Sports

All 30 MLB ballparks to have expanded netting by opening day

01 of February 2018

FILE - In this April 4, 2017, file photo, Oakland Athletics' Rajai Davis celebrates with fans as he scores on a throwing error after hitting a two-run triple off Los Angeles Angels' Bud Norris during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif. The Athletics will expand protective netting between the stands and the playing field to the far ends of both dugouts ahead of the 2018 season.(AP Photo/Ben Margot, File),FILE - In this April 4, 2017, file photo, Oakland Athletics' Rajai Davis celebrates with fans as he scores on a throwing error after hitting a two-run triple off Los Angeles Angels' Bud Norris during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif. The Athletics will expand protective netting between the stands and the playing field to the far ends of both dugouts ahead of the 2018 season.(AP Photo/Ben Margot, File)

All 30 major league ballparks will have expanded protective netting that reaches to at least the far ends of each dugout by opening day. Major League Baseball issued recommendations for protective netting or screens in December 2015, encouraging teams to have it in place between the ends of the dugouts closest to home plate. The push for an expansion increased last year after a series of spectator injuries.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — All 30 major league ballparks will have expanded protective netting that reaches to at least the far ends of each dugout by opening day.

Major League Baseball made the announcement Thursday ahead of an owners’ meeting later in the day.

MLB issued recommendations for protective netting or screens in December 2015, encouraging teams to have it in place between the ends of the dugouts closest to home plate. The push for an expansion increased last year after a series of spectator injuries.

A boy was struck on the head by a portion of Chris Carter’s broken bat at Yankee Stadium on May 25, and a fan sitting beyond the first-base dugout was hit by a 105 mph foul ball off the bat of Aaron Judge on July 25. A young girl was injured by a 105 mph foul ball off the bat of Todd Frazier on Sept. 20 and was hospitalized.

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