Here's what every fantasy baseball drafter needs to know about MLB stadiums in 2022
Since different baseballs were used last year when pitchers were suddenly cracked down on using banned substances midway through, 2021 stats can be taken with an abnormally large grain of salt (following a shortened 2020).
Moreover, reportedly all 30 stadiums will be using a humidor this season for the first time (this can affect offense both ways, depending on that city’s humidity). It’s usually best to use three-year samples with park info anyway, but it appears especially true now (but realize a few stadiums have undergone changes over the last three years too).
We start with the best pitching parks before moving to the most favorable places to hit, breaking those down further between runs scored and homers (including handedness). All data is courtesy of The Bill James Handbook.
The following parks are listed with the most extreme at the top, with “100” being the league average:
PITCHER'S PARKS (Runs Scored, 2019-2021)
Tampa Bay Rays (84)
Oakland Athletics (86)
San Diego Padres (88)
New York Mets (88)
St. Louis Cardinals (89)
Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay has decreased run-scoring an MLB-high 16 percent over the last three years; it’s not easy pitching in the AL East, but at least Rays hurlers benefit from a favorable home park … Matt Chapman saw a real upgrade in hitting environments with his trade from Oakland to Toronto, as did Matt Olsonwith his move to Atlanta. It’s even more extreme for Olson, who went from a brutal park for lefty power (81) to a favorable one with the Braves (111); a massive 30% increase when it comes to homers for left-handed batters.
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A trade may result in Sean Manaea or Frankie Montas leaving Oakland’s comfy pitching park but would likely be offset by a big improvement in run support … San Diego doesn’t destroy power as it used to, but PETCO Park remains one of the best places to pitch. The Padres also added a highly regarded new pitching coach who may have already fixedMacKenzie Gore, so draft Joe Musgrove, Yu Darvish and Mike Clevinger with confidence.
Given he’s the best pitcher in the game and gets to pitch in such a favorable park (Citi Field also increases strikeouts more than any park in the league), Jacob deGrom could put up truly insane numbers should health cooperate. Max Scherzer isn’t far off from being able to say the same … Steven Matz gets a huge park upgrade moving from Toronto to St. Louis, who will also provide elite defense. But realize the popular fantasy target spent his entire career with the Mets before last season.
HITTER'S PARKS (Runs Scored, 2019-2021)
Colorado Rockies (134)
Cincinnati Reds (116)
Boston Red Sox (112)
Kansas City Royals (111)
Baltimore Orioles (109)
Coors Field has increased run scoring by more than twice as much as the second-best team over the last three years. There’s a reason Kris Bryant was the single biggest ADP riser after he signed with the Rockies. Randal Grichuk moved 30+ spots up my outfield rankings after he was traded to Colorado (while Raimel Tapia was subsequently crossed off), and I’d do the same for the intriguing Austin Gomber’s SP ranks should he ever be freed from Coors Field.
Tyler Mahle’s fantasy value would likely get a nice boost should he get traded as expected (Cincinnati’s weak run support will be a problem too), while Nick Senzelis a sleeper. After playing in extreme pitcher’s parks in St. Louis, Tampa Bay and San Diego throughout his career, Tommy Phamsaw a major fantasy bump when he signed with the Reds, where he’ll also be locked into an everyday role and possibly in the middle of the lineup.
While Trevor Story will still be hitting in a park that boosts run-scoring, his move is a big downgrade for power. Coors Field has increased HR for righties by 13% over the last three years, while Fenway Park has decreased them by five percent over that span. Story will also be playing a new position at second base while learning a new set of pitchers in the tough American League East and joining a Red Sox team that recorded the second-fewest stolen bases (40) in baseball last season; he’s not without risk.
Kauffman Stadium is an enigma wrapped in a riddle, as Kanas City has curiously increased run scoring more than all but three other parks over the last three seasons, but has also somehow decreased home runs byan MLB-high 22%. Kansas City has also both helped batting average while decreasing strikeouts more than any park other than Coors Field over that span, so it’s unquestionably a terrific hitter’s park despite suppressing home runs. It’s wheels up for rookie sensation Bobby Witt Jr., while a reunion for Zack Greinke wasn’t the best landing spot.
All Orioles need their fantasy values reevaluated, as the perennially hitter-friendly Camden Yards underwent changes during the offseason, specifically moving back the left-field fences. The new dimensions likely would’ve prevented a whopping 200 home runs over the last four years, including 12(!) byJohn Means.
HOME RUNS (separated by handedness)
RIGHTIES
Los Angeles Dodgers (144)
Baltimore Orioles (132)
Cincinnati Reds (128)
Chicago White Sox (122)
Milwaukee Brewers (115)
It’s not wrong that Dodger Stadium is generally regarded as a pitcher’s park — it’s decreased run scoring by seven percent over the last three years — but it also happens to be one of the most homer-friendly places as well. No park has come close when it comes to boosting home runs for righties over the last three seasons as Dodger Stadium has increased them by 44% (and by 51% last year). It’s an ideal fantasy setup, helping hitters and pitchers alike, unless you’re Andrew Heaney (who’s struggled particularly with the long ball throughout his career).
Baltimore’s left-field fences went from the third shallowest to the very deepest in MLB with the offseason changes and THE BAT projects a massive 25% downgrade for homers for righties. Adjust Orioles accordingly.
Pham goes from playing in three of the toughest homer parks in baseball for right-handed batters to one of the most favorable. Meanwhile, Eugenio Suarez’s fantasy value took a real hit after getting traded from Cincinnati to Seattle, as he went from a hitter’s paradise to one that’s hurt batting average more than any park over the last three seasons.
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Philadelphia was a nice place to hit, but Andrew McCutchen’s new home in Milwaukee not only provides him a DH role to stay healthy and a cleanup spot in the lineup between two lefties but also a favorable venue for right-handed power. Willy Adames has 16 homers over 572 ABs with a lowly .616 OPS at Tropicana Field (when he played for Tampa Bay); he hit 10 homers over just 165 ABs in Miller Park after getting traded to Milwaukee last year.
LEFTIES
Chicago White Sox (148)
Toronto Blue Jays (138)
Cincinnati Reds (137)
Baltimore Orioles (135)
Los Angeles Angels (123)
With Camden Yards making changes to its dimensions, only Cincinnati can be called a better park for homers than Chicago right now, and Guaranteed Rate Field helps both sides of the plate dramatically.
The Blue Jays return to playing full-time at Rogers Centre, which is terrific for lefty power but neutral otherwise — and far from the hitter-havens in Dunedin and Buffalo that they played in last year. The near all-righty Blue Jays lineup (including possible new DH Alejandro Kirk after the Grichuk trade, meaning Kirk could easily be a top-five fantasy catcher now) isn’t exactly built ideally for the team’s home park, and it's particularly bad news for newcomer Kevin Gausman, who sees as dramatic of a change for left-handed power parks as possible after leaving San Francisco for Toronto (and the AL East).
Mike Moustakasis a sleeper at third base, while newcomer Jake Fraley is a deep sleeper in the outfield. Fraley saw about as big of a park upgrade as it gets after being traded from Seattle to Cincinnati. Conversely, Jesse Winker took a real hit going the other way, with projection systems estimating the move will cost him around 20 points in batting average.
Since Angel Stadium lowered its right-field wall 10 feet in 2018, it’s been the most favorable home run park for left-handed batters. Outfielder Brandon Marsh is a deeper sleeper as a result … Citizens Bank Park just missed the list here, as Philadelphia boosts homers for both sides of the plate. Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos landed in a real nice spot for their fantasy values.
