MINNEAPOLIS — Concerned about repeated instances of people across the country being struck and injured by baseballs, the Minnesota Twins are moving to make things safer for their fan base by extending and raising safety netting at Target Field.
The Twins announced Thursday that the enhanced netting will extend an additional 85 feet from where it currently ends on the 3rd base/left field line, and 65 more feet down the first base/right field line, covering Target Field's Diamond Box seating areas (Sections 124-125 in left field and Sections 103-104 in right).
“When considering ways to improve the Target Field experience, enhancing fan safety is always a high priority,” Twins President & CEO Dave St. Peter said. “Understanding every ballpark is unique in its geometry, we believe the new netting configuration is the right approach for Target Field.”
The Twins say the expanded netting will be 16 feet high at the dugouts, an increase of three feet from 2019 dimensions, before climbing to a high mark of approximately 22 feet high down the left field line (eight feet higher than 2019) and 21 feet high in right field (an increase of seven feet). The netting uses state-of-the art technology, with thin strands and a knotless intersection to deliver a minimally obtrusive viewing experience.
This marks the third time the Twins have been proactive in extending Target Field fan safety netting beyond Major League Baseball guidelines. The first time was in 2016, and the second upgrade was in 2018.
