TORONTO -- The Blue Jays announced plans on Monday to improve the safety of their fans by replacing and extending the protective netting at Rogers Centre for the 2018 season.
The new netting will be extended to the outfield end of each dugout, which can be found at sections 126 and 117, respectively. The netting previously stopped at the infield side of each dugout.
Toronto also announced that the net behind the plate will be replaced and increased in height by approximately 10 feet. This will provide additional protection for fans in the upper-100 and 200 levels of the ballpark.

All new protection will be in place for Opening Day, when the Blue Jays host the Yankees on March 29 at Rogers Centre. According to the Blue Jays, "the new state-of-the-art netting is designed to blend into the background and provide greater visibility, ensuring fans can remain close to the action in a safe manner, without compromising the viewing experience.
Major League Baseball has been encouraging its teams to expand protective netting across all ballparks. Multiple organizations previously announced plans to increase the coverage after a young girl was injured by a foul ball at Yankee Stadium late last season.
Toronto stated that its current protective netting meets Major League Baseball's recommended guidelines, but the new system will now exceed the standards previously established.