Verlander urges MLB to increase protective measures for fans
Detroit Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander said Major League Baseball needs to do more to protect fans in the stands after another fan was injured by a foul ball during Friday's game against the Texas Rangers at Comerica Park.
"It seems like something happens once a game, where a ball just misses a fan and, inevitably, it's always small kids or women, you know," Verlander said. "It's just something that needs to be looked at, and hopefully it doesn't get to the point where something really serious happens before there's an adjustment made."
Verlander said that protective netting needs to be extended from behind home plate to prevent future injuries to fans, and that step should be taken immediately. He continued to implore MLB for change on his Twitter account.
More protective measures need to be put in place in all ball parks! Players are sick of seeing injuries that could easily be avoided!
— Justin Verlander (@JustinVerlander) August 22, 2015
I hope the fan tonight is okay! #getwellsoon @MLB should make changes before it's too late #dontwaittoolate
— Justin Verlander (@JustinVerlander) August 22, 2015
The fan had to be removed from the Comerica Parks stands on a stretcher after being hit in the face by a foul ball off the bat of Tigers outfielder Anthony Gose.
Earlier this season, a fan suffered what were described as life-threatening injuries after a broken bat hit her in the head during a Boston Red Sox-Oakland Athletics game in June. Then in July, another fan was injured when she was hit by a line drive during a Milwaukee Brewers-Atlanta Braves game.