Texas Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young finds himself searching for answers as Globe Life Field has transformed into an unexpected liability.
The home ballpark has suddenly become one of Major League Baseball’s most difficult run-scoring environments, creating a mystery that has the organization perplexed and actively investigating potential causes.
Globe Life Field’s Dramatic Transformation
Globe Life Field has suddenly become a pitcher’s paradise and a hitter’s worst nightmare. The dramatic shift represents one of baseball’s most puzzling developments, as the Arlington stadium has undergone a complete transformation in just two years.
In 2023, the year the Rangers won the World Series, Globe Life Field was among the most hitter-friendly parks in baseball. Now, teams are struggling to score runs at what has become one of the league’s most suppressive offensive environments.
The change has been so dramatic that it has caught the attention of baseball analysts and front office executives across the sport. Current data shows Globe Life Field allowing just 6.2 runs per game this season, down significantly from 10.7 runs per game during the Rangers’ championship season.
But according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic/New York Times, Young and his staff are actively investigating the stadium for any physical factors contributing to the dramatic shift in offensive production.
“Our people are perplexed,” Young said. “We’re looking at everything from the humidor to which doors and windows are open at what points of time during the game for entrance and egress. We don’t have answers right now.”
The investigation reflects the unprecedented nature of Globe Life Field’s transformation. Environmental factors, air circulation, and even humidity control systems are all being examined as potential contributors to the ballpark’s new pitcher-friendly characteristics.
A Double-Edged Impact on the Rangers
There is a flip side to this development that has actually helped the Rangers in home games. Their pitchers are benefiting from the same trends that have frustrated hitters, as the team has posted strong pitching numbers at home this season.
“It’s a really hard thing for me to reconcile,” Young said. “Yes, the park is playing bigger. We’ve also found ways to win at home. Is that impacting us on the road? I can’t say.”
Not entirely sure what to make of this, but Globe Life Field is pretty dramatically playing like a pitchers’ park this season (relative to previous seasons).
(100 is average) https://t.co/ufmPlNUm5f pic.twitter.com/VU3q7N1jt2
— kennedi landry (@kennlandry) June 17, 2025
The Rangers’ home and road performance splits have become increasingly pronounced this season. The team has shown significantly different offensive capabilities depending on their location, with road statistics notably outpacing their home numbers in several key offensive categories.
Investigating the Mystery
Globe Life Field’s slugging percentage this season represents the lowest at any ballpark since 1989, creating an unprecedented situation that has drawn attention from across Major League Baseball. The facility, which opened in 2020 with a retractable roof and climate-controlled environment, was designed to provide consistent playing conditions year-round.
The ballpark’s environmental systems, including its humidor for baseball storage and air circulation patterns, are now under scrutiny as potential factors in the dramatic change. Young’s comments about examining “which doors and windows are open at what points of time during the game” highlight the thoroughness of their investigation into every possible variable.
Industry experts note that such dramatic shifts in ballpark characteristics are extremely rare without physical modifications to the facility. The Rangers’ situation has become a case study for how environmental factors can impact baseball performance in ways that are not immediately apparent.
The next opportunity to closely look at Globe Life Field’s playing conditions comes Friday evening when the Texas Rangers host the Seattle Mariners. Going into the 8:05 p.m. ET first pitch, the Rangers currently hold a 40-41 overall record compared to Seattle’s 41-39.