Cincinnati — The Green Monster will no longer be the major leagues' most imposing wall.
Major league baseball told the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday that their new center-field wall will have to be 40 feet tall, eclipsing the famous left-field wall at Boston's Fenway Park by 3 feet.
The Reds have made major changes at Cinergy Field to open space for a new ballpark under construction alongside. The outfield stands have been removed and the outfield wall has been moved closer to the plate and built up.
The team had planned on a 32-foot wall in straightaway center, only 393 feet from home. Baseball officials visited the stadium Tuesday and required that a 40-foot backdrop be in place so hitters can see the ball.
The entire wall will be in play, so a ball will have to clear it to be a home run. The team initially considered painting a home-run line on the wall, but left that decision up to baseball officials.
Boston's left-field wall is 37 feet tall with a 23-foot screen across the top. The Green Monster will still be more approachable it's 315 feet down the line in left at Fenway.
Jimmie Lee Solomon, baseball's senior vice president of operations, and umpire Randy Marsh were among those who inspected the reconfigured field Tuesday.
Solomon also instructed the Reds to install plexiglass in the right-field wall so managers can see into the bullpen when they go out to make a pitching change, speeding up the game.
Since the stadium opened in 1970, the bullpens had been located in foul territory in the outfield. Home plate has been moved 10 feet closer to the backstop, eliminating much of the foul territory.
Both bullpens will be beyond the wall in right field. Risers will allow players to watch the game from behind the wall.
Chief operating officer John Allen said the team can make the changes in time for the season opener on April 2 against Atlanta. Those were the only major changes ordered.
"They were very complimentary," Allen said. "Things went well."
Great American Ball Park, scheduled to open in 2003, will overlap part of Cinergy. The stands were removed from the left-field foul pole to right-center field, and the playing field was moved closer to home to make room for the new ballpark.
The wall also has been moved closer to home and raised from 8 feet to 14 feet in the gaps, and now to 40 feet in center.
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