Is Target Field a Pitcher- or Hitter-Friendly Park?

There are a multitude of ways to analyze parks and StatCast data is only going to make it easier to pit one park against another. ESPN uses Park Factors as a way of ranking parks. According to their rankings, Target Field started out as a pitcher-friendly environment with the park ranking in the high-teens and low-20s for multiple seasons. That has held true in more recent years as Target Field was the 22nd ranked park when it came to runs scored in 2020. Obviously, a shortened season can impact those numbers, so let’s look back a little further in the time machine.

In 2019, the Bomba Squad was on their way to setting the all-time home run record. However, Target Field only ranked 18th when it came to ESPN’s Park Factor. That number also compare similarly to 2018 when Target Field ranked 16th. In 2017 and 2016, Minnesota’s home park ranked in the top-10 for favoring hitters, so there may need to be some other avenues to explore when it comes to Target Field’s reputation.

FanGraphs provides a more comprehensive data set when it comes to Park Factors as they look at comparative data over a five-year span. When looking at their Park Factors, a league average park is set to 100. Through the 2020 campaign, Target Field produced a five-year Park Factor of 101, which ranks 11th in baseball. Over the last three years, it has a 99 Park Factor, which ranked tied for 17th. Among AL teams, only Oakland, Seattle, and Tampa have a lower Park Factor.

Pitcher List looks at Park Factors from a couple different lenses, Park Factors for Pitcher and for Hitters. When it comes to pitchers, Target Field ranks 16th with a -0.01 Park Factor. For hitters, Pitcher List breaks up the Park Factor into left- and right-handed results. Target Field ranks 22nd for left-handed hitters with a -0.43 Park Factor. Similarly, Target Field also ranks 22nd for righties with a -0.71. The only AL parks with a lower right-handed Park Factor are Fenway, Angel Stadium, and Yankee Stadium.

Baseball Prospectus updated their system of Park Factors this off-season and there is clearly some volatility involved with the entire process. StatCast batted ball data was used in hopes of painting a more accurate picture over the short term. One interesting note from their data was the fact that Target Field ranked as one of the worst environments for right-handed hitters in 2020. Out of AL parks, only Comerica Park and Oakland Coliseum ranked lower.

Overall, Target Field seems to be a pitcher friendly environment with many site’s Park Factors ranking the park in the middle or lower half when compared to the rest of baseball. As new parks continue to be built, it will be interesting to see how Target Field continues to rank in the years to come.

Do you think Target Field is more favorable to pitchers or to hitters? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

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