MLB Club Baltimore Orioles is changing the outfield dimensions of the Oriole Park at Camden Yards. For the first time in the last 20 years, the Orioles are making a major change into the stadium. In the new structure, the club is moving the left-field wall back by at least 30 feet.
Why the Orioles are making a change to their stadium?
The Orioles are making this change to create a new ballpark, which will be fair for both pitchers and hitters. On January 14, the Orioles revealed renderings of the planned changes to Camden Yards’ left dimensions. In which the wall between the left corner and left-center field is pushed back by around 30 feet, and the height of the wall is increased by approximately 6 feet.
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From the Orioles: Official renderings of the changes in Camden Yards’ left-field dimensions. pic.twitter.com/JeXm3glHA2
— Nathan Ruiz (@NathanSRuiz) January 14, 2022
The Baltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias on the new stadium
Baltimore Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias said to Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun, the club is making these changes to improve the playing conditions and the style of play in that particular area of the park. He said that the new change will be beneficial for the Orioles, and for the kind of matches which will be played there.
“For any team, for any park to be toward the very, very extreme in either direction, it’s a bit of a challenge,” said Mike Elias to The Baltimore Sun.
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As this image shows more clearly, the leftmost corner of the bullpen will be 380 feet from home plate, with the jut directly next to it at 400 feet. The left-field corner remains 333 feet from home (about league average) but quickly increases, reaching 384 feet in two sections. pic.twitter.com/IEWEOjPbHb
— Nathan Ruiz (@NathanSRuiz) January 14, 2022
The renderings show the wall’s height will be approx 13 feet, 6 feet more than the previous height. While the new wall will be approx 26.5 feet farther. However, the bullpens in the left-center will remain as it was earlier. The new stadium will be very much similar to PNC Park in Pittsburgh. Considering its unique configuration, the new stadium will not have any issues regarding the players’ safety.
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When the lockout ends and the 2022 season begins, it will be interesting to see how teams will adapt to this new stadium. The intention to make this change was to provide a neutral ballpark. Which will be beneficial for both pitchers and hitters.
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