SALT LAKE CITY — Baseball season is just around the corner, and Smith’s Ballpark is taking extra precautions to protect fans this season by adding extra netting.
“We’re starting the net extension, so they’ve been putting in some posts in the outfield and they’re starting to actually get the net up today and tomorrow,” said Kraig Williams, the Communications manger for the Salt Lake Bees.
Williams says with recent fan injuries at Major League games, the extra netting is a proactive step to keep everyone safe from line drives.
“Major League Baseball has been looking into it pretty strongly and suggesting it and Minor League Baseball is following suit in a lot of places, so I know we’re doing it. Iowa, Reno, a bunch of other teams in our league are also following suit trying to extend it as far out as we can,” said Williams.
The netting will expand five extra sections down the first and third base lines.
“Our players, guys can hit the ball upwards of 110 miles an hour and, even if you’re paying attention and you’re watching, that’s not a lot of time to move if it hits you in the right spot,” said Williams.
For fans worried about not being able to catch a fly ball because of the netting, Williams says it shouldn’t be an issue.
“You’ll still get those lazy fly balls the flyover and you’ll still have some foul balls, but it will keep the ones that are the most dangerous ones that can hurt you the most out of the fans,” said Williams.
Opening day for the Salt Lake Bees is April 9th
