The Major League Baseball season is around the corner as top stars prepare for Spring Training in the coming weeks.
However, one massive change is already occurring before the 2026 season with an American League team’s ballpark.
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ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan revealed Tuesday that the Kansas City Royals are altering Kauffman Stadium. The report indicates that the Royals will be moving in the outfield fences, as well as lowering the heights of the wall.
NEWS: The Kansas City Royals are moving in most of the fences at Kauffman Stadium by 10 feet and lowering their height as well. Free at ESPN: An inside look at how their analytics department sought to find balance and create a neutral park for home runs. https://t.co/VbgOT0Mtt3
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 13, 2026
The ESPN report suggests that the Kansas City Royals and their analytics team want to create a more home run-friendly stadium.
“We want a neutral ballpark where if you hit a ball well, it should be a home run,” Royals general manager J.J. Picollo told ESPN. “The second they start feeling like they can’t get the ball out of the ballpark, they start changing their swing. I watched it for years and years and years, and I just felt like this is the time to try to push it and see if everything we felt for however many years is accurate.”
Jul 3, 2020; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals manager Mike Matheny (middle) talks with players during summer workouts at Kaufmann Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Last season, Dodger Stadium ranked as the most friendly stadium for home run hitters in MLB with 125 during season where the Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series.. Meanwhile, the Great American Ball Park, Yankee Stadium, Citizen’s Bank Park and Angel Stadium rounded out the top 5.
The Royals’ home venue didn’t even rank inside the top half of all MLB stadiums, so these changes could spark a huge shift for the American League team.
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