The Angels are pushing the Houston Astros to address safety concerns at Daikin Park after a pair of incidents left their outfielders injured on the ballpark’s unforgiving walls.
The latest came in late August when Taylor Ward slammed into the left field wall chasing a fly ball. The impact was severe enough that Ward needed 20 stitches around his eye to repair a damaged blood vessel.
“That was a steel beam that he hit out there,” Angels interim manager Ray Montgomery said recently. “It wasn’t concrete. It wasn’t padded. It wasn’t protected. It wasn’t the aluminum numbers that they used. So that needs to be fixed and addressed, for sure.”
Ward’s injury wasn’t a one-off situation for the Angels at Houston’s ballpark. Back in 2021, outfielder Jo Adell hurt his oblique in a similar wall collision and missed six weeks.
The Problem With Daikin Park’s Design
Daikin Park’s left field creates a tricky situation for visiting outfielders. While the foul territory down the line acts like a short porch, the left-center area extends much deeper with a triangular pattern that can catch players off guard.
That’s where the steel beam Montgomery referenced comes into play. The unpadded structural elements have proven dangerous when players are tracking balls at full speed.
Montgomery’s comments highlight what many around the game have noticed – some ballparks prioritize unique dimensions over player safety, and the results can be costly.
Houston’s History of Ballpark Changes
The Astros have shown they’re willing to modify Daikin Park when needed. The most notable change came when they removed “Tal’s Hill,” the quirky incline in center field that extended beyond the 400-foot mark.
That feature made life difficult for both hitters trying to clear it and outfielders attempting to field balls on the slope. Its removal showed Houston’s front office isn’t married to problematic design elements.
But fixing the left field wall situation presents a bigger challenge. The Astros have significant seating sections in left field, with additional seats positioned above the high left-center wall. Any structural changes would need to work around those revenue-generating areas.
The way I see it, player safety should trump unique ballpark features. Two Angels outfielders getting hurt on the same wall section over three seasons suggests this isn’t just bad luck – it’s a design flaw that needs addressing.
Whether Houston will act on Montgomery’s concerns remains to be seen, but the Angels have made their position clear. Sometimes the quirkiest ballpark features aren’t worth the risk they create.
