Astros mull ballpark reno, may remove Tal’s Hill

Tal’s Hill in Houston may undergo a facelift by 2016. (USATSI)

According to Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle, the Astros are currently mulling over several renovation ideas for Minute Maid Park, which would be implemented for the 2016 season. Among those potential renovations is removing Tal’s Hill in center field.

The Astros have hired MSA Architects to start discussions about center field renovations. Here’s what team president of business operations Reid Ryan told Drellich:

“It won’t be this year. It would be after next year,” Ryan said of the potential facelift. “People talk about Tal’s Hill. ‘Is Tal’s Hill going away?’ We’re going to look at designs of, ‘What would that look like if we took it away?’”

…

“We’re going to keep evolving,” Ryan said. “That’s one of the things (owner Jim Crane) started with us from day one is: we’re moving forward. … We’re going to do something in the outfield. I don’t know what exactly that means yet: could be Tal’s Hill. It could be bullpens. It could be adding cabooses to the train. It could be adding something in center field of meaning. It could be putting in a Hall of Fame.

“Could we now go underground and could you put fans in the old bullpen the visitors were in (in left field), and do we move the other one to right field? We want something substantial where people go out and go, ‘Oh, It’s Minute Maid Park 2.0.’”

Tal’s Hill — named after former team president Tal Smith — is literally a hill in center field just in front of the wall. The hill also features a flag pole that is in play. It is 436 feet to center field at Minute Maid Park, so it’s not often a ball is hit to the hill, but it has happened and there have been more than a few amazing catches over the years:

Tal’s Hill is a bit gimmicky but one of the very best things about the baseball is the uniqueness of each stadium. Fenway Park has the Green Monster, Wrigley Field has the ivy, and Minute Maid Park has Tal’s Hill. If the Astros want to remove it, fine. I think the park would lose some charm if they did though.

Minute Maid Park opened in 2000. Ryan confirmed the ballpark is undergoing some roof repairs this offseason — the wheels on the retractable roof have to be replaced — and there will also be changes to the club level and some concessions.

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