KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After a line drive struck Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Alex Cobb in the head during a June 15 game against the Royals, questions about baseball’s safety surfaced.
Former Royals outfielder Les Norman said these injuries happen two or three times every season, and Major League Baseball has to consider taking measures to protect players.
“When you throw that hard, the mechanics of your follow through will not allow you to be able to prepare,” he said. “You’re going to get hit in the head, the face or somewhere and go down and suffer the consequences of that.”
Norman said at the little league level, some kids will wear protective masks on their batting helmets, but that isn’t mandatory. He said Cobb’s injury teaches an important lesson about the challenges of safety on the field.
“I actually saw that with Alex Cobb live, and immediately had my sons come in and watch it because I want them to understand you can never take safety for granted,” he said.
He said if protective headgear for pitchers is developed, some players will opt not to wear it if it hinders performance. He said MLB continues to work on the safety of the game, while keeping players’ comfort in mind.
