The 2019 MLB season has come with a record number of home runs as well as a record number of strikeouts. However, many people forget the long plate appearances that this season is producing. With these long plate appearances come a record number of foul balls going into the stands.
Not all foul balls are dangerous, and there is already protective netting where there could be extremely dangerous foul balls going into the stands. However, this protective netting does not span long enough.
On Wednesday, May 29, Albert Almora Jr. of the Chicago Cubs hit a line drive foul that struck a four-year-old girl in the head. The girl was conscious and crying when a man who seemed to be with her carried her to help. She was taken to the hospital.
Check this out! It was a SCARY & JARRING moment @MinuteMaidParks last night during #Cubs–#Astros game, when a 4 YO girl was hit by a foul ball! It happened when Cub's player, Albert Almora Jr. hit a foul line drive into the stands. Fortunately, she's OK. #khou11 #htownrush pic.twitter.com/xvrxwmV5c5
— Michelle Choi (@MichelleKHOU) May 30, 2019
Almora Jr. was visibly shaken and exchanged multiple words with his teammates, his manager, and a security guard. After the game, Almora Jr. called for safety netting to be installed further down the foul line.
"I'm speechless, at a loss for words. Being a father of two boys." Albert Almora speaks after scary foul ball incident: https://t.co/wIl0a3TxAr pic.twitter.com/ONxuzw85jA
— NBC Sports Chicago (@NBCSChicago) May 30, 2019
About a month later at Dodger Stadium, Cody Bellinger hit a sharp line drive into foul territory. It struck a fan in the head. She was sitting in the area just beyond the protective netting. Initially, she remained in her seat, but about 15 minutes later, she got further attention, which led to a hospital visit for “precautionary tests.”
Dodgers' Bellinger, Roberts call for more protective netting after fan hit by foul ball.
More from @joereedy: https://t.co/32GOCshdB3 pic.twitter.com/t6EgAIYo8X
— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) June 24, 2019
This experience is too close for comfort for Dodger Stadium, where a fan actually died last year due to a foul ball hitting her in the head.
Clearly, foul balls have not been a danger just this year. So what is stopping these teams from expanding the netting?
The Chicago Cubs and the Washington Nationals already took matters into their own hands.
Over the All-Star Break, both teams extended their protective netting to the foul pole at their respective parks.
The nettings installed are knotless, which makes it easier to see through. At Nationals Park, the netting above the dugouts can be lifted so that fans can interact with players.
While many people are for this change, it also has its critics. Many baseball purists argue that this makes the fan to player interaction almost non-existent. Fans won’t be able to catch these foul balls or interact with outfielders.
However, I argue that they still could. Fans who want this interaction can come early to be there for batting practice. Or they could sit in areas where there is no netting! This won’t be like a hockey rink with glass all around it. Some seats won’t be covered by this protective netting in the home run territory. Would you rather catch Bryce Harper’s foul ball or Bryce Harper’s home run? I think the home run.
Without putting these nets up people’s lives are at risk. I’m sorry you won’t be able to catch those 95-plus mph foul line drives that are coming your way, but I think you would be okay with that too.
This won’t change the game. This addition will make the game better. People at Nationals Park and Wrigley Field both noted that after a few minutes, spectators don’t even notice the net. Besides, the most expensive and sought after tickets are behind home plate, and isn’t there a net there?
Every single ballpark needs this protective netting. Balls are being hit harder than ever before. Unless every spectator sitting in foul territory is a trained professional infielder who can field these 100-plus mph balls, I think that everyone would benefit from these balls hitting a net instead of a person.
It is both irresponsible and inexcusable for these organizations to not have this netting, and I predict that every organization will have it by the start of next season. But why not start now? The Cubs and the Nationals showed that it’s possible to install this netting in a short amount of time. If a team has a long road trip, their organization should install that netting while they’re away. There’s no excuse for more lives to be impacted. Put up the nets.
