Built in 1973, Kauffman Stadium is the sixth oldest active MLB venue. The field is perfectly symmetrical and only
Coors Field has a larger outfield. Ballpark Pal rates it 29th in the league for home runs completely due to its deep dimensions. Technically, the foul poles are standard distance from home plate (330 feet), but similar to right field at
Fenway Park, the fence continues to run past each pole making the actual distance to the corners much deeper. Center field is perhaps the most generous HR spot at Kauffman Stadium as it measures 410 feet straight-away (8 feet further than average). To make things slightly more difficult for hitters is the 9-foot tall fence which extends across the entire outfield (1 foot higher than the MLB standard).
There is no doubt that Kauffman Stadium is one of the most favorable venues for pitchers when it comes to keeping balls in the yard, But it’s actually a pretty good park for hits. Ballpark Pal ranks it first in all of MLB for singles and 8th for doubles and triples. This can be partly be attributed to the huge outfield which requires fielders to cover more ground. But it also has to do with better contact. Ballpark Pal rates it one of the top parks in MLB for contact rate and quality, which can be due to any number factors such as aesthetics or a change in hitter approach stemming from the deep fences.
Fly balls also tend to carry a bit farther in Kansas City. Fly balls hit more than 300 feet tend to rack up about 1% more distance than the league average, which ranks 3rd among active venues. There are a couple of factors that likely contribute to this, the first of which is the heat. Average temperature in K.C. is 77 degrees (8th in MLB) and 48% of games are played above 80. Additionally, Kansas City sits 750 feet above sea level (5th in MLB) which can be good for a few extra feet of carry.
The wind tends to have a noticeable effect at Kauffman Stadium. The outfield bleachers have a much smaller presence than the typical MLB venue, which allows the wind easier access to the field. Ballpark Pal rates the venue 9th most susceptible to wind, which can allow it to play clse to neutral for home runs when it’s blowing out (and extremely difficult when it’s blowing in). The dominant wind pattern in K.C. is to blow south-to-north, which translates to “out to LF”. The wind blows left 52% of the time compared to just 23% in the other direction. Overall, Ballpark Pal ranks Kauffman Stadium 8th for day-to-day variation.
