Angels to lower HR boundary of right-field wall
The Angels will lower the height of the home run boundary line in right field at Angel Stadium this season, the team announced Tuesday.
The height will be changed from 18 feet -- the top of the high wall in right field -- to eight feet.
"The adjustment to the line in right field will increase the fan experience at Angel Stadium while creating an environment that is equitable for both hitters and pitchers," Angels general manager Billy Eppler said in a statement.
The new home run boundary will be marked by a yellow line that will run along the outfield wall from the right-field side of the outfield gate in right field to the point in center field where the wall angle changes.
Angels vice president of communications Tim Mead told reporters on Tuesday that the change in the home run boundary was due to the installation of a new out-of-town scoreboard at Angel Stadium, as well as "philosophical changes."
While the Angels, of course, are about to begin their first season with left-handed-hitting Shohei Ohtani in their lineup -- who could take advantage of the lower home run height to his pull side -- the change was decided on before the team signed the Japanese two-way phenom.