Detroit Tigers Announce Adjusted Outfield Dimensions

After garnering feedback from fans, players and front office stakeholders, the Tigers have announced adjustments to the outfield dimensions at Comerica Park.

For 2023 Opening Day, the center field wall will be adjusted to 412 feet. Additionally, the height of the outfield wall in multiple key areas will be lowered, most notably above the out-of-town scoreboard from 13 feet to seven. The foundation of the entire outfield wall will be reconstructed with material and padding that enhances player safety.

These changes modify the deepest parts of Comerica Park, while retaining the uniqueness and exciting style of play fans are accustomed to.

There are several benefits these changes deliver:

• Reward hitter outcomes on balls hit to the deepest parts of the park
• Maintain the high number of extra-base hits on balls in play to the gaps, resulting in action on the basepaths
• Lowered wall height encouraging more electric defensive plays such as home run robberies

“This has been a topic of conversation for quite some time within our organization,” said Scott Harris, Detroit Tigers President of Baseball Operations. “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.”

As part of the extensive research in planning these changes, highly accurate laser measurements were taken of the outfield wall. As a result, though the actual distance won’t change, the left field corner will be re-labeled from 345 to 342. The center field distance will be reduced 10 feet to 412, as the existing wall was measured at 422.

With Comerica Park’s new dimensions, the 412-foot center field will stand as the second deepest in baseball behind only Coors Field at 415, while the league average is 402.

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