In Wednesday’s Spring Training game against the Red Sox, Rays pitcher David Price was injured when parts of Adrian Beltre’s shattered bat hit him in the right hand. Price suffered cuts to his palm and thumb, but after the game, and after a piece of the maple bat flew past Price’s head, talk focused on how much worse it could have been.
David Price’s Injury Adds Kindling To Heat Up Maple Bat Debate
↵↵“Some day somebody is going to get killed or impaled,” [Manager Joe] Maddon said. “David was fortunate today.” [...]
↵“I don’t know if [the use of maple bats] is because of a shortage of wood or what,” Maddon said. “But it’s my opinion that maple should be banned at all levels. It’s not the first time I’ve talked about it. The first time I did, people laughed. I think it’s time to stop laughing.”
↵↵According to baseball’s Safety and Health Advisory committee, a maple bat is three times as likely to shatter as a bat made from ash. Boston pitcher Jon Lester thinks it is time that MLB finally did something to protect its players.
↵↵“Any time you step on the field, you’re in danger of something hitting you, whether it’s a ball or a bat or whatever. It’s just kind of part of the game. It kind of sucks that baseball hasn’t done a very good job with the maple bats,” said Lester, who said he has sat on one meeting regarding the subject. ” It seems like they tried to do something last year, but they just aren’t getting the results. They’re a danger to the game. They’re a danger to all the players and the fans. Hopefully they can do something about those bats.”
↵↵Lester then added, “Hitters like them. Until you get, I guess, a serious injury I don’t think they’re going to change.” Unfortunately, he’s probably right.
See More:
