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Since the day the Athletics announced they would be calling Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento their new home for at least the next three seasons starting in 2025, the automatic assumption from most baseball observers was that the move would bring a major shift in how their home ballpark would play for pitchers and hitters.

It seems like a fair assumption. Throughout the A¡¯s previous 57-year stint in Oakland from 1968-2024, the Coliseum¡¯s extra-spacious foul ground and cold Bay Area nights helped it gain notoriety as a paradise for pitchers and a nightmare for hitters. Meanwhile, Sutter Health Park is part of the Pacific Coast League, which boasts arguably the most hitter-friendly environments in all of Minor League Baseball.

Here¡¯s why that theory might not be accurate.

A look at the dimensions will show the two parks are actually quite comparable:

Sutter Health Park: left field, 330 feet; center field, 403 feet; right field, 325 feet
Coliseum: left field, 330 feet; center field, 400 feet; right field, 330 feet

According to Statcast¡¯s park factors, the Coliseum suppressed offense by two percent in 2024, which is not far off from league average. When it comes to Minor League park factors, Sutter Health Park has also played close to league average.

• What to know about A's relocation to West Sacramento

A¡¯s designated hitter/left fielder Brent Rooker takes a very cerebral approach to hitting, analyzing whatever data is available to him, so it should come as no surprise that he has already looked into how the upcoming move might affect his offensive numbers. Based on his research, those proclaiming Sutter Health Park to play like another Coors Field-type bandbox might want to temper expectations.

¡°I think it¡¯s going to be more offensive than the Coliseum was, just because of how pitcher-friendly it was there,¡± Rooker said. ¡°But I think the idea that it¡¯s going to be like a launching pad or play tiny is probably not quite right. ¡­ I¡¯m thinking it will probably be about league average, maybe a little better than league average. I played six games here in 2022 and I did hit two homers, so hopefully that trend continues and we¡¯ll be in a good spot.¡±

There is a belief that warm weather causes the ball to fly more, and the temperatures in the Sacramento area do tend to reach over 100 degrees in the summer. But the A¡¯s have already prepared for the heat in their schedule by planning to play 60 of their 81 home games at night ¨C all of which are slated to begin at 7:05 p.m. PT ¨C for the 2025 regular season, beginning with the club¡¯s inaugural game at Sutter Health Park on Monday, March 31, against the Cubs.

Also, while the weather does get toasty in West Sacramento, the city is not at a high altitude like Coors Field, nor is it in a dry desert air like the one at Las Vegas Ballpark, home of the A¡¯s Triple-A affiliate Las Vegas Aviators, which is recognized as one of Minor League Baseball¡¯s most prolific launching pads.

• 'They're super excited to have us': A's do some exploring in Sacramento

So, what will Sutter Health Park be? Hitter-friendly? Pitcher-friendly? Neutral? Speculation remains wide-ranging, though the truth is it really is impossible to tell until Major League Baseball is actually played there this upcoming season. However, based on the negative reviews over the years from hitters who felt cheated by the Coliseum¡¯s large foul territory and/or marine layer, it¡¯s hard to envision the A¡¯s offensive production not seeing an uptick, even if it is slight.

¡°That¡¯s the hope,¡± Rooker said. ¡°If an extra one or two balls sneak over the wall that would have been a flyout in Oakland, that¡¯s great. If I get an extra three or four pitches throughout the year because of the less foul territory, that¡¯s great, too. It¡¯s not going to change anything in terms of preparation or approach or game planning or anything like that. But as hitters, we¡¯ll take whatever help we can get.¡±