Cubs to Extend Netting at Wrigley Field for 2018 Season
By James Neveau •
Fans at Wrigley Field will notice a significant change next season, as the Chicago Cubs will take increased steps to protect fans from foul balls and thrown bats.
The Cubs will extend netting at least 30 feet down each of the foul lines at the iconic ballpark, President of Business Operations Crane Kenney said in a radio interview Tuesday.
The news comes on the heels of an incident in New York that saw New York Yankees infielder Todd Frazier accidentally strike a young girl with a foul ball during a game. The ball, which travelled into the stands at over 100 MPH, sent shockwaves through the baseball world and prompted reactions from all corners as the league looks to improve safety.
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Senator Dick Durbin called for Major League Baseball to mandate extended netting, and several teams have already voluntarily added new safety features. The Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers have both announced that they will extend nets further down the foul lines, and the Cubs will follow suit beginning with the 2018 season.
The Cubs and White Sox both extended netting to the dugouts after MLB mandated new safety rules in 2016, but the new netting at Wrigley Field will travel even further, perhaps even extending to the opposite ends of the dugouts down the foul lines.
