MLB

MLB Ballpark Changes That Could Impact the 2025 Fantasy Baseball Season

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By
Colin Lynch
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Colin Lynch Sports Editor

Colin Lynch covers the NFL, MLB and WNBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the New England Patriots. His sports coverage has been featured on The Sports Daily and Basketball Insiders, as well as FanSided's Chowder & Champions. A New Hampshire native and former D1 baseball player at St. John's University, Colin was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2008 and enjoyed a four-year professional baseball career.

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Published24 Feb 2025

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MLB Ballpark Changes That Could Impact the 2025 Fantasy Baseball Season

MLB Ballparks are constantly changing. Here are the most significant changes that could impact the 2025 MLB season. 

When preparing for a new baseball season, roster moves and player performances dominate the conversation. But sometimes, the most significant changes happen where the game is played. Ballpark adjustments—whether they involve outfield dimensions, foul territory, or a completely new venue—can significantly impact performance.

Last season, the Cleveland Guardians removed upper-deck seating in the outfield, inadvertently creating a wind tunnel that boosted home runs. It was a minor tweak with a significant effect, proving again that ballpark modifications can reshape the game.

With that in mind, here are some of the most significant stadium changes for the 2025 MLB season and what they mean for players, teams, and fantasy baseball owners.

Baltimore Orioles: A Course Correction at Camden Yards

Since the Orioles moved their left-field wall back in 2022, home runs from right-handed hitters at Camden Yards have dropped dramatically. Over the last three seasons, the changes prevented an estimated 196 home runs, leading to a 21% decrease in right-handed home runs (third-most in MLB) and the second-lowest HR/FB rate for righties in that span.

Now, Baltimore is moving the wall in—but not all the way back. The new left-field dimensions will still be deeper than the original Camden Yards layout, but they’ll be shallower than the 2022 adjustment, creating what the team calls a “happier medium.”

The changes:

  • The foul pole remains at 333 feet, and the sharp turn to 373 feet stays in place.
  • Beyond that, the wall will move inward by nine to 20 feet toward the bullpen area.
  • New home run distances will be 374-376 feet, rather than the previous 384-398 feet.

The fantasy impact:

  • Ryan Mountcastle had 11 home runs erased by the deeper wall over the last three seasons—he’s an immediate beneficiary.
  • Tyler O’Neill, Jordan Westburg, and Adley Rutschman (as a switch-hitter) also stand to gain.
  • Camden Yards should again be more balanced, rather than one of baseball’s most extreme pitcher-friendly stadiums for right-handed power.

Oakland Athletics: A Temporary Home in Sacramento

The A’s are officially leaving Oakland, but their permanent home in Las Vegas won’t be ready until 2028. For the next three seasons, they’ll play in temporary locations—starting with Sutter Health Park in Sacramento in 2025.

Sutter Health Park, home of the Giants’ Triple-A affiliate, presents both opportunities and challenges for the A’s.

The changes:

  • The massive foul territory at the Oakland Coliseum—which helped pitchers significantly—is gone.
  • Sutter Health Park installed a new batter’s eye to improve hitter visibility.
  • Despite playing in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, Sutter Health Park itself has historically played as a pitcher’s park—though it remains unclear if that’s due to park dimensions or league-wide hitting conditions.

The fantasy impact:

  • A’s hitters should see a boost from playing in a more neutral park.
  • Pitchers lose the safety net of the Coliseum’s huge foul territory, but Sutter Health Park might still suppress runs.
  • Expect a slight uptick in offense for an A’s team that struggled to score last season.

 

Tampa Bay Rays: A New Home—And A New Hitter’s Haven?

The most surprising ballpark change of 2025 wasn’t planned—it was forced.

Hurricane Milton damaged Tropicana Field, making it unusable for the upcoming season. As a result, the Rays will play their home games at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the Yankees’ spring training facility and former home of the Single-A Tampa Tarpons.

This is a massive shift for a franchise that has spent years tailoring its approach to playing indoors.

The changes:

  • No more domed stadium—the Rays will now play in an open-air ballpark, dealing with wind, humidity, sun positioning, and potential rain delays.
  • Steinbrenner Field mirrors the dimensions of Yankee Stadium, a stark contrast to Tropicana Field.
  • Tropicana Field ranked as the second-most pitcher-friendly park in MLB over the last three seasons, while Yankee Stadium increases home runs by 19%.
  • Left-handed hitters, in particular, should benefit, as Yankee Stadium (and now Steinbrenner Field) is notorious for its short right-field porch.

The fantasy impact:

  • Brandon Lowe and Josh Lowe are significant winners.
    • Josh Lowe has hit 25 of his 32 career home runs on the road, and his slugging percentage drops nearly 100 points at Tropicana Field.
    • Playing in a friendlier hitting environment should allow both Lowes to thrive.
  • Rays pitchers take a hit—they are moving from one of the league’s best pitching environments to one that significantly favors hitters.

Final Thoughts: The Hidden Impact of Ballpark Changes

It’s easy to focus on roster moves and player development when preparing for a season, but ballpark changes can be just as impactful. Whether it’s Camden Yards rebalancing its dimensions, the A’s playing in Sacramento, or the Rays moving into a hitter-friendly park, these shifts will play a role in how teams perform and how fantasy players should adjust.

Some players, like Mountcastle and the Lowe brothers, could see their production spike in 2025. Others, particularly pitchers now facing less favorable conditions, may struggle.

For teams and players alike, adjusting to these new realities will be a key storyline to watch as the season unfolds.