Just days after a girl was hit by a ball during a Houston Astros game, the tragedy struck again in a minor league match.
A young boy was hit in the face by an infested balloon during an Indianapolis Indian game on Saturday night, and had to be taken to a hospital, according to a report by Darius Johnson, Fox 59. The team did not provide an update on the status of the Sunday fan.
The Indian press release indicated that the stand was sitting along the first baseline when he was hit by the ball. He was treated by on-site paramedics, but had to be taken to a hospital in a local hospital.
The story strangely resembles the sad story of Houston, even the batter, Ryan LaMarre, who looks distraught and kneels after seeing and hearing the injured child. With such dreadful events taking place in close proximity, calls for greater security are becoming stronger.
The current extended net is not enough
Baseball fields have always had safety nets behind the marble, but the idea of lengthening the nets over the lines is rather new. Fans are able to catch balls without fail is a tradition of the game for a long time, which would hurt a little to the extent to which they are connected to the playing field.
Even the Indianapolis Indians, a subsidiary of the Pittsburgh Pirates Triple-A group, have listened to calls from some fans and have extended their nets to the extreme limit of each shelter in 2017, according to Emma Kate Fittes, of the Indianapolis Star chain. However, it was clearly not enough net.
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Safety net on the MLB ballparks
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TORONTO, ON – JULY 1: View of the new extended safety net installed this season over the home canoe during the Toronto Blue Jays football game against the Detroit Tigers at Rogers Center on July 1, 2018 in Toronto , Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski / Getty Images) *** Local Legend ***
Boston – July 10: Mookie Betts, a Boston Red Sox player, goes around the new safety net to allow fans to sign autographs before the match begins. The Boston Red Sox host the Texas Rangers at a regular-season MLB baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston on July 10, 2018. (Photo by Jim Davis / The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 10: Greg Bird, No. 33 of the New York Yankees, jumps into the protective nets surrounding the infield as he tries to catch an immoral balloon during the first half of the day. a MLB baseball game between the New York Mets on June 10, 2018 at Citi Field in the Queens district of New York. The Mets won 2-0. (Photo by Paul Bereswill / Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – MAY 19: A young fan chews the newly installed safety net this season prior to the MLB game between the Oakland Athletics and the Toronto Blue Jays on May 19, 2018 at the Rogers Center in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Jeff Chevrier / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – MAY 22: General view of the net in front of the stands during a match between the Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates at the Great American Ball Park on May 22, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Reds won 7-2. (Photo by Joe Robbins / Getty Images) *** Local Legend ***
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MAY 31: The net is seen as Jake Odorizzi, No. 12 Minnesota Twins, throws a shot at the Cleveland Indians in the May 31, 2018 game at the Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Indians defeated the Twins 9-8. (Photo by Hannah Foslien / Getty Images)
Seattle Mariner receiver Mike Marjama is opposed to the net defense, chasing after a foul ball hit by Mike Moustakas of the Kansas City Royals in the first leg on Tuesday, April 10, 2018 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri (John Sleezer / Kansas Star City / TNS via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 8: The new net is featured in a match between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Ranges on April 8, 2018 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss / Boston Red Sox / Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – APRIL 9: The newly installed safety net frames Ryan Tepera pitcher # 52 of the Toronto Blue Jays as he prepares against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards' Oriole Park on April 9, 2018 at Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr / Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 8: The new net is featured in a match between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Ranges on April 8, 2018 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss / Boston Red Sox / Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – APRIL 5: New safety net in place that extends to the end of the two canoes at Coors Field on April 5, 2018 before the Colorado Rockies open their season at home to face the Braves d Atlanta Friday afternoon. (Photo by Andy Cross / The Denver Post via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 8: The new net is featured in a match between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Ranges on April 8, 2018 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss / Boston Red Sox / Getty Images)
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Bad balls are particularly dangerous, as opposed to home balls, because they have a shorter distance to reach the crowd and fans have much less time to react to the screaming impulses than for long circuits.
"I do not personally think that the viewer is concerned about safety during these events," said the boy's mother, Tonya Lipscomb, via Fox 59. "Of course, we take extra precautions, but I can not educate a three year old on how to watch a fastball. I mean, even if a fastball, we come to me as an adult, how am I supposed to protect myself from that. "
How much is change in baseball stadiums realistic?
After these two recent episodes, there could be an even bigger push for an extended net. As the Chicago Tribune points out, the MLB Players Association has been unsuccessfully trying to put a net between each opposing pole and home plate in 2006 and 2016, and the Japanese stadiums have had a netting between them for some time.
Nevertheless, there are still many fans and US leaders opposed to this seemingly obvious solution. Whether it's a perceived drop in experience or ticket sales, MLB does not seem to be solving a problem on its own.
A woman died last year because of an infested balloon. If that does not change the mind of someone, I do not know what will happen. How many unnecessary injuries do we have to bear before continuing? discreet net?
