Baseball Savant uses data from Statcast park effects to show the favorability or unfavourability of pitching and hitting in every MLB ballpark. It uses a scale based on the following:
Each number is set so that “100” is average for that metric, and the park-specific number is generated by looking at each batter and pitcher, controlled by handedness, and comparing the frequency of that metric in the selected park compared to the performance of those players in other parks. [1]
Using a 3-year rolling window to include data from 2021-2023, the parks with the highest and lowest overall park factors are:
Coors Field (Rockies) 112
Great American Ball Park (Reds) 111
Fenway Park (Red Sox) 109
Citi Field (Mets) 95
Oakland Coliseum (A's) 95
Busch Stadium (Cardinals) 95
Petco Park (Padres) 94
T-Mobile Park (Mariners) 91
Looking strictly at runs scored data, the gaps get even wider:
Coors Field (Rockies) 125
Great American Ball Park (Reds) 123
Fenway Park (Red Sox) 119
Citi Field (Mets) 90
Oakland Coliseum (A's) 90
Busch Stadium (Cardinals) 90
Petco Park (Padres) 88
T-Mobile Park (Mariners) 83
Over this 2+ year period, for players that played in Coors Field and elsewhere, there were 25 percent more runs observed in Colorado. Over the course of a full 162 game season, those numbers get crazy. Baseball Savant goes even more in depth to show doubles, triples, strikeouts, and more to show the uniqueness of each stadium.
In 2023, only 3 series have been played in Coors Field. In those series, the Nationals scored 23 runs in 4 games, the Pirates scored 33 runs in 3 games, the Cardinals scored 20 runs in 3 games and the Rockies scored 45 runs in those 10 games. This gives a grand total of 121 runs in only 10 games. [2]
In Fenway Park this season, the Orioles scored 23 runs in 3 games, the Twins scored 19 runs in 3 games, the Angels scored 16 runs in 4 games, the Pirates scored 15 in 3 games, and the Red Sox scored 75 in those 13 games. The grand total comes out to 148 runs in 13 games. [3]
In Cincinnati, the Great American Ball Park has seen 140 runs in 13 games. The road team visitors have outscored the Reds 75 to 65 in their ballpark [4]. Early on the season, American Family Field in Milwaukee has actually proven to be the most hitter friendly ballpark despite being about neutral since it's opening in 2002. Coors is 2nd, Great American is 3rd, and Fenway is actually 6th behind both Globe Life Field and Guaranteed Rate Field. [5]
Park factors obviously aren't the number one metric to judge the game, but still certainly have a place in analyzing outcomes. It will be interesting to see as new stadiums are built if teams try to structure them to target a more neutral game or if there is a favorability on either side that arises.
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