A Los Angeles Dodgers fan was struck by a Cody Bellinger foul ball in the first inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies.
For the second time in a month, a fan was struck by a foul ball. This time, it was a Los Angeles Dodgers fan that had to be sent to the hospital.
A young woman was four rows from the diamond on the first base line. If you’re familiar with Dodgers Stadium, the seats where the fans as sitting were just beyond the protective netting that keeps foul balls from plunking unsuspecting fans.
In the bottom of the first inning, with the Colorado Rockies up 1-0, Dodgers slugger Cody Bellinger went up to the plate, and when he sent a sharp line drive down the first base line, it hit the fan.
According to ESPN, Bellinger checked on the fan between innings, and at the time, it didn’t look to be serious. She was given an ice pack and remained in her seat. 15 minutes later, however, she had to be taken to the hospital for further tests, and, thankfully, the woman was still alert and answering all questions.
This is the second time in a span of a few weeks that a fan has been hit by a foul ball. On May 29, a four-year-old girl was struck with a foul ball during a Houston Astros game. With this latest plunking of a fan, MLB teams are sure to come up with ways to protect fans during the game.
The Chicago White Sox and Washington Nationals aren’t waiting for tragedy to strike, as both clubs recently announced that they will be extending netting all the way to the foul poles.
Granted, this may lead to the grumbling of fans who want to catch foul balls, but safety should always be valued over a baseball souvenir.