Oriole Park

  When ranking the best overall parks in MLB, Oriole Park at Camden Yards shows up near the top of most lists. Often praised for its aesthetics, fan experience, and smooth integration into its urban surroundings, the Baltimore venue is considered a pioneer for a new age of stadiums. After it hosted its first Orioles game in 1992, a myriad of similar parks sprung up over the next couple decades. The most clearly influenced were Progressive Field, Citizens Bank Park, and PNC Park, each of which imitated its asymmetry and open-air style. Most importantly, the opening of Camden Yards marked the end of the multi-purpose, cookie-cutter stadium.

  On the field, Oriole Park's shape used to be particularly conducive to home runs. That is until the massive overhaul of left field prior to the 2022 season. The Orioles raised the wall's height from 7 to 13 feet and pushed it back as much as 26 feet. Once a haven for right-handed pull hitters, the left third of Camden Yards now marks one of the toughest home run spots in the majors. The rightward two-thirds remains unchanged, however, and now serves as a much needed complement. Even though the 21-foot wall in right does help keep home runs in the yard, most of the fence remains just 7 feet high and plays particularly short to right and left-center fields.

  Just as it was intended, the 2022 changes had a significant effect on the box score for Orioles home games. When it comes to runs, the park dropped from top 5 in MLB to middle of the pack. Ballpark Pal rates the venue 17th for runs, 20th for home runs, and 23rd for doubles and triples. It's actually a decent park for singles now (ranked 9th) as there's more outfield ground to cover.

  Oriole Park's open-air style can leave it susceptible to the elements. While the wind doesn't typically blow that hard in Baltimore (7 mph average), out-blowing winds can be impactful when they blow fast. Ballpark Pal rates Camden Yards 13th most receptive to out-blowing winds but only 22nd for in-blowing. This may have to do with the B&O warehouse in right, big scoreboard in center, and tall 3-deck grandstand in left, each of which might prevent in-blowing winds from making it to the playing surface.

  Start time temperature at Oriole Park tends to vary quite a bit. It averages 74 degrees (14th warmest in MLB), but it's common for temps to drop below 60 as well as soar above 90 degrees during the summer. Due to the range of temperatures in Baltimore, Ballpark Pal rates Camden Yards 2nd in park variation.