Minor League Park Factors 2021
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Image credit: (Photo by John Tlumacki/Getty Images)
New leagues. New teams. New affiliations. New schedules. In some cases, new parks—or at least novel arrangements.
The minor leagues in 2021 looked different than they did in 2019.
And we loved every second of it after the scuttled 2020 season.
With the new minor league landscape comes new minor league ballpark data. This post compares home output and road output for all 120 full-season minor league teams in 11 leagues to create basic park factors. The statistics measured are Runs, Home Runs and BABIP, or batting average on balls in play.
These basic park factors are expressed as both a comparison index, where 100 is average, and a multiplier that halves the magnitude of park factors to reflect the fact that players compile only half their statistics at their home parks.
It wouldn’t be 2021 without caveats and distortions. Because schedules tended to be more regional this season than in the past, the “neutral” road sample is not as robust as in the past. Also, the sample is smaller. Rather than the standard 70 home games of the past, most Triple-A teams played 65 home games this season, while most teams at Double-A, High-A and Low-A played 60 home games.
Other caveats are noted as footnotes to each league.
Triple-A East
Runs | Home Runs | BABIP | |||||
Team | Org | PF | Mult | PF | Mult | PF | Mult |
Buffalo | TOR | 102 | 1.012 | 89 | 0.945 | 104 | 1.020 |
Charlotte | CWS | 113 | 1.065 | 135 | 1.173 | 106 | 1.032 |
Columbus | CLE | 107 | 1.035 | 124 | 1.121 | 96 | 0.982 |
Durham | TB | 113 | 1.064 | 112 | 1.060 | 102 | 1.012 |
Gwinnett | ATL | 100 | 1.001 | 88 | 0.942 | 105 | 1.025 |
Indianapolis | PIT | 99 | 0.996 | 84 | 0.922 | 100 | 0.999 |
Iowa | CHC | 109 | 1.045 | 113 | 1.067 | 103 | 1.017 |
Jacksonville | MIA | 91 | 0.955 | 83 | 0.913 | 93 | 0.967 |
Lehigh Valley | PHI | 110 | 1.052 | 73 | 0.866 | 106 | 1.031 |
Louisville | CIN | 97 | 0.986 | 108 | 1.038 | 98 | 0.990 |
Memphis | STL | 109 | 1.043 | 103 | 1.013 | 105 | 1.023 |
Nashville | MIL | 92 | 0.959 | 74 | 0.870 | 102 | 1.008 |
Norfolk | BAL | 84 | 0.919 | 80 | 0.902 | 92 | 0.960 |
Omaha | KC | 90 | 0.952 | 96 | 0.980 | 101 | 1.006 |
Rochester | WSH | 89 | 0.944 | 80 | 0.899 | 101 | 1.006 |
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre | NYY | 89 | 0.945 | 117 | 1.084 | 94 | 0.971 |
St. Paul | MIN | 105 | 1.025 | 142 | 1.208 | 98 | 0.990 |
Syracuse | NYM | 113 | 1.064 | 129 | 1.144 | 100 | 1.000 |
Toledo | DET | 94 | 0.970 | 77 | 0.884 | 98 | 0.991 |
Worcester | BOS | 99 | 0.995 | 118 | 1.088 | 95 | 0.977 |
Buffalo played its home games in Trenton, N.J., in May, June and July before going back to Sahlen Field in August, when the Blue Jays returned to Toronto. Trenton played in the Double-A Eastern League in 2019 but was dropped from affiliated baseball when MLB took over the minor leagues.
Triple-A West
Runs | Home Runs | BABIP | |||||
Team | Org | PF | Mult | PF | Mult | PF | Mult |
Albuquerque | COL | 112 | 1.059 | 114 | 1.072 | 109 | 1.045 |
El Paso | SD | 124 | 1.121 | 127 | 1.137 | 107 | 1.033 |
Las Vegas | OAK | 128 | 1.141 | 114 | 1.070 | 112 | 1.059 |
Oklahoma City | LAD | 83 | 0.916 | 77 | 0.883 | 95 | 0.974 |
Reno | ARI | 106 | 1.031 | 109 | 1.044 | 101 | 1.003 |
Round Rock | TEX | 97 | 0.985 | 108 | 1.042 | 97 | 0.984 |
Sacramento | SF | 88 | 0.939 | 106 | 1.031 | 93 | 0.967 |
Salt Lake | LAA | 106 | 1.029 | 100 | 1.001 | 107 | 1.033 |
Sugar Land | HOU | 78 | 0.892 | 70 | 0.849 | 90 | 0.951 |
Tacoma | SEA | 85 | 0.923 | 86 | 0.931 | 90 | 0.948 |
Double-A Central
Runs | Home Runs | BABIP | |||||
Team | Org | PF | Mult | PF | Mult | PF | Mult |
Amarillo | ARI | 127 | 1.133 | 169 | 1.343 | 107 | 1.036 |
Arkansas | SEA | 78 | 0.892 | 58 | 0.789 | 94 | 0.968 |
Corpus Christi | HOU | 93 | 0.963 | 114 | 1.071 | 93 | 0.964 |
Frisco | TEX | 111 | 1.055 | 114 | 1.070 | 95 | 0.976 |
Midland | OAK | 94 | 0.971 | 59 | 0.797 | 115 | 1.074 |
Northwest Arkansas | KC | 93 | 0.965 | 109 | 1.045 | 97 | 0.984 |
San Antonio | SD | 88 | 0.938 | 64 | 0.820 | 96 | 0.978 |
Springfield | STL | 111 | 1.053 | 129 | 1.143 | 107 | 1.034 |
Tulsa | LAD | 103 | 1.016 | 97 | 0.983 | 97 | 0.987 |
Wichita | MIN | 105 | 1.024 | 94 | 0.969 | 100 | 1.000 |
Double-A Northeast
Runs | Home Runs | BABIP | |||||
Team | Org | PF | Mult | PF | Mult | PF | Mult |
Akron | CLE | 91 | 0.954 | 70 | 0.849 | 95 | 0.974 |
Altoona | PIT | 100 | 1.002 | 77 | 0.883 | 104 | 1.022 |
Binghamton | NYM | 95 | 0.973 | 85 | 0.925 | 101 | 1.004 |
Bowie | BAL | 122 | 1.111 | 135 | 1.174 | 99 | 0.994 |
Erie | DET | 90 | 0.951 | 99 | 0.993 | 102 | 1.012 |
Harrisburg | WSH | 94 | 0.971 | 108 | 1.039 | 99 | 0.996 |
Hartford | COL | 100 | 0.998 | 109 | 1.043 | 100 | 0.999 |
New Hampshire | TOR | 103 | 1.013 | 97 | 0.983 | 100 | 1.002 |
Portland | BOS | 102 | 1.011 | 89 | 0.945 | 103 | 1.014 |
Reading | PHI | 115 | 1.077 | 150 | 1.250 | 102 | 1.010 |
Richmond | SF | 92 | 0.961 | 77 | 0.886 | 103 | 1.014 |
Somerset | NYY | 99 | 0.994 | 117 | 1.087 | 92 | 0.961 |
Double-A South
Runs | Home Runs | BABIP | |||||
Team | Org | PF | Mult | PF | Mult | PF | Mult |
Biloxi | MIL | 103 | 1.016 | 105 | 1.025 | 95 | 0.976 |
Birmingham | CWS | 94 | 0.972 | 101 | 1.005 | 98 | 0.992 |
Chattanooga | CIN | 125 | 1.125 | 101 | 1.003 | 107 | 1.036 |
Mississippi | ATL | 81 | 0.906 | 53 | 0.766 | 96 | 0.982 |
Montgomery | TB | 107 | 1.037 | 107 | 1.033 | 104 | 1.018 |
Pensacola | MIA | 92 | 0.960 | 98 | 0.992 | 102 | 1.012 |
Rocket City | LAA | 94 | 0.969 | 135 | 1.175 | 97 | 0.986 |
Tennessee | CHC | 107 | 1.037 | 114 | 1.072 | 101 | 1.003 |
High-A Central
Runs | Home Runs | BABIP | |||||
Team | Org | PF | Mult | PF | Mult | PF | Mult |
Beloit | MIA | 116 | 1.079 | 110 | 1.051 | 102 | 1.009 |
Cedar Rapids | MIN | 94 | 0.969 | 79 | 0.894 | 94 | 0.972 |
Dayton | CIN | 100 | 0.999 | 113 | 1.064 | 106 | 1.032 |
Fort Wayne | SD | 104 | 1.022 | 108 | 1.040 | 105 | 1.023 |
Great Lakes | LAD | 94 | 0.972 | 90 | 0.948 | 100 | 1.002 |
Lake County | CLE | 99 | 0.996 | 141 | 1.207 | 91 | 0.954 |
Lansing | OAK | 124 | 1.120 | 108 | 1.038 | 106 | 1.030 |
Peoria | STL | 87 | 0.936 | 104 | 1.021 | 97 | 0.983 |
Quad Cities | KC | 92 | 0.961 | 96 | 0.981 | 104 | 1.018 |
South Bend | CHC | 102 | 1.008 | 88 | 0.938 | 102 | 1.008 |
West Michigan | DET | 85 | 0.927 | 53 | 0.766 | 91 | 0.955 |
Wisconsin | MIL | 108 | 1.040 | 132 | 1.158 | 103 | 1.017 |
Beloit, Wis., moved into newly-built ABC Supply Stadium on Aug. 3 after spending nearly 40 years at Pohlman field.
High-A East
Runs | Home Runs | BABIP | |||||
Team | Org | PF | Mult | PF | Mult | PF | Mult |
Aberdeen | BAL | 93 | 0.965 | 73 | 0.866 | 100 | 0.998 |
Asheville | HOU | 138 | 1.188 | 141 | 1.204 | 117 | 1.084 |
Bowling Green | TB | 93 | 0.966 | 97 | 0.985 | 99 | 0.996 |
Brooklyn | NYM | 80 | 0.898 | 52 | 0.761 | 96 | 0.979 |
Greensboro | PIT | 116 | 1.082 | 194 | 1.470 | 92 | 0.960 |
Greenville | BOS | 101 | 1.006 | 96 | 0.978 | 106 | 1.029 |
Hickory | TEX | 97 | 0.985 | 113 | 1.065 | 101 | 1.005 |
Hudson Valley | NYY | 106 | 1.029 | 105 | 1.024 | 105 | 1.026 |
Jersey Shore | PHI | 97 | 0.987 | 117 | 1.084 | 99 | 0.993 |
Rome | ATL | 84 | 0.921 | 51 | 0.753 | 99 | 0.994 |
Wilmington | WSH | 100 | 1.000 | 95 | 0.977 | 95 | 0.976 |
Winston-Salem | CWS | 92 | 0.962 | 81 | 0.905 | 93 | 0.963 |
This league featured three parks—Aberdeen, Brooklyn, Hudson Valley—that were moving from the short-season New York-Penn League to full-season status.
High-A West
Runs | Home Runs | BABIP | |||||
Team | Org | PF | Mult | PF | Mult | PF | Mult |
Eugene | SF | 97 | 0.985 | 109 | 1.045 | 108 | 1.038 |
Everett | SEA | 121 | 1.103 | 152 | 1.259 | 112 | 1.058 |
Hillsboro | ARI | 96 | 0.982 | 74 | 0.869 | 99 | 0.997 |
Spokane | COL | 131 | 1.153 | 173 | 1.363 | 99 | 0.996 |
Tri-City | LAA | 81 | 0.905 | 56 | 0.778 | 94 | 0.970 |
Vancouver | TOR | 80 | 0.900 | 61 | 0.803 | 91 | 0.953 |
Because of issues crossing the border into Canada during the pandemic, Vancouver played its home schedule in Hillsboro, Ore., all season.
Low-A East
Runs | Home Runs | BABIP | |||||
Team | Org | PF | Mult | PF | Mult | PF | Mult |
Augusta | ATL | 94 | 0.969 | 113 | 1.063 | 97 | 0.987 |
Carolina | MIL | 115 | 1.073 | 124 | 1.122 | 107 | 1.037 |
Charleston | TB | 91 | 0.957 | 90 | 0.950 | 88 | 0.941 |
Columbia | KC | 116 | 1.082 | 131 | 1.154 | 103 | 1.014 |
Delmarva | BAL | 96 | 0.978 | 94 | 0.972 | 93 | 0.967 |
Down East | TEX | 94 | 0.970 | 105 | 1.023 | 96 | 0.982 |
Fayetteville | HOU | 91 | 0.953 | 93 | 0.963 | 102 | 1.008 |
Fredericksburg | WSH | 102 | 1.009 | 118 | 1.089 | 103 | 1.014 |
Kannapolis | CWS | 107 | 1.035 | 98 | 0.990 | 102 | 1.008 |
Lynchburg | CLE | 115 | 1.077 | 133 | 1.163 | 103 | 1.013 |
Myrtle Beach | CHC | 89 | 0.945 | 76 | 0.878 | 101 | 1.003 |
Salem | BOS | 96 | 0.980 | 53 | 0.764 | 104 | 1.021 |
Low-A Southeast
Runs | Home Runs | BABIP | |||||
Team | Org | PF | Mult | PF | Mult | PF | Mult |
Bradenton | PIT | 111 | 1.056 | 165 | 1.327 | 101 | 1.007 |
Clearwater | PHI | 115 | 1.073 | 126 | 1.128 | 101 | 1.007 |
Daytona | CIN | 91 | 0.954 | 92 | 0.960 | 102 | 1.012 |
Dunedin | TOR | 87 | 0.934 | 88 | 0.938 | 93 | 0.967 |
Fort Myers | MIN | 96 | 0.979 | 102 | 1.008 | 95 | 0.974 |
Jupiter | MIA | 95 | 0.974 | 76 | 0.881 | 98 | 0.991 |
Lakeland | DET | 91 | 0.957 | 80 | 0.902 | 98 | 0.991 |
Palm Beach | STL | 89 | 0.945 | 48 | 0.740 | 95 | 0.977 |
St. Lucie | NYM | 124 | 1.119 | 139 | 1.193 | 111 | 1.056 |
Tampa | NYY | 107 | 1.035 | 107 | 1.034 | 105 | 1.023 |
Jupiter and Palm Beach both play home games at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, an arrangement preserved from their Florida State League days.
Dunedin moved its home operations around the league while the Blue Jays played their games there early in the season.
Low-A West
Runs | Home Runs | BABIP | |||||
Team | Org | PF | Mult | PF | Mult | PF | Mult |
Fresno | COL | 116 | 1.078 | 145 | 1.223 | 97 | 0.987 |
Inland Empire | LAA | 97 | 0.987 | 87 | 0.933 | 106 | 1.030 |
Lake Elsinore | SD | 99 | 0.993 | 65 | 0.826 | 99 | 0.997 |
Modesto | SEA | 91 | 0.957 | 69 | 0.845 | 104 | 1.020 |
Rancho Cucamonga | LAD | 105 | 1.026 | 115 | 1.075 | 98 | 0.992 |
San Jose | SF | 98 | 0.990 | 77 | 0.887 | 102 | 1.011 |
Stockton | OAK | 99 | 0.993 | 160 | 1.301 | 90 | 0.952 |
Visalia | ARI | 100 | 1.000 | 109 | 1.046 | 104 | 1.021 |
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