CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A 6-year-old boy is recovering from a severe head injury after officials said he was hit by a baseball at a Charlotte Knights game over the weekend.
Officials said they are staying in contact with the boy’s family and helping them in any way possible.
Last month, major-league teams added the netting for field-level seats within 70 feet of home plate.
The boy, James David, was in the BB&T Ballpark stands near third base Sunday when the ball struck him, and he’s been in the hospital since then.
The incident happened just after the team installed extra-protective netting, but the boy and his family were not sitting behind it.
Knights officials weren't required to do so but spent $10,000 to install the net with an extra 10 feet after fans had left other ballparks with game-related injuries.
“Whether you are a spectator or participant, it is a game of risk,” one fan said. “You have to know those risks at the time that you're there.”
On Wednesday, a few Knights' players and team mascot Homer stopped by the hospital to check on James and said he was improving.
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