White Sox plan to extend netting to foul poles
By: Mike Stiles -
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
(CHICAGO) – The Chicago White Sox will extend protective netting to both foul poles this summer, the team announced Tuesday, committing to additional safety measures a week after a woman at Guaranteed Rate Field was struck in the head by a foul ball and hospitalized. White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf spearheaded the plan, and high-ranking officials from other teams expect it to have a cascading effect, with teams around the league pledging to extend netting. One source with knowledge of installing netting believes other teams could retrofit their stadiums before the end of the 2019 season. Players have been outspoken about increasing safety measures after multiple foul-ball injuries in recent weeks. After a foul ball by Cubs center fielder Albert Almora Jr. injured a young girl in Houston, Chicago star Kris Bryant said every team should extend netting to the foul poles. Almora saluted the White Sox's move Tuesday. Before the 2018 season, every team committed to extending netting to the end of both dugouts after a spate of highly publicized foul-ball injuries. Commissioner Rob Manfred said recently he expected the extended-netting conversation to "begin and continue into the offseason."
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