MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said he does not expect in-season changes to the netting around ballparks this year.
Last week, Cubs outfielder Albert Almora hit a line drive down the third-base line and into the stands, striking a young girl who later had to be hospitalized. The incident sparked discussion whether MLB teams need to extend the nets further to protect fans.
All 30 teams have protective netting to at least the far end of the dugouts, but Manfred said it’s “important” for the league to continue to focus on fan safety.
“If that means that the netting has to go beyond the dugouts, so be it,” Manfred said. “Each ballpark is different. The reason I hesitate with ’beyond the dugout,’ I mean, a lot of clubs are beyond the dugout already. But there is a balance here. We do have fans that are vocal about the fact that they don’t want to sit behind nets.
“I think that we have struck the balance in favor of fan safety so far, and I think we will continue to do that going forward.”
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