Baseball Outfield Dimensions
The outfield of a baseball field is the open area of turf beyond the infield. The boundaries of the outfield are marked by the foul lines which must extend a minimum of 320ft/97.5m on each side of the field from the batter’s boxes.
Unlike the dimensions of the infield, the outfield’s dimensions can significantly vary from one baseball park to another - even at the professional level. The deepest part of any baseball outfield is known as the ‘centerfield’ which typically measures at least 400ft/121.92 vertically from the home plate on most MLB fields. Comerica Park in Detroit has the deepest centerfield fence in the MLB at 420ft/128m and Fenway Park in Boston has the shallowest centerfield fence at 390ft/118.9m.
The areas either side of the centre field are known as the ‘left field’ and the ‘right field’. These areas typically measure between 320ft/97.5m and 350ft/106.7m on the majority of MLB fields. The deepest right field in the MLB is Wrigley Field in Chicago at 353ft/107.6m, with the shallowest right field is found at Fenway Park measuring 302ft. The same two parks also have the deepest and the shallowest left fields measuring 355ft/108.2 and 310ft/94.5m respectively.
The outfield is what the batters are looking to clear when they are hitting the ball. If successful and the ball is hit outside of the fences without bouncing, and remains within the foul lines, then this is what is known as a ‘home run’ and the batter can run around all the bases without being tagged out.
Fielders are also positioned within the wide, open space that is the outfield. These ‘out-fielders’ will look to catch batters out as well as throwing the ball to the base fielders as quickly as possible in order to try and get batters tagged out.
Little League Baseball Field Dimensions
Little League Baseball is an organization who set up local youth baseball leagues throughout the United States and the rest of the world. There are various different age brackets and ability divisions within Little League, and the field size and pitching distance for a number of the age groups is smaller than a professional MLB field as the younger players can’t throw or hit the ball as hard as professional players.
Below we’ve included a table detailing the baseball field sizes for all Little League Divisions. It is important to note that dimensions given for the size of the diamond or pitching distance in certain divisions are the maximum sizes that they can be, and the specific local league has the option to reduce them at their discretion. The sizes of the centerfield and left/right field will depend on the size of each baseball park, but the minimum size requirements recommended by Little League are included below.
College Baseball Field Dimensions
The dimensions of a college (NCAA) baseball field are very similar to that of a professional MLB field. The infield consists of a 90ft-by-90ft diamond and a pitching distance of 60ft and 6in, like in MLB.
The recommended distances for the outfield are 400ft from the home plate to the centerfield and a minimum off 330ft from the home plate to the end of the foul lines, with the fences rounded out to match the recommended distances. As mentioned earlier, each baseball park is different, hence why recommended distances are given.
High School Field Dimensions
Like a college baseball field, the dimensions of a high school field are almost identical to those on an MLB field. The infield is exactly the same, with a 90ft-by-90ft diamond and a 60ft 6in long pitching distance.
The outfield for high school baseball will measure at least 300ft down the foul lines on the left/right field and 400ft down the centerfield from the home plate.
Middle School Field Dimensions
The infield size, however, does get smaller for middle school fields with 7th grade students playing on infields with a 70ft-by-70ft diamond and a 50ft pitching distance. 8th grade students play on a 80ft-by-80ft diamond with a 54ft pitching distance. Like Little League baseball, kids aged 14 and older will play on a full-size field.
This reduces down to roughly 300ft to the back fence for 8th grade depending on the dimensions of the baseball park, and to 200ft for the 7th grade.
PONY League Baseball Field Dimensions
The PONY (Protect Our Nation’s Youth) League, like the Little League, is another organization that set up youth baseball leagues around the World.
The table below shows all the field dimensions for the different age groups within the PONY Baseball system.
What are the differences between a baseball and softball field?
Softball is a variant of baseball that was first introduced as an indoor version of the game but has since developed into an outdoor game that is played by adults and children. It is a safe an effective way of introducing baseball and basic skills and attributes by using a softer ball and lighter bats. Despite being similar games, there are important differences between the two fields to note so that you line your field correctly.
The most obvious difference between softball and baseball fields is that the infield diamond on a softball field is much smaller than in baseball. The diamond will be 60ft long on each side, meaning there is a shorter running distance between the bases in softball. The centerfield on a softball field is closer to the home plate than on a baseball field, typically measuring between 200ft-250ft. Another key difference between the two fields is that the pitching distance is shorter on a softball field at 43ft.
Softball fields will use all dirt for their infields in comparison to a mix of grass and dirt on a baseball field. What is known as the pitcher’s mound in baseball is known as the ‘pitching circle’ in softball, due it’s flatter appearance in comparison to the raised mound in baseball.
How to Line a Baseball Field
We’ll now go through all the steps to line a baseball field. Baseball parks should already be aligned so that the pitcher is throwing across the line of the sunrise and sunset, so follow our step-by-step process to line your field with confidence and to give it a professional look.
Raking and levelling the field
The first steps to lining a baseball field is levelling out the dirt using a rake to make sure the running path along the baseline is smooth. You should then use a baseball field drag mat to remove any unwanted debris off your field to leave it looking pristine.
Locating the home plate and bases
After locating the center of your backstop net, place the apex of the of the home plate 60ft away from the center of the backstop net.
Locate the center of second base by measuring 127ft 3in away from the apex of the home plate and place down your base marker.
Locate first and third base by measuring 90ft from the apex of the home plate, using the sloped edges of the home plate to get the correct angle. Once you have done this make a mark at the end of the line. This mark should measure 90ft from the centre of second base. Then place the outside back corner of the base where the mark is. Repeat this step so you have first and third base on either side of the home plate.
Set the Pitching Rubber
Following a straight line from the apex of the home plate to the centre of second base, measure a 60ft 6in line from the apex of the home plate to where the pitching rubber will be. Square up the rubber by measuring equal distances from the front corners of either side of the home plate to where the corners of the pitching rubber will be.
Prepare the batter’s and catcher’s boxes
Create the batter’s box using a tape measure and stake to draw the outlines of the boxes in the dirt. Once done, paint over the marks using a baseball line marking machine machine for accurate boxes that comply with your league’s regulations.
Painting the foul lines
To set this up, attach a string to a stake at the right side of the foul pole in the right field and run it past the right edge of first base all the way to the back edge and apex of the home plate. Make sure the string is tight as it will ensure the line is completely straight. Using the line marker and this string set-up as a guide, paint along the line of the string, straight past first base, and into the outfield straight towards the foul pole. Typically, the line should be painted 4in thick. Repeat this process for the foul line on the left side of the outfield, painting from the apex and left edge of the home plate straight past third base along your string line, towards the foul pole in the left field.
Painting the running lane and coaches’ boxes
The final steps to lining a baseball field are painting the lines that are outside of the foul lines. First paint a line 3ft away from and parallel to first base and the foul line, that extends 45ft back towards the home plate, to form the running lane.
Finally, paint a rectangular box that runs 35ft long and 15ft wide, parallel to first/third base and the foul line for the coaches’ boxes. These boxes should be marked comfortably outside of the foul lines and running lane.
Now that you have read our extensive baseball field guide you should have a clear understanding of the different markings found on a baseball field. You’ll also know how long the lines on a baseball field should be and where they should be located, meaning you can line a baseball field with confidence.
At Net World Sports we carry a wide selection of baseball field equipment including everything you’ll need to mark a field. From line markers and field drags, to tarpaulin covers to protect your field, we have you covered when it comes to lining a baseball field.
We also carry of comprehensive range of other baseball equipment including batting cages, rebounders, scoreboards, backstop nets, training equipment and more!
