Catching a foul ball can invigorate a fan’s baseball game experience. That ballpark openness can also end awry and grim as it did Wednesday night when a foul ball struck a young girl in the stands off the bat of Chicago Cubs outfielder Albert Almora.
Almora’s emotional reaction illuminated an ongoing debate between the Major League Baseball and its players who believe fan experience shouldn’t jeopardize safety.
All 30 major league teams have extended the protective netting around home plate before the 2018 season, but it does not cover the entirety of the lower bowl. The MLBPA proposed in both the 2007 and 2012 collective bargaining agreements that mandatory netting extend from foul pole to foul pole (as it does in Japan). But ultimately, stadium netting is up to each individual team.
Here’s a look at the 30 stadiums and the netting situations at each ballpark:
Anaheim Angels, Angel Stadium: Protective netting extends between sections 110-126, from the ends of each dugout.
Arizona Diamondbacks, Chase Field: Protective netting extends between sections 115-129; sections G-M.
Atlanta Braves, SunTrust Park: Protective netting extends between sections 118-133.
Baltimore Orioles, Camden Yards: Protective netting extends between sections 16-58, including three sections beyond the end of each dugout. (The Baltimore Sun reported in July that the team would extend its netting from foul pole to foul pole “no later” than the start of the 2020 season.)
Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park: Protective netting extends between sections 9-79.
Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field: Protective netting extends between sections 14-30 (outfield edge of each dugout).
Chicago White Sox, Guaranteed Rate Field: Protective netting extends between sections 122-142. (The team said in June that it planned to expand the netting to the foul poles.)
Cincinnati Reds, Great American Ballpark: Protective netting extends between sections 113-133, as well as additional netting between sections 1-5 and 22-25.
Cleveland Indians, Progressive Field: Protective netting extends between sections 140-164.
Colorado Rockies, Coor Field: Protective netting extends between sections 122-139, from the ends of each dugout.
Detroit Tigers, Comerica Park: Protective netting extends between sections 116-140.
Houston Astros, Minute Maid Park: Protective netting extends between sections 112-126.
Kansas City Royals, Kauffman Stadium: Protective netting extends between sections 120-135.
Los Angeles Dodgers, Dodger Stadium: Protective netting extends between sections 10-15. (Dodgers CEO Stan Kasten told The Orange County Register in June that the team would expand the netting, likely before the end of the 2019 season.)
Miami Marlins, Marlins Park: Protective netting extends between sections 8-21.
Milwaukee Brewers, Miller Park: Protective netting extends between sections 112-123.
Minnesota Twins, Target Field: Protective netting extends between sections 1-17.
New York Mets, Citi Field: Protective netting extends between sections 107-128, as well as additional netting in sections 11-19, in suites 1-10, and patio sections 14 and 16.
New York Yankees, Yankee Stadium: Protective netting extends between sections 11-29.
Oakland Athletics, Oakland Coliseum: Protective netting extends between sections 112-122 and 216-18.
Philadelphia Phillies, Citizen Bank Park: Protective netting extends betweensections 115-132, from the ends of each dugout.
Pittsburgh Pirates, PNC Park: Protective netting extends between sections 109-124. (Team president Frank Coonelly told KDKA-TV in June that the team was actively planning to expand the netting.)
St. Louis Cardinals, Busch Stadium: Protective netting extends between sections 141-160, including Diamond Box sections behind each dugout. Netting height and coverage varies by section, according to the team.
San Diego Padres, Petco Park: Protective netting extends between sections 115-116, VIP 101-106.
San Francisco Giants, Oracle Park: Protective netting extends between sections 105-126.
Seattle Mariners, T-Mobile Park: Protective netting extends between sections 122-138.
Tampa Bay Rays, Tropicana Field: Protective netting extends between sections 101-118.
Texas Rangers, Globe Life Park: Protective netting extends between sections 18-34.
Toronto Blue Jays, Rogers Centre: Protective netting extends between sections 117-126, extending to the end of each dugout.
Washington Nationals, Nationals Park: Sections 116-118 and 127-129 behind the dugouts, in addition to the area directly behind home plate. (The Nationals announced in June that they were expanding the netting to the corners in right and left field.)