Texas Rangers Break Ground on Dr Pepper Youth Ballpark

Highlights include redesigned outfield wall and longer home run distances

10/11/2007, ARLINGTON -- The Texas Rangers Baseball Club broke ground today on enhancements to the Dr Pepper Youth Ballpark that include a retaining wall in left field and greater distances from home plate to the outfield fence.

"The modifications to the park were originally borne out of necessity given the reconfiguration of roads surrounding Glorypark and Cowboys Stadium. The organization took this opportunity to reinvest back into the facility by expanding the Dr Pepper Youth Ballpark, making it the finest and most unique place to play ball in the Metroplex," said Rangers President Jeff Cogen.

The 20-foot high retaining wall highlights the upgrades and features the same proportionate length and height as the left field wall inside Boston's Fenway Park. The distance from home plate to the left field foul poll measures 160 feet, but a ball hit to that part of the field must travel at least 210 feet in order to clear the new structure.

At its deepest point, the outfield wall measures 232 feet, an increase of nearly 30 feet. The right field power alley extends from 190 feet to 210 feet, and the distance from home plate to the right field foul poll improves from 199 feet to 210 feet.

Source: MLB