the whole field instead of being all out pull happy team..
Dont be surprised if he hits 60 either
He’ll be chasing calories instead
Brandon Belt will finally get his first 30 Hr season I predict.
If he can stay healthy and gets a good amount of AB’s, it’s entirely possible. Hitting at Yankee stadium and hooking some shots around the PeskyPole in Boston will also help.
Varsho will go 40-40
When the Jays hit a home run, Ace slides down into a bottle of maple syrup. They haven’t actually figured out how they are going to get him out but leave it to Trudeau to figure that one out.
Great. Another damn bandbox.
I can see Eloy or Buxton coming to town and running into these new and unfamiliar walls. They better be DHing.
Shouldn’t it have been reported out in meters instead of feet? I mean, that’s kinda a thing in the Country and all.