MLB Ballparks With Natural Grass as Playing Surface

No two Major League Baseball fields are the same (just look at the outfield walls), and the debate of grass vs. artificial turf on the playing surface can be a touchy topic among fans. In the interest of tradition, many baseball fans believe that natural grass is the only thing that should be used on fields, but maintenance costs and climate issues often mean that some parks turn to artificial turf.

So which MLB ballparks have natural grass, and which use artificial turf?

MLB Ballparks With Natural Grass as Playing Surface

How Many MLB Ballparks Have Grass?

Of the 30 MLB ballparks, 25 use grass as the playing surface.

Most ballparks in cooler climates, like Citi Field (New York Mets), Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia Phillies), and Fenway Park (Boston Red Sox), use bluegrass on their playing surface. Bluegrass can tolerate high traffic and wear, survive cool weather, and spread and repair itself throughout the season, making it ideal for use on baseball fields.

Meanwhile, ballparks in warmer climates, like Petco Park (San Diego Padres), tend to opt for Bermuda grass, which is more heat and drought-resistant that the alternatives.

Some stadiums use a mixture of different grasses to keep their playing surface healthy and green. Yankee Stadium starts the season each year using only Kentucky Bluegrass, but repairs throughout the season are made with ryegrass.

How Many MLB Ballparks Have Artificial Turf?

There are five MLB ballparks with artificial turf — Chase Field (Arizona Diamondbacks), Globe Life Field (Texas Rangers), loanDepot Park (Miami Marlins), Rogers Centre (Toronto Blue Jays), and Tropicana Field (Tampa Bay Rays).

While artificial turf cuts down on maintenance costs and avoids issues in changing climates, some players claim that there is an increased risk of injury in these fields, as it is often harder and more coarse than natural grass.