Chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon and general manager Sandy Alderson met with reporters today to announce the new outfield wall dimensions at Citi Field. This is the second time that the Mets have tweaked the Citi Field dimensions since the ballpark opened in 2009.
Alderson told reporters that this will help the Mets offense in their power production. If these dimensions were in place in 2014, the Mets would have hit 17 more home runs, and the opposition hitting only 10 more home runs.
The Mets hope that this will help increase the home run numbers of Curtis Granderson, Lucas Duda and David Wright. Wright's power has greatly decreased since the team moved in to Citi Field, where the right-center field gap was huge compared to that of Shea Stadium. These new dimensions in right-center field are similar to those of Shea Stadium, according to Alderson. At Shea Stadium, Wright averaged almost 30 home runs per 162 games (130 home runs in 703 games). Though at Citi Field, Wright averages just over 20 home runs per 162 games (100 home runs in 804 games).
The deep alley in right-center field was first at 415 feet at its deepest spot when Citi Field opened. It was moved in to 390 feet, and now with the latest moves, it will be at 380 feet. The right-center field walls are moved in from 5 to 11 feet in different places.
The new space created outside the walls will likely be used for a larger bullpen, or possibly a garden. Wilpon noted that putting seating in those places would make it hard for the fans to reach the concourses and food services.