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Major League Baseball will require all of its affiliated minor league ballparks to have protective netting extended down each foul line by no later than the start of the 2025 season, the league and Senator Dick Durbin (D–Ill.) announced in a statement Wednesday. The new policy is a victory for advocates who have long warned of the dangers of foul balls—especially in the age of cell phone distraction—though it does not affect major league ballparks.
“Minor League Baseball is an exciting option for families to spend time together and experience professional baseball in an up close and personal way,” said MLB deputy commissioner Dan Halem in a statement. Referring to the affiliated clubs by their new designation since MLB’s 2021 restructuring of the minors, the Professional Development League, he continued, “By taking this action, our PDL Clubs have underscored their commitment to ensuring the safety of fans remains a top priority.”
