Compared to any other sport, fans who attend Major League Baseball games assume a greater risk that they could possibly be injured, as dozens of foul balls are hit into the stands every game, some reaching speeds faster than 100 mph.
In September 2017, a young girl attending a game at Yankee Stadium was struck by a foul ball and was seriously injured, which brought up the conversation of why ballparks do not install protective netting throughout the stadium, as opposed to just behind home plate.
Eleven stadiums throughout the league already had protective netting that goes beyond the dugouts in 2017. MLB first recommended the change in 2015, and since the incident, many other teams have put in plans to add them beginning in 2018.
Up until this point the Los Angeles Dodgers have not made an announcement in regards to Dodger Stadium, although according to Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group, team president Stan Kasten confirmed that they do have plans to expand their safety netting:
#Dodgers Stan Kasten confirms team will expand safety netting behind home plate this year. "We have not yet decided on a configuration. We hope to have an announcement before the start of spring training."
Netting expected to be in place by 1st Freeway Series game March 26— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) January 24, 2018
With Spring Training just around the corner, it will be interesting to see if the Dodgers also decide to make changes to the netting at the Camelback Ranch facility they share with the Chicago White Sox.
As many as 24 teams have already announced plans to add on to the nettings in their respective stadiums for this upcoming season. And when the Dodgers do so it will be one step closer to the ultimate goal of all 30 teams adding it.
