Illinois Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth are asking Major League Baseball to extend netting at all stadiums to protect fans from foul balls, Roll Call is reporting.
The two Democrats made their request in a letter to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred on Thursday. It came after the Chicago White Sox and Washington Nationals announced the extension of netting at their ballparks.
“The Los Angeles Dodgers are conducting a study and plan to announce an extension plan in the coming weeks, the two senators noted. “Also, the Texas Rangers’ new stadium will have this important feature. MLB and every team should expedite plans to extend netting to further protect fans. As several teams have demonstrated, these safety improvements don’t have to wait until next season.
“Players are hitting balls with a velocity of more than 100 miles per hour onto the field and into the seated areas.
“We appreciate the efforts MLB and individual teams have taken so far for the safety of fans, However, it is clear the current extended netting is not sufficient to protect fans from serious injury or death. We hope all teams will follow the leadership of the White Sox, Nationals, Dodgers, and Rangers in this matter.”
WGN-TV noted a 2-year-old girl suffered a fractured skull after being hit by a foul ball at a Astros-Cubs game in Houston last month.
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