Pirates plan to extend protective netting at PNC Park

The Pittsburgh Pirates are developing a plan to extend the protective netting at PNC Park down its baselines, the team announced in a statement obtained by Alyson Footer of MLB.com.

Team president Frank Coonelly said in the release that he's focused on increasing "fan safety while also preserving and enhancing the overall game-day experience to the greatest degree possible." A specific timeline for the expansion to the ballpark's netting was not included.

Pirates players have also endorsed greater protective measures for the fans. Right-hander Trevor Williams said more netting should be adopted across the league and not be individually left to the teams.

"It's inexcusable that it hasn't been done at all 30 stadiums, it really is," Williams said, according to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "In Japan, every stadium, all the way down to the foul poles ... the nets, too, they make them so thin now where it doesn't do anything. You can see right through. It's ridiculous that it hasn't been done yet."

Teammate Steven Brault echoed Williams' sentiments, citing the fans' lack of baseball experience compared to that of the players. Like Williams, he doesn't understand why measures haven't been implemented league-wide.

"It's gonna happen," Brault said. "I don't know why we're delaying it. I think every stadium should go with it."

The Pirates are joining the Chicago White Sox and Washington Nationals as clubs that have officially announced plans to increase the amount of netting at their home parks.

There have been several incidents involving spectators being struck by balls in recent seasons, which resulted in the extension of protective netting to the end of each dugout.

One of the more recent injuries involved a two-year-old girl being hit by a foul ball at Houston's Minute Maid Park. It was announced Wednesday that the girl suffered a skull fracture as well as subdural bleeding, brain contusions, and brain edema.