The Phillies have just announced that, in correspondence with the MLB’s new safety recommendations, they’ll expand the foul ball netting about ten feet on either side, up to the edge of the dugout. They also say the netting will be made of a stronger, thinner, more transparent material– their best performing net yet:

netting

Major League Baseball’s new suggestions read:

Clubs are encouraged to implement or maintain netting (or another effective protective screen or barrier of their choosing) that shields from line-drive foul balls all field-level seats that are located between the near ends of both dugouts (i.e., the ends of the dugouts located closest to home plate, inclusive of any adjacent camera wells) and within 70 feet of home plate. The Commissioner’s Office has retained a consultant specializing in stadium architecture and protective netting to assist interested Clubs in implementing this recommendation.

Although Clubs already provide warnings to fans about the dangers posed by batted balls and bats entering the stands and the need to pay attention to the action on the field during each at-bat, the Commissioner’s Office recommends that Clubs continue to explore ways to educate their fans on these issues and is providing Clubs with resources to assist them in this area.

The Commissioner’s Office will be working with the Clubs and online ticketing sellers to identify ways to provide customers with additional information at the point of sale about which seats are (and are not) behind netting.

The change was a long time coming, and while it’ll mean fewer foul balls for fans to catch (and maybe a newly obstructed sight-line or two), it’ll also mean fewer foul balls and bats that hit people in the head or gouge their eyes out. I guess you can call that… a net win.