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A New Way To Think About Ballpark Factors



Update: The "grades" were calculated in a less-accurate manner when this piece was first published (May 1).

In the tables that follow, you will find traditional ballpark factors for runs scored per game* (Runs), home runs per game (HR) and batting average on balls in play (BABIP) for all 30 major league parks, plus the 160 minor league parks from Triple-A down to the traveling Rookie leagues.**

Following the traditional park factors are park "grades" for runs, homers and BABIP on the 20-80 scouting scale. As an example, Denver's Coors Field last year had a park factor of 130. This means that 30 percent more runs were scored in Rockies home games than in Rockies road games. Comparing that 130 park factor with the National League average (100) and dividing by the league's standard deviation (12) yields a Z-score. That Z-score can then be mapped to the 20-80 scouting scale, where 50 is average, 60 is one standard deviation above-average, 40 is one standard deviation below-average, etc. I used five-point intervals for my scale.

In scouting parlance, any number ending in a "5" is a half-grade. Using this Z-score method, we can estimate how each park impacts players. Going back to the Rockies example, Coors Field significantly impacts players who suit up there because the park receives "grades" of 75 for runs scored, 60 for home runs and 70 for batting average on balls in play.


AMERICAN LEAGUE
TeamAffiliation RunsHR BABIPR Grade HR Grade BIP Grade
BaltimoreOrioles9810498505045
BostonRed Sox117104110655065
ChicagoWhite Sox9611498456045
ClevelandIndians120116109656065
DetroitTigers10411697556045
HoustonAstros818297354045
Kansas CityRoyals11275106603560
Los AngelesAngels9110694455540
MinnesotaTwins10299100505050
New YorkYankees10413896557045
OaklandAthletics867595403540
SeattleMariners9411696456040
Tampa BayRays898895404540
TexasRangers114104109605065
TorontoBlue Jays114100107605060

Hitter's Haven Cleveland | 65 runs • 60 home runs • 65 BABIP
Pitcher's Paradise Oakland | 40 runs • 35 home runs • 40 BABIP


NATIONAL LEAGUE
TeamAffiliation RunsHR BABIPR Grade HR Grade BIP Grade
ArizonaD-backs117123108656560
Atlanta*Braves10475103553555
ChicagoCubs898397404045
CincinnatiReds9911896506045
ColoradoRockies130120113756070
Los AngelesDodgers869797405045
MiamiMarlins878392404040
MilwaukeeBrewers9811397505545
New YorkMets9910991505535
PhiladelphiaPhillies8411593356040
PittsburghPirates10382104504055
San DiegoPadres9893100504550
San FranciscoGiants10170111503565
St. LouisCardinals949197454545
WashingtonNationals9510296455045
* The Braves moved into SunTrust Park in 2017

Hitter's Haven Colorado | 75 runs • 60 home runs • 70 BABIP
Pitcher's Paradise Miami | 40 runs • 40 home runs • 40 BABIP


INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE (TRIPLE-A)
TeamAffiliation RunsHR BABIPR Grade HR Grade BIP Grade
BuffaloBlue Jays1039597555045
CharlotteWhite Sox108135104606060
ColumbusIndians120164103707560
DurhamRays106124102556055
GwinnettBraves100104101505055
IndianapolisPirates7865101304055
Lehigh ValleyPhillies10797103555060
LouisvilleReds9811096505540
NorfolkOrioles956897454045
PawtucketRed Sox9712790456025
RochesterTwins10378100554050
Scranton/W-BYankees9294100405050
SyracuseNationals10581106554565
ToledoTigers9283100404550

Hitter's Haven Columbus | 70 runs • 75 home runs • 60 BABIP
Pitcher's Paradise Norfolk | 45 runs • 40 home runs • 45 BABIP


PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE (TRIPLE-A)
TeamAffiliation RunsHR BABIPR Grade HR Grade BIP Grade
AlbuquerqueRockies132134110656560
Colorado SpringsBrewers14789125704575
El PasoPadres111125104556055
FresnoAstros10110296505045
IowaCubs948597454545
Las VegasMets120121108606055
MemphisCardinals818990404540
NashvilleAthletics796493403545
New OrleansMarlins789689405040
Oklahoma CityDodgers10593103504555
OmahaRoyals107146100557050
RenoD-backs123100109605060
Round RockRangers767988404040
SacramentoGiants779590405040
Salt LakeAngels107112110555560
TacomaMariners788989404540

Hitter's Haven Albuquerque | 65 runs • 65 home runs • 60 BABIP
Pitcher's Paradise Nashville | 40 runs • 35 home runs • 45 BABIP


EASTERN LEAGUE (DOUBLE-A)
TeamAffiliation RunsHR BABIPR Grade HR Grade BIP Grade
AkronIndians9893100504550
AltoonaPirates10979107604065
BinghamtonMets9494100454550
BowieOrioles107126100556050
ErieTigers9388103404555
HarrisburgNationals10513098556045
Hartford*Rockies878495354540
New HampshireBlue Jays110104107605065
PortlandRed Sox11385107654565
ReadingPhillies10815396607040
RichmondGiants886592353535
TrentonYankees899697405045
* Hartford moved into Dunkin' Donuts Park in 2017

Hitter's Haven New Hampshire | 60 runs • 50 home runs • 65 BABIP
Pitcher's Paradise Richmond | 35 runs • 35 home runs • 35 BABIP


SOUTHERN LEAGUE (DOUBLE-A)
TeamAffiliation RunsHR BABIPR Grade HR Grade BIP Grade
BiloxiBrewers9611996456040
BirminghamWhite Sox948896454540
ChattanoogaTwins119137104706555
JacksonD-backs988399504545
JacksonvilleMarlins9912097506045
MississippiBraves9067104403560
MobileAngels10690111554570
MontgomeryRays108100103605055
PensacolaReds948297454045
TennesseeCubs9712396456040

Hitter's Haven Chattanooga | 70 runs • 65 home runs • 55 BABIP
Pitcher's Paradise Pensacola | 45 runs • 40 home runs • 45 BABIP


TEXAS LEAGUE (DOUBLE-A)
TeamAffiliation RunsHR BABIPR Grade HR Grade BIP Grade
ArkansasMariners8256102404050
Corpus ChristiAstros10214594506045
FriscoRangers121116112655565
MidlandAthletics11578106604560
NW ArkansasRoyals10386107504560
San AntonioPadres776492354040
SpringfieldCardinals10616892556540
TulsaDodgers9911397505545

Hitter's Haven Frisco | 65 runs • 55 home runs • 65 BABIP
Pitcher's Paradise San Antonio | 35 runs • 40 home runs • 40 BABIP


CALIFORNIA LEAGUE (HIGH CLASS A)
TeamAffiliation RunsHR BABIPR Grade HR Grade BIP Grade
Bakersfield*106141107556065
High Desert*131152102656055
Inland EmpireAngels846496404040
Lake ElsinorePadres886799454045
LancasterRockies134171109706570
ModestoMariners824798404045
R. CucamongaDodgers10388100504550
San JoseGiants847095404540
StocktonAthletics8910896455040
VisaliaD-backs103121100505550
* Franchise realigned with Carolina League in 2017

Hitter's Haven Lancaster | 70 runs • 65 home runs • 70 BABIP
Pitcher's Paradise Inland Empire | 40 runs • 40 home runs • 40 BABIP


CAROLINA LEAGUE (HIGH CLASS A)
TeamAffiliation RunsHR BABIPR Grade HR Grade BIP Grade
CarolinaBrewers799396355045
FrederickOrioles124196107707560
LynchburgIndians10582104554555
Myrtle BeachCubs9610994455040
PotomacNationals899291405035
SalemRed Sox10653108554065
WilmingtonRoyals10397104555055
Winston-SalemWhite Sox1019498505045
League added North Carolina franchises in Buies Creek (Astros) and Kinston (Rangers) in 2017

Hitter's Haven Frederick | 70 runs • 75 home runs • 60 BABIP
Pitcher's Paradise Potomac | 40 runs • 50 home runs • 35 BABIP


FLORIDA STATE LEAGUE (HIGH CLASS A)
TeamAffiliation RunsHR BABIPR Grade HR Grade BIP Grade
BradentonPirates10098101505050
Brevard County*Braves9488103404560
CharlotteRays106107103555060
ClearwaterPhillies9110293405030
DaytonaReds118123105705565
DunedinBlue Jays10899104605060
Fort MyersTwins9710098455045
JupiterMarlins895899353545
LakelandTigers9917495507535
Palm BeachCardinals9447100403550
St. LucieMets103105100555050
TampaYankees10080100504550
* Franchise relocated to Kissimmee, Fla., to become Florida Fire Frogs in 2017

Hitter's Haven Daytona | 70 runs • 55 home runs • 65 BABIP
Pitcher's Paradise Jupiter/Palm Beach | 40 runs • 35 home runs • 50 BABIP


MIDWEST LEAGUE (LOW CLASS A)
TeamAffiliation RunsHR BABIPR Grade HR Grade BIP Grade
BeloitAthletics10389101554555
Bowling GreenRays9114394406535
BurlingtonAngels11314596656540
Cedar RapidsTwins10711999605550
ClintonMariners908796404540
DaytonReds108120106606065
Fort WaynePadres10859107603565
Great LakesDodgers868596354540
Kane CountyD-backs9472100454050
Lake CountyIndians103127101556050
LansingBlue Jays11096104605060
PeoriaCardinals848795304535
Quad CitiesAstros10592101554555
South BendCubs9711299455545
West MichiganTigers9862103503560
WisconsinBrewers109131103606060

Hitter's Haven Dayton | 60 runs • 60 home runs • 65 BABIP
Pitcher's Paradise Peoria | 30 runs • 45 home runs • 35 BABIP


SOUTH ATLANTIC LEAGUE (LOW CLASS A)
TeamAffiliation RunsHR BABIPR Grade HR Grade BIP Grade
AshevilleRockies141161116756575
AugustaGiants8855103404055
CharlestonYankees845299404050
ColumbiaMets899093455040
DelmarvaOrioles9970100504550
GreensboroMarlins10420697557545
GreenvilleRed Sox100106101505050
HagerstownNationals9512692455535
HickoryRangers9411698455545
KannapolisWhite Sox9875104504555
LakewoodPhillies876193404040
LexingtonRoyals10415396556045
RomeBraves12071105654560
West VirginiaPirates102116102505555

Hitter's Haven Asheville | 75 runs • 65 home runs • 75 BABIP
Pitcher's Paradise Lakewood | 40 runs • 40 home runs • 40 BABIP


NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE (SHORT-SEASON)
TeamAffiliation RunsHR BABIPR Grade HR Grade BIP Grade
AberdeenOrioles10399101505050
AuburnNationals849289404535
BataviaMarlins896998453545
BrooklynMets8066101353550
ConnecticutTigers825693403040
Hudson ValleyRays967488454035
LowellRed Sox128133110706565
Mahoning ValleyIndians11499106605060
State CollegeCardinals118107111605565
Staten IslandYankees106106106555060
Tri-CityAstros115128108606060
VermontAthletics9212390456040
West VirginiaPirates100108105505555
WilliamsportPhillies9712195506045

Hitter's Haven Lowell | 70 runs • 65 home runs • 65 BABIP
Pitcher's Paradise Connecticut | 40 runs • 30 home runs • 40 BABIP


NORTHWEST LEAGUE (SHORT-SEASON)
TeamAffiliation RunsHR BABIPR Grade HR Grade BIP Grade
BoiseRockies11690111605065
EugeneCubs715990354040
EverettMariners120182106606560
HillsboroD-backs846493404540
Salem-KeizerGiants129162110656060
SpokaneRangers10213498505550
Tri-CityPadres832796403545
VancouverBlue Jays967793504540

Hitter's Haven Everett | 60 runs • 65 home runs • 60 BABIP
Pitcher's Paradise Eugene | 35 runs • 40 home runs • 40 BABIP


APPALACHIAN LEAGUE (ROOKIE)
TeamAffiliation RunsHR BABIPR Grade HR Grade BIP Grade
BluefieldBlue Jays111127101606050
BristolPirates9210991455535
BurlingtonRoyals9412494456040
DanvilleBraves916299453550
ElizabethtonTwins114119109605565
GreenevilleAstros999495505040
Johnson CityCardinals9769101454050
KingsportMets889799405050
PrincetonRays126144106706560
PulaskiYankees9462108453565

Hitter's Haven Princeton | 70 runs • 65 home runs • 60 BABIP
Pitcher's Paradise Danville | 45 runs • 35 home runs • 50 BABIP


PIONEER LEAGUE (ROOKIE)
TeamAffiliation RunsHR BABIPR Grade HR Grade BIP Grade
BillingsReds10410598555545
Grand JunctionRockies98107102505555
Great FallsWhite Sox908698404045
HelenaBrewers9513096456540
Idaho FallsRoyals12182110704070
MissoulaD-backs10692102554555
OgdenDodgers838693354035
OremAngels104124101556550

Hitter's Haven Orem | 55 runs • 65 home runs • 50 BABIP
Pitcher's Paradise Ogden | 35 runs • 40 home runs • 35 BABIP


Pitch Clock (2)

Pitch Clock Reduces 2023 Opening Day Games By Average of 29 Minutes

Opening Day games averaged 2 hours, 42 minutes with the new pitch clock this year, down from 3:11 on Opening Day in 2022.

* In this case, the phrase "per game" actually refers to the rate per 76 plate appearances, which is the number of batters who come to the plate in a typical nine-inning game. Measuring park effects per PA (rather than per game) is more accurate because of seven-inning doubleheaders in the minors, extra-inning games and also games that don't require a bottom of the ninth inning.

** To convert park factors to park multipliers that can be applied to individual players, use the following formula: (Park factor + 100) / 2 / 100. This halves the impact of each player's home park to reflect the fact that he plays only half his games there.

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