Add Guaranteed Rate Field to the list of stadiums that reduced its original pitcher-friendly dimensions. Unlike Comerica Park, Citi Field, and Petco Park, the decision did not seem to be about creating more offense, but rather more seats. "New Comiskey" (as it was originally called), hosted its first White Sox game in 1991, and after the right and left-field fences were brought in by 12 feet in 2001, more rows of bleachers were added in place of the original warning track.
After the renovations, the park ended up with one of the smaller outfields in MLB, now ranking 28th in outfield size. It measures fairly standard down the lines (330 in left, 335 in right) but the fences on each side take a notably horizontal path across the field resulting in tighter-than-average dimensions at nearly every point along the perimeter.
Ballpark Pal now rates Guaranteed Rate Field 15th in MLB for home runs, 18th for runs, 26th for doubles and triples, and 12th for singles. One subtle reason the offense does not fully match the tight footprint is contact suppression: contact rate and quality each grade below-average, which can keep rallies from building even when the park is willing to give up the occasional long ball. A main reason why it does not rank higher for power has to do with the weather. Average start-time temperature is 70 degrees (26th in MLB) and just 18% of games are played in the 60s. Additionally, the wind blows in 37% of the time compared to 26% blowing out. Despite sitting 596 feet above sea level (9th highest in MLB), typical carry checks in at -1.06% vs league average (14th), keeping the park closer to neutral than its compact footprint might suggest.
Although Guaranteed Rate Field varies a decent amount from day to day, it is nowhere close to its North Side counterpart. The main difference has to do with the architecture. While Wrigley Field is far and away the most receptive venue to wind in MLB, Guaranteed Rate ranks just 26th in overall wind receptiveness despite an above-average 9.5 mph wind speed (7th highest). The South Side park is hemmed in by tall, vertical decks and a wall of billboards past the outfield fence, limiting how much forecast wind actually impacts play. Overall, Ballpark Pal rates Guaranteed Rate Field 12th in park variation, placing it in the upper-middle tier for environmental volatility.
After the renovations, the park ended up with one of the smaller outfields in MLB, now ranking 28th in outfield size. It measures fairly standard down the lines (330 in left, 335 in right) but the fences on each side take a notably horizontal path across the field resulting in tighter-than-average dimensions at nearly every point along the perimeter.
Ballpark Pal now rates Guaranteed Rate Field 15th in MLB for home runs, 18th for runs, 26th for doubles and triples, and 12th for singles. One subtle reason the offense does not fully match the tight footprint is contact suppression: contact rate and quality each grade below-average, which can keep rallies from building even when the park is willing to give up the occasional long ball. A main reason why it does not rank higher for power has to do with the weather. Average start-time temperature is 70 degrees (26th in MLB) and just 18% of games are played in the 60s. Additionally, the wind blows in 37% of the time compared to 26% blowing out. Despite sitting 596 feet above sea level (9th highest in MLB), typical carry checks in at -1.06% vs league average (14th), keeping the park closer to neutral than its compact footprint might suggest.
Although Guaranteed Rate Field varies a decent amount from day to day, it is nowhere close to its North Side counterpart. The main difference has to do with the architecture. While Wrigley Field is far and away the most receptive venue to wind in MLB, Guaranteed Rate ranks just 26th in overall wind receptiveness despite an above-average 9.5 mph wind speed (7th highest). The South Side park is hemmed in by tall, vertical decks and a wall of billboards past the outfield fence, limiting how much forecast wind actually impacts play. Overall, Ballpark Pal rates Guaranteed Rate Field 12th in park variation, placing it in the upper-middle tier for environmental volatility.