MORE PROTECTIVE NETTING AT COORS FIELD IN 2020

CINCINNATI» It appears expanded protective netting is coming to Coors Field.

The Rockies released an official statement on Friday regarding netting at the stadium in 2020, indicating the club will join a growing list of teams planning on increasing the netting down the base lines.

“With fan safety being a top priority at Coors Field, we are currently evaluating all netting options for the 2020 season with architects and engineers (height, length, weight, materials, wind-load, etc.) to ensure we are making the best, longterm decision for our fans and the ballpark experience,” the team’s statement read.

The White Sox and Nationals both extended their netting down to the foul poles for the second half of the season, the lone MLB teams to do so, while other teams have also said they will look at expanded netting for the 2020 season.

“We’re seeing this trend across the game of baseball,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “We’re going to look at this closely how to do it, and how much to do it.”

Safety has become a hot-button issue in baseball as fans continue to get hit by foul balls at games, and balls are being pitched and hit harder than ever before. The Rockies’ clubhouse, pitchers and position players alike, support expanded netting.

“I like it,” pitcher Jon Gray said. “It’s almost every day you feel like you see someone get hit, and you always see small kids sitting in the lower sections down the base lines where balls come screaming in. It makes me nervous. The game moves too fast today and I don’t think taking the risk (of minimal netting) is worth it.”