Yankees expand protective netting past dugouts

NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Yankees are expanding netting to protect seats behind each dugout and for five sections past down both foul lines, a decision announced after several fans were injured last year.
A boy was struck on the head by a portion of Chris Carter's broken bat at Yankee Stadium on May 25, and a fan sitting beyond the first-base dugout was hit by a 105 mph foul ball off the bat of Aaron Judge on July 25. A young girl was injured by a 105 mph foul ball off the bat of Todd Frazier on Sept. 20 and was taken to a hospital.
New York said Wednesday that green netting, designed to minimize visual impact, will rise 9 feet above each dugout but the bottom 3 feet will be retractable and pulled up during batting practice to allow fan interaction with players.
Beyond the dugouts, nets will rise to about 5½ feet above the wall, which is 8 feet above the field surface.
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