Protective Cap for Pitchers MLB Approves

Major League Baseball has approved a protective cap for pitchers, hoping to reduce the damage from line drives to head that have brought some terrifying and bloody scenes in the last few years.

Several pitchers have been hit in the head by line drives in the recent seasons.

Said Arizona reliever Brad Ziegler: “I think they’re on the right track, but the hat they approved isn’t remotely close to comfortable enough to wear in games.” Foster said the cap went through extensive testing and provided protection from line drives up to 90 mph in the front of the head and 85 mph on the side.

While the hat is “slightly bigger” than a regular baseball cap, Foster said: “It’s not going to be a Gazoo hat.” In recent seasons, pitchers have said they would try padded caps, provided they weren’t too cumbersome.

A memo from MLB will advise teams that the caps are available in spring training, and pitchers who express interest in testing will be fitted.

MLB didn’t make the use of helmets or protective cap inserts mandatory for batters until the National League required them for the 1956 season.

Helmets weren’t required until the 1971 season and, even then, they weren’t mandatory for players already in the big leagues.

An earflap on the side of the head facing the pitcher was required for new players starting in 1983.