In the aftermath of Wednesday’s horrifying incident at Yankee Stadium involving a young girl being injured by a foul line-drive, Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred expressed his thoughts on the matter Thursday.
“The events at yesterday’s game involving a young girl were extremely upsetting for everyone in our game,” Manfred said in a statement. “Over the past few seasons MLB has worked with our clubs to expand the amount of netting in our ballparks. In light of yesterday’s event, we will redouble our efforts on this important issue.”
The scare occurred in the fifth inning yesterday, as a 105 mph line-drive off the bat of Yankees’ third baseman Todd Frazier struck a two-year-old girl seated outside of the protective netting zone along the left-field line. Eyewitness accounts told reporters that the ball struck her in the face. The girl, who was eventually taken to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, was in attendance with her grandparents.
According to a report from WABC, the girl’s father said she stayed overnight in the hospital for observation, and is “doing alright.”
“Our thoughts and prayers continue to be centered around our young fan and her family,” the Yankees said in a statement Thursday afternoon. “We remain in direct contact with her family and the hospital, and we will provide any and all assistance that may be necessary.”
Rafael Espinal, Jr., who represents the 37th Council District in Brooklyn and serves as chair of the Committee on Consumer Affairs, spoke on matter with the New York Post. In May, Espinal introduced a bill that would require ballparks with 5,000 or more seats to have extended netting from home plate to the foul poles. According to the report, a hearing is scheduled for Oct. 25.
“It’s terrible and very disheartening,” Espinal told The Post. “This injury could have been avoided. Other teams have extended netting and Major League Baseball should reconsider its regulations for netting.
“Since I introduced the bill, the Mets extended their netting. I had positive conversations with the Yankees over the summer, and they said they were studying the issue. I hope to hear from them soon, especially after what happened [Wednesday]. Now it’s a no-brainer. … It’s time to make a decision for next season.”
Although MLB has not mandated the implementation of extended netting in ballparks, the league does “recommend” clubs to install netting (up to 70 ft.) from behind home plate to the start of both dugouts.
The last time a fan died in a big league stadium was in 1970, but several incidents have occurred since in minor league venues across the nation.
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