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Spring Training Shame as Foul Ball Fan Safety Crisis Continues

Industry: Sports

Foul Ball Safety Now analysis reveals at least 10 Major League Baseball teams are hosting Spring Training games with no netting past the dugouts.

Brooklyn, NY (PRUnderground) March 28th, 2022

As Spring Training 2022 continues, an analysis by Foul Ball Safety Now reveals at least 10 Major League Baseball teams are hosting Spring Training games in Cactus League and Grapefruit League ballparks with no safety netting to protect fans seated past the ends of the dugouts.

This continues to contradict Commissioner Rob Manfred’s claim following the 2019 season that all MLB stadiums would extend netting “substantially beyond the end of the dugout” before the 2020 season began. Foul Ball Safety Now founder Jordan Skopp’s analysis found 16 out of 30 MLB teams hosting games at 11 ballparks without netting beyond the dugouts during Spring Training 2020.

This is the third year in a row that Skopp’s telephone and web research has revealed inadequate netting to protect fans, as well as inconsistent and often confusing information about the status of protective netting, throughout MLB and the minor leagues.

“MLB’s fan safety scandal continues. Another year, another shameful display of MLB and the team owners failing to fix a problem they’ve known existed for decades. Federal and state governments must immediately take action to regulate baseball fan safety before another foul ball maiming occurs,” Skopp said.

Last March during Spring Training ‘21, a fan narrowly escaped injury when a foul ball exploded his beer can, an incident that could have easily involved blood and bones shattering instead of beer suds. This incident occurred at Tempe Diablo stadium where the Los Angeles Angels host Spring Training games. Skopp just called their box office and learned that the netting has not been updated since then.

“Fans need to know that MLB has not taken nearly enough responsibility for their safety, and continues to operate unsafe ballparks where dangerous foul balls can cause life-changing injuries in a split second,” Skopp said.

Major League Baseball Spring Training 2022 Facilities with No Netting Past End of Dugouts

Peoria Sports Complex (Seattle Mariners & San Diego Padres)