Orioles fixing unpopular change they made to Camden Yards
May 14, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Baltimore Orioles cap and glove sits in dugout in the second inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
For the second time in four years, the Baltimore Orioles are changing the dimensions at their home ballpark.
Orioles general manager Mike Elias announced Friday that the team is lowering and moving in the left field fence at Oriole Park at Camden Yards ahead of the 2025 season. The team had previously moved the left field fence back and raised it following the 2021 season in a bid to make the park less hitter-friendly.
According to images released by the team, the fence will be moved in by as much as 20 feet in some places, and will also be lowered significantly.
Via the Orioles, a more neutral left field wall modification https://t.co/hT91pitrTl pic.twitter.com/6SBVg6TvDh
— Andy Kostka (@afkostka) November 15, 2024
Camden Yards had been one of the most hitter-friendly ballparks in the league since its construction, but the Orioles had sought to make it more neutral with the previous changes. Elias admitted that the team had overcorrected in those changes, and even admitted that the left field wall had become a “distraction” to some right-handed hitters.
Mike Elias said he and the baseball ops department didn't like how the left field wall had become a "distraction" in some ways to hitters, especially righties. He's hopeful the new dimensions will be more balanced
— Andy Kostka (@afkostka) November 15, 2024
While the previous adjustment had its intended impact, it was not popular with hitters, and it did not look very good aesthetically, either. Considering the team wants to compete consistently with their talented young core, this could easily help them attract some free agent hitters as well.