On May 4, a bat slipped out of the hands of Hector Sanchez and struck a woman sitting above the visiting dugout at Petco Park. The incident prompted the Padres to begin exploring the prospect of expanded netting.
Thursday, on the heels of another accident, this time at Yankees Stadium, the Padres announced that they will extend their netting to the end of each dugout before the 2018 season.
Wednesday in New York, a young girl was hospitalized after being struck by a foul ball hit by Yankees third baseman Todd Frazier, leading to renewed calls for increased netting at ballparks around Major League Baseball.
"That type of accident is upsetting for all of us that work in the game," MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said Thursday during a visit to Petco Park. "... I'm really encouraged by the conversations that have taken place today. A number of clubs have made clear that they either have made ... or will be making announcements about additional netting for the 2018 season. I see that as a continuation of a process that is really good for the game over the long haul."
In May, a bat that slipped out of the hands of Padres catcher Hector Sanchez hit a fan sitting above the visiting dugout at Petco Park, prompting the club to discuss the prospect of expanded netting.
