MLB notebook: All 30 teams to expand protective netting

[February 02, 2018]  In the wake of several terrifying incidents involving fans and flying projectiles at major league ballparks, MLB announced Thursday that all 30 teams will expand the protective netting at their parks to at least the far ends of both dugouts by Opening Day.

Many clubs, including the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, have recently announced they would be expanding their netting.

"Providing baseball fans with a variety of seating options when they come to the ballpark, including seats behind protective netting, is important," commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. "Major League Clubs are constantly evaluating the coverage and design of their ballpark netting and I am pleased that they are providing fans an increased inventory of protected seats."

In September of last season, a 105-mph foul ball off the bat of the Yankees' Todd Frazier struck a 1-year-old girl in the face at Yankee Stadium. The girl, sitting behind the third-base dugout at the time, suffered facial fractures and bleeding on the brain and spent nearly a week in the hospital, with doctors at the time unsure of her exact long-term prognosis.

--In 2013, Mark Appel was the No. 1 overall pick by the Houston Astros in the Major League Baseball draft and a can't-miss prospect. Now, five years later, the 26-year-old pitcher is taking an indefinite leave of absence from the game.

"I don't know what the future holds. I'm pursuing other things, but also trying to become a healthy human," Appel told Bleacher Report. "I'm 26, I have a Stanford degree, I have many interests beyond baseball, which I still love, but I have a lot of things I care about. I enjoy challenging my mind. My last four years in baseball have challenged my mind."

Appel's hometown team, the Houston Astros, selected him first overall in the 2013 draft. After a lackluster 2015, Appel was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in a deal that landed the Astros closer Ken Giles.

Appel had a 5.27 ERA in 17 starts with Triple-A Lehigh Valley last year. In November, the Phillies designated him for assignment and outrighted him to Triple-A after he cleared waivers.

 

--Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Shelby Miller won his arbitration case against the club despite missing most of the 2017 season with an elbow injury.

Miller, 27, received a $200,000 raise to $4.9 million. The Diamondbacks submitted a $4.7 million figure, the same amount Miller made last season.

He went 2-2 with a 4.09 ERA in four starts last season before suffering a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow. Miller underwent season-ending surgery on May 10.

Miller is entering his third season with the Diamondbacks and went 3-12 with a 6.15 ERA in 20 starts in 2016. He has a career mark of 37-49 with a 3.67 ERA in 126 career appearances (120 starts).

--Catcher Miguel Montero signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals, according to published reports.

Montero will receive an invitation to spring training as part of the deal. Montero, 34, is expected to compete with Pedro Severino for the backup catcher spot. Matt Wieters is the starter.

A two-time All-Star, Montero batted .216 with six homers and 16 RBIs last season while splitting time between the Chicago Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays. He played in 44 games with the Cubs and was designated for assignment in June shortly after publicly blasting pitcher Jake Arrieta for allowing seven stolen bases in a game against the Nationals with Montero behind the plate.

Montero has a career batting average of .257 with 126 homers and 550 RBIs in parts of 12 major league seasons. He spent his first eight-plus seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

--Field Level Media

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