The Braves only occupied Turner Field for 16 seasons before seeking a new venue. The decision to leave Atlanta for the northern suburbs of Cobb County was criticized for a variety of reasons. Setting aside any ugly aspects of the move, the Braves certainly ended up with a more interesting field to play on, which hosted its first game in 2017.
At face value, Truist Park might appear a bit boring, but there’s some nuance that makes it intriguing. First off, Atlanta sits at about 1,000 feet above sea level (3rd highest in MLB) and 60% of its games are played in 80 degrees and above. Both its high altitude and temperatures help the ball carry a bit further than the MLB average, which could explain the franchise’s long-time preference for larger, pitcher-friendly fields.
Like its two predecessors, Truist Park’s dimensions effectively protect it against home runs. But instead of simply moving the fences back, the stadium designers varied the wall height allowing the field to be more asymmetrical. Truist can be described as a less extreme version of PNC Park, in which the field is separated into 3 unique components. The fence in left is deeper than the MLB average, but it only measures 6 feet tall down the line. Right field is actually pretty shallow but its 16-foot wall guards it from what would otherwise be home run central. The best spot for a dinger at Truist is center field where the fence drops to 9 feet in height and its measurements are slightly below the league average.
While the wind can come into play at Truist Park, it isn’t a primary factor. Average wind speed is about 86mph (26th in MLB) and its effect on the ball’s carry is merely average. Overall, Truist Park ranks 9th in the league for runs as it's particularly receptive to singles (5th), but home runs are harder to come by (22nd).
