Data shows how new Kauffman Stadium dimensions could help Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr.
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Royals moved Kauffman outfield fences to boost run value and extra-base hits.
- Data show changes favor Bobby Witt Jr., improving opposite-field power outcomes.
- Front office noted run-value gains; X account flagged Witt’s low expected HRs.
It didn’t take long for the baseball spray charts to be shared Tuesday.
Shortly after the Royals announced they would be moving in the outfield fences at Kauffman Stadium starting this season, fans and pundits alike began talking about how it would help Bobby Witt Jr.
The Royals’ internal research found the new fences “will take the run value of fly balls at The K from the bottom third of MLB ballparks to the middle, primarily through more extra-base hits.”
General manager J.J. Picollo said Tuesday at a news conference that Witt was one of the Royals most negatively affected by the old dimensions.
Daniel Mack, the Royals’ assistant general manager for research and development, explained how Witt will benefit from the change.
“I think we probably are going to help some of the opposite-field power that he possesses,” Mack said of Witt at the news confidence. “I think (it) will probably improve with these changes.”
Witt had highest line-drive rate among qualified Royals hitters a year ago (20.2%), according to FanGraphs, followed by Salvador Perez (19.0%), Maikel Garcia (18.9%), Vinnie Pasquantino (18.7%) and Jonathan India (16.8%). Witt also had the highest percentage of balls hit to the opposite field (28.3%).
Those numbers bear out Mack’s assertion.
As does this spray chart from Hagen Snell. It shows the large number of outs for Witt at the warning track in right field a year ago. It shows why the Royals believe Witt, a right-handed hitter, could see more balls clear the fence in right field.
The X account Sox Savant noted that Witt’s expected home runs based on ballpark dimensions has been the lowest at Kauffman Stadium among all ballparks during his career.
Witt has finished in the top seven of American League MVP voting in each of the last three seasons, and he was second in 2024. The Royals’ decision to change the dimensions at Kauffman Stadium could help him win the award this season.
Former Royals star Whit Merrifield said Witt would have won an MVP award if the dimensions had been changed earlier.
A number of people on social media mentioned Witt and the MVP award after the Royals announced the fences would be moved. Here is what was being said about Witt, who is a two-time Gold Glove Award and Silver Slugger Award winner.
This story was originally published January 14, 2026 at 10:03 AM.
