The Kansas City Royals will move the majority of their outfield fence in by 10 feet at Kauffman Stadium, transforming one of baseball's most difficult home run parks into a neutral environment. The decision follows years of discussion and a comprehensive analytics study commissioned by the organization in May.

General manager J.J. Picollo told ESPN the changes aim to create consistency for hitters across all venues. The Royals hit 27.1 percent more home runs on the road in 2025, posting the fourth-largest road-dominant split in Major League Baseball.

The power alleys will shrink from 389 feet to 379 feet while center field remains at 410 feet. The fences will taper inward by nine to 10 feet nearly to the corners. Fence height drops from 10 feet to 8.5 feet.

"We want a neutral ballpark where if you hit a ball well, it should be a home run," Picollo said. "The second they start feeling like they can't get the ball out of the ballpark, they start changing their swing."

Dr. Daniel Mack, the Royals' vice president of research and development, led the project using advanced wind and temperature data. The study focused on creating league-average run values on fly balls while preserving Kauffman's distinctive center field batter's eye.

Kauffman's spacious dimensions previously ranked second only to Coors Field in outfield size. The stadium suppressed home runs while promoting doubles and triples, creating an above-average offensive park overall.

The Royals project the changes will add 1.5 wins annually in home games. Owner John Sherman approved the modifications, which the team expects to implement before the 2026 season.

Kansas City previously moved fences in 10 feet from 1995 to 2003 before returning to original dimensions. The current roster features power hitters including Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, and prospects Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen.

"It's a five-year window to give a shot and see if we like how it plays," Picollo said.