After a number of high-profile incidents affecting fan safety in the 2015 season (including the horrific accident at Fenway involving Tonya Carpenter), Major League Baseball went about reviewing the issue with each of its clubs. Today, MLB said their recommendations for each club had been completed and delivered.
Overall, the only substantive initiative was encouraging (though not requiring) clubs to expand the use of protective netting to shield fans from foul balls and loose bats. MLB recommends that netting run from the home plate side of one dugout to the other. Beyond that, teams were asked to do more to educate fans about the dangers of sitting close to the action. MLB said it will work with clubs and ticket sellers to provide fans with additional information about which seats are (and are not) behind netting.
In a press release today, the Red Sox said they intend to follow the recommendations by expanding the backstop netting behind home plate for the 2016 season. The Sox said it was evaluating a variety of options and would also consult with the ticket holders most affected by the planned changes.