ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – A fan struck by a foul ball left on a stretcher in the seventh inning of the Chicago White Sox at Tampa Bay Rays game Friday night.
The fan was sitting in the lower box seats on the home plate side next to Tampa Bay’s first-base side dugout. Rays designated hitter Steven Souza Jr. fouled off the ball that struck the fan and he went into the stands to check on her.
The game was delayed about 12 minutes so the injured fan could be removed on the stretcher that was brought out near the on-deck circle.
No other details about the fan’s injuries were immediately available.
After several fans were hurt by broken bats and foul balls, MLB announced in December recommendations to extend safety netting at its ballparks to the ends of both dugouts and anywhere within 70 feet of home plate.
There is netting to protect the seating area at the Rays stadium.