It's better to be safe than sorry.
With an uptick of fans getting injured by line-drive foul balls and broken bats flying into the stands, Major League Baseball is calling on all 30 stadiums to install additional safety netting for next season.
While it's a "recommendation" from MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, teams and stadiums aren't obligated to do so. That being said, it's hard to imagine that any franchise will not take the commissioner's heed and install the extra nets to provide more safety for their fans.
"Major League Baseball prides itself on providing fans in our ballparks with unparalleled proximity and access to our players and the game taking place on the field. At the same time, it is important that fans have the option to sit behind protective netting or in other areas of the ballpark where foul balls and bats are less likely to enter," Manfred said in a press release statement from Major League Baseball, tweeted out to the masses Wednesday. "This recommendation attempts to balance the need for an adequate number of seating options with our desire to preserve the interactive pre-game and in-game fan experience that often centers around the dugouts, where fans can catch balls, see their favorite players up close and, if they are lucky, catch a tossed ball or other souvenir."
He added: "I am confident that this recommendation will result not only in additional netting at Major League ballparks, but also draw additional attention to the need for fans who make the choice to not sit behind netting to be prepared for the possibility of foul balls and bats entering the stands."
If you have field-level seats, it's always a good idea to not have your face buried in your smartphone. Sort of defeats the purpose of attending a live game, right? Not to mention, it can be dangerous.
