It was a stunning summer afternoon, the kind where the sun bathed the field in a golden glow. Its rays danced across the stands, catching the eyes of a little girl, no older than a toddler, who giggled as she playfully tugged her baseball cap down to shield her face.
Her excitement was palpable as she watched Yankees third baseman Todd Frazier step up to the plate. Wriggling in her seat, she followed his every move—the way he tapped his bat against his cleats, the way he settled into his stance. The crowd held its breath as the pitcher wound up and released the ball.
*Crack!* The bat connected, and in an instant, the little girl’s world went dark.
That day, during a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins, a foul ball rocketed off Frazier’s bat at approximately 105 miles per hour, striking the young girl squarely in the face. The impact was devastating.
Though she survived, the incident left Frazier, his teammates, opponents, and fans across the stadium visibly shaken. Many dropped to their knees, their eyes filled with tears as they realized what had happened. The game paused, and the atmosphere shifted irreversibly.
Since 2015, Major League Baseball teams had been encouraged to install extended netting around dugout areas to prevent such tragedies. Yet, incidents like this one served as a stark reminder of the dangers still present. Fans and players alike have since rallied, urging the MLB to prioritize safety by mandating extended netting in every ballpark. For many, it’s no longer just a suggestion—it’s a necessity.
The little girl’s story became a rallying cry, a reminder that while baseball is a game of joy and excitement, the safety of its fans must always come first.
