The Detroit Tigers are moving in the fences at Comerica Park, and lowering some of them, too.
The work is expected to be done in time for the Tigers’ home opener on April 6 against the Boston Red Sox.
The Tigers are moving in the center field fence 10 feet, but it will still be the second-deepest center field in the league after Coors Field in Denver.
Additionally the height of the outfield wall will be lowered to seven feet in center field and right field (down from 8.5 feet), and in right-center field (down from 13.5 feet).
“This has been a topic of conversation for quite some time within our organization,” Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said in a release. “We’re confident that this plan accomplishes our goals of improving offensive conditions on the hardest hit balls, while maintaining Comerica Park’s unique dimensions and style of play. These updates come after a great deal of research and feedback from all stakeholders in and around the organization, including our fans, players and front office. The outfield wall changes, combined with new rules from Major League Baseball in place this season, have the potential to create even more excitement and on field action for years to come.”
Interestingly, although Comerica Park’s dead center was labeled at 420 feet, “highly accurate laser measurements” determined it was actually 422 feet. After being moved in 10 feet, it will now be listed as 412 feet.
Likewise, left field is being “relabeled” as 342 feet, instead of 345 feet. The left-field walls are not being moved in; it’s simply a more accurate measurement.
The Tigers said the entire outfield wall will be “reconstructed with material and padding that enhances player safety.” One reason for lowering the fences, the team said, was to encourage more exciting “home run robberies.”
Fans packed the right field seats at Comerica Park on Aug. 13, 2021, and stood for every at-bat by Miguel Cabrera, who is chasing 500 home runs. (Photo by Evan Woodbery, MLive)
Comerica Park has long been loathed by hitters and loved by pitchers for its deep center-field dimensions that turn no-doubt home runs into long flyouts.
Comerica Park routinely had more outs recorded on “barrels” -- a term used to measure well-struck balls -- than any other stadium in baseball.
While most hitters and many fans would label it a pitchers’ park without hesitation, the numbers say that Comerica Park has been far closer to neutral than most give it credit for. The stadium’s Park Factor for 2020-2022 rates it as a pitchers’ park, but only slightly. It’s the best triples park in baseball (thanks to that big outfield), but the toughest place to hit a home run.
But home run numbers can fluctuate, and as recently as a few years ago, Comerica was considered a neutral home run park.
When the stadium opened in 2000, the dimensions were even bigger. Left field went all the way to the stands at the back of the bullpens. Center-left field was labeled at 395 feet and featured a flagpole that was in play.
This arrangement didn’t last long. The bullpens were moved from right field to left before the 2003 season and left-field was deep but no longer absurd. But the deep center field -- an homage to the 440-feet center field at Tiger Stadium -- persisted until now.