Twins’ Brian Dozier calls for netting after young fan struck at Yankee Stadium

There was a scary scene involving a child at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, and the Twins’ Brian Dozier spoke up about required safety netting.

The New York Yankees blasted the Minnesota Twins 11-3 on Wednesday, as they pretty much all but secured the top Wild Card spot in the American League. However, from the fifth inning on, baseball was the least of anyone’s worries.

In the fifth inning with the Yankees up to bat, Todd Frazier fouled a ball down the left side of the field, and afterwards, he immediately looked shaken up as he gazed into the stands with concern. As it would turn out, a young fan was unfortunately struck by the ball and the situation was pretty serious. The young fan was taken out of the stadium and transported to a hospital for treatment. Not only was Frazier shaken up by what had taken place, but every player on the field was as well.

Of course, this latest incident has once again brought up the theory that Major League Baseball should require mandatory netting not just behind home plate, but down the base lines to protect all the fans sitting in the lower level, right in the crosshairs of a line drive such as Frazier’s on Wednesday.

Someone who is calling for that mandatory netting is Twins second baseman Brian Dozier, who was on the field when all of this took place. Right after the game, he let his feelings be known on the matter.

Really, how many more of these incidents do we need in order to require the nets? Will the obstructed viewing really make that much of a difference if the fans are ensured that they’ll be safe? And sure, it’s terrifying when an adult is struck by a laser foul ball, but the awareness goes up just a little but when a young child is involved.

At least Brian Dozier gets it, along with many others.