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After fan's terrifying fall in Pittsburgh, a look at safety measures across MLB originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

When a fan flipped over the railing and fell off the 21-foot-high Clemente Wall in right field at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park on Wednesday night, it elicited memories of spectators who have died from similar falls at other major league stadiums.

Kavan Markwood was in critical condition as of Thursday after falling onto the warning track in right field just as Pirates star Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run double in the seventh inning to put Pittsburgh ahead 4-3. Markwood was tended to for approximately five minutes by members of both the Pirates and Cubs training staffs as well as PNC personnel, before being removed from the field on a cart. He was taken to the trauma center at Allegheny General Hospital.

Pittsburgh Public Safety, which includes Pittsburgh Police and EMS, posted on X Thursday that the “incident is being treated as accidental in nature.”

Fans died after steep falls at ballparks in Arlington, Texas, in 2011 and Atlanta in 2015.

Here’s a look at some safety measures instituted by MLB and its teams:

Ballpark railings

Railing heights at ballparks are team decisions based on local laws and codes. The railing that runs along the Clemente Wall is three feet (36 inches) in height, which exceeds the building code requirements of 26 inches, according to Pirates vice president of communications Brian Warecki.

Those rail heights have come under scrutiny at other ballparks after fans died. The Rangers raised the height of the front row rails at their former ballpark by as much as 12 inches to 42 inches in July 2011 after a fan named Shannon Stone fell about 20 feet.

The Atlanta Braves settled a lawsuit in 2018 with the family of Gregory Murrey, who died after falling from Turner Field’s upper deck three years earlier. Murrey fell over a rail that was 30 inches high — industry code standards mandated 26 inches or taller.

Foul ball netting

Until 2015, many ballparks had netting separating fans and the field only directly behind home plate. Following several incidents that season in which fans were hospitalized after being hit by foul balls, MLB encouraged teams to extend netting or screens to run dugout-to-dugout behind home plate in December 2015. Three years later, all 30 ballparks had netting reaching to the far ends of each dugout.

In 2019, a 2-year-old girl fractured her skull when struck by a foul ball at the Houston Astros’ stadium. The club later reached a settlement with the girl’s family. The following offseason, MLB announced seven major league teams would expand protective netting to the foul poles and 15 others would expand their netting generally to the area in the outfield where the stands begin to angle away from the field. The remaining eight clubs already had installed netting that extended substantially beyond the far end of the dugouts.

Alcohol sales

MLB does not mandate alcohol sales cutoffs, but most clubs have stopped selling alcohol around the end of the seventh inning for years. After new rules aimed at increasing the pace of play led to shorter game times in 2023, several clubs extended alcohol sales until the end of the eighth inning. Many of those teams have reverted back to the seventh-inning cutoff.

The two biggest sluggers in New York have been recognized for their early-season power at the plate. Major League Baseball announced its NL and AL Players of the Month for March/April on Friday, and the accolades were duly given to Mets first baseman Pete Alonso and Yankees captain Aaron Judge.

It didn't take long for Alonso to demonstrate his long-standing worth in Queens. The 30-year-old resembled a complete hitter in April, slashing .343/.475/.657 with seven home runs, 11 doubles, and 28 RBI across 31 games (137 plate appearances). The hits often came in bunches, too, as he collected 13 multi-hit games.

Alonso's torrid start to the 2025 campaign also featured some Mets history on Tuesday, as he moved into fifth place on the franchise’s all-time RBI list (614) by crushing a solo homer. With an NL-leading .475 on-base percentage and 19 extra-base hits (tied for second in MLB), Alonso is taking full advantage of a short prove-it contract that he signed this past winter and boosting his future market value.

As for Judge, his level of production thus far has been staggering. He finished the first month tied for the league lead in homers (10), and his .427 average and 1.282 through 31 games rank second to none. Judge has registered a league-high 2.9 WAR, and according to OptaStats, he's the only player in the designated hitter era (since 1973) to lead the AL in all three Triple Crown categories entering May.

The Yankees are also reaping the benefits from their biggest offseason acquisition, as lefty ace Max Fried was named the AL's Pitcher of the Month.

The 31-year-old veteran enters Friday's start with a pristine 1.19 ERA -- tied for the top mark among AL starters -- through six outings, and his perfect 5-0 record also ranks tied for best in the majors. Fried has undoubtedly lived up to his hefty free-agent contract thus far, holding opponents to a .207 average.

Mets infielder Luisangel Acuña was named the National League Rookie of the Month for games played in March and April, MLB announced Friday.

Acuña has collected 21 hits in his first 27 games with five doubles and three RBI with a .288/.342/.356 slashline.

He's scored 13 runs and has seven steals (one caught). Per Statcast, the speedster is in the 97th percentile in speed and carries a two baserunning run value (98th percentile in baseball).

Among NL rookies to start the year, the 23-year-old infielder is second in games played, third in at-bats, third in hits, third in doubles, second in average, third in OBP, and sixth in OPS (minimum 50 at-bats).

Acuña wasn't the only Met to be honored for his performance to start the year, as Pete Alonso took home the NL Player of the Month award.

After making an impression in 14 games at the end of last season after his big-league debut – when he went 12-for-39 at the plate with six extra-base hits, including three home runs, for a .308 average and .966 OPS – Acuña made the Opening Day squad and beat out Brett Baty to stay in Queens after Jeff McNeil returned for the IL.

At the start of March, Acuña was the No. 11 prospect in the Mets' system, per Joe DeMayo's rankings.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. was, unsurprisingly, placed on the IL after exiting a game in the Orioles series early, but what was a surprise was an MRI revealing a high-grade oblique strain, which will likely have the infielder sit out a couple of months.

Manager Aaron Boone said 4-6 weeks on the IL is likely, but he's excited for Jorbit Vivas -- who was called up Friday and making his MLB debut -- to get an extended run wih the team.

Before the series opener against the Rays, the Yankees skipper talked about what he sees from Vivas and the initial plan for the infielder.

"I expect Jorbit to play a lot," Boone said. "He's playing really well down in Triple-A....We know we have a big player there. He can really play at second and he can swing the bat. Looking forward to him getting a little bit of an opportunity here and hopefully taking advantage of that." 

In 26 games with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Vivas is slashing .319/.426/.436 with seven extra-base hits, including two home runs, 15 RBI, and an .862 OPS.

"He lays the barrel on the ball and he's got a little sock to the pull side," Boone said of Vivas. "He's very good at second, he's athletic there, he moves well."

Vivas joins an infield stable that includes Oswaldo Cabrera, Oswald Peraza and Pablo Reyes. The versatility of all the options on the Yankees bench even extends to Vivas, but Boone said that the plan is for the 24-year-old to stick to one position.

"Right now, I kind of look at him as being in that second base mix," he said. "We have moved him around a little bit, but I do feel like he's much better at second. Look, anything's possible in a given day but right now, I plan on having to play a lot of second."

Update on DJ LeMahieu

With Chisholm out for an extended period of time, Boone was asked if the injury affects LeMahieu's rehab and whether they would try to get him back sooner.

"I don't know about accelerating," Boone said. "I think the couple days down was him being very proactive and like we got to make sure we get this right. It's good that he's back playing....maybe changes the position a little bit initially, but the biggest thing right now is...getting the back-to-back, getting the six, seven, eight Innings. And then bouncing back is the biggest thing."

LeMahieu is playing in Double-A as weather in the coming days can limit the number of games he can play in Triple-A but the Yankees manager is happy with the number of at-bats his veteran infielder has taken already. If LeMahieu can recover properly after games, especially after the pre-emptive cortisone shot he took this week, then a return for the former batting champion can be discussed.

Update on Giancarlo Stanton

Stanton was transferred to the 60-day IL this week after the Yankees acquired OF Bryan De La Cruz off waivers but that was just a procedural move, which Boone confirmed on Friday.

The skipper said the 60-day expiration is around May 27, which is when conversations will need to be had, but Boone also gave a short update on Stanton's rehab.

"Still more of the same like going through his running progression, doing high-speed stuff with the hitting," he said.

Boone said Stanton will do live BP either this week or early next week against Jake Cousins.

Schwarber keeps slugging and Phils snag tight win to open D-Backs series originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Phillies snagged a tight win Friday night to open their series with the Diamondbacks and Kyle Schwarber starred. 

In a 3-2 victory at Citizens Bank Park, Schwarber went 2 for 3 with a game-tying home run and two RBIs. He’s now at 10 homers on the season and three of those have come in the last four days. 

With a no-decision, starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo stayed at 3-0 as a Phillie. Luzardo pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed nine hits and two runs. He finished with six strikeouts and one walk.

The southpaw was unbothered by two Diamondbacks singles in the first inning, responding with three swinging strikeouts. Schwarber lined an RBI double off the base of the right-field wall in the bottom of the first, putting the Phillies on top and growing his on-base streak to 38 games. 

Arizona had good, lengthy at-bats against Luzardo, but the D-Backs were 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position over the first three innings. His pitch count soared, though. 

Luzardo leaned on his sweeper vs. Arizona’s lefties and threw it 36.8 percent of the time overall. His season strikeout-to-walk numbers against left-handers remain highly impressive. Across seven starts, Luzardo has struck out 20 lefties and walked zero. 

The D-Backs tied it up in the fourth inning. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a leadoff double and reached third base on an Alek Thomas ground out. Luzardo then jammed Geraldo Perdomo, but the ball drifted just over Trea Turner at shortstop.

Luzardo couldn’t make it out of the sixth. Gabriel Moreno lifted a deep fly ball to center field with one out that Cal Stevenson tracked awkwardly and failed to catch at the wall. A Gurriel single gave Arizona a 2-1 lead. 

While not at his peak form, Luzardo took pride in gritting out difficult innings Friday.

“I feel like that’s key for me, just maturing throughout my career,” he said. “I feel like a couple years back, I would’ve probably just gone three, four (innings) max and given up a lot more runs. Throughout this season, even when I’m not my best, we’re able to weather the storm, make it work and try to save the bullpen as much as possible.”

Schwarber has been struck by “the way he competes.”

“There’s not many things that faze the kid,” he said of Luzardo. “When he’s on the mound, it’s just him, the catcher and the hitter. There’s nobody else in his world, it looks like. It’s just laser focus. He comes off the mound and sometimes I’m walking out of the cage … and it’s just like he’s staring a hole right through me. And I’m like, ’Nice, I like that.’ 

“You get (perceptions) of guys when you play against them, but when you have them on your team, you really see the way that they work and the way they go about their business. It’s cool.” 

Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly pitched five solid innings and Arizona turned to its bullpen for the last four. The Phillies feasted against Jose Castillo in the bottom of the seventh.

Schwarber started the frame by cracking a first-pitch Castillo fastball over the fence. Two batters later, Max Kepler smoked a 1-1 slider 422 feet, very comfortably over the right-center wall.

Matt Strahm, Tanner Banks, Jordan Romano and Jose Alvarado all did scoreless work out of the Phillies’ bullpen. Johan Rojas was very helpful for Alvarado, making a speedy, gutsy play to begin the ninth.

He sprinted to left-center, nabbed a Gurriel liner and hung on to the ball after crashing hard into the wall. Rojas was slow to rise to his feet but stayed in the game.

He said postgame he felt “fine” physically.

“I’m feeling the best because we won,” Rojas said. 

Alvarado retired the next two batters without any issue to cement the win and bring the Phillies to 18-14 on the season.

The center-field picture 

Stevenson started his first game of the year in center field and was 1 for 2. He got picked off first base in the fifth inning after an opposite-field knock. 

Rojas was on the bench until he replaced Stevenson in the eighth inning. Thomson said the decision was unrelated to Rojas’ risky triple in the ninth inning of Thursday’s loss to the Nationals, though he talked with him about the play. 

“Just a day off,” Thomson said. “Might give him another one. He’s played every day and he’s got some body soreness — just general — but he’s fine.”

Brandon Marsh appears on the verge of rejoining the Phillies after playing rehab games Thursday and Friday with Triple A Lehigh Valley. Marsh “could be” active Saturday vs. the Diamondbacks, per Thomson. 

Rojas’ bat has been a bright spot at the bottom of the Phillies’ lineup — the 24-year-old is hitting .305 with a 115 OPS+ — but he’s made some prominent defensive mistakes. What will Marsh’s return mean for him? 

“Don’t really know, but Rojas has played very well,” Thomson said. “I like where his swing is at right now. We just have to play it by ear.”

Painter moving up 

Andrew Painter’s stint with Single A Clearwater is over. 

The Phillies’ top prospect is scheduled to start for Lehigh Valley next Thursday and throw approximately 60-65 pitches, Thomson said. 

Painter started four times with Clearwater, totaling 11 1/3 innings. He had a 3.97 ERA, 12 strikeouts and one walk. 

“Very good,” Thomson said. “Healthy and the stuff has been good. Even though he gave up a couple home runs last night, I think we ramp up the competition now a little bit.”

On deck 

While Thomson has yet to announce Taijuan Walker’s role with Ranger Suarez back in the fold, he said Cristopher Sanchez will start Wednesday against the Rays. 

These are the Phillies’ starters through that game: 

• Aaron Nola on Saturday vs. Arizona
• Suarez on Sunday vs. Arizona
• Zack Wheeler on Tuesday at Tampa Bay 
• Sanchez on Wednesday at Tampa Bay 

Schwarber keeps slugging and Phils snag tight win to open D-Backs series originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Phillies snagged a tight win Friday night to open their series with the Diamondbacks and Kyle Schwarber starred. 

In a 3-2 victory at Citizens Bank Park, Schwarber went 2 for 3 with a game-tying home run and two RBIs. He’s now at 10 homers on the season and three of those have come in the last four days. 

With a no-decision, starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo stayed at 3-0 as a Phillie. Luzardo pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed nine hits and two runs. He finished with six strikeouts and one walk.

The southpaw was unbothered by two Diamondbacks singles in the first inning, responding with three swinging strikeouts. Schwarber lined an RBI double off the base of the right-field wall in the bottom of the first, putting the Phillies on top and growing his on-base streak to 38 games. 

Arizona had good, lengthy at-bats against Luzardo, but the D-Backs were 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position over the first three innings. His pitch count soared, though. 

Luzardo leaned on his sweeper vs. Arizona’s lefties and threw it 36.8 percent of the time overall. His season strikeout-to-walk numbers against left-handers remain highly impressive. Across seven starts, Luzardo has struck out 20 lefties and walked zero. 

The D-Backs tied it up in the fourth inning. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a leadoff double and reached third base on an Alek Thomas ground out. Luzardo then jammed Geraldo Perdomo, but the ball drifted just over Trea Turner at shortstop.

Luzardo couldn’t make it out of the sixth. Gabriel Moreno lifted a deep fly ball to center field with one out that Cal Stevenson tracked awkwardly and failed to catch at the wall. A Gurriel single gave Arizona a 2-1 lead. 

Merrill Kelly pitched five solid innings and the Diamondbacks turned to their bullpen for the last four. The Phillies feasted against Jose Castillo in the bottom of the seventh.

Schwarber started the frame by cracking a first-pitch Castillo fastball over the fence. Two batters later, Max Kepler smoked a 1-1 slider 422 feet, very comfortably over the right-center wall.

Matt Strahm, Tanner Banks, Jordan Romano and Jose Alvarado all did scoreless work out of the Phillies’ bullpen. Johan Rojas was very helpful for Alvarado, making a speedy, gutsy play to begin the ninth.

He sprinted to left-center, nabbed a Gurriel liner and hung on to the ball after crashing hard into the wall. Rojas was slow to rise to his feet but stayed in the game. Alvarado then retired the next two batters without any issue to cement the win and bring the Phillies to 18-14 on the season.

The center-field picture 

Stevenson started his first game of the season in center field and was 1 for 2. He got picked off first base in the fifth inning after an opposite-field knock. 

Rojas was on the bench until he replaced Stevenson in the eighth inning. Thomson said the decision was unrelated to Rojas’ risky triple in the ninth inning of Thursday’s loss to the Nationals, though he talked with him about the play. 

“Just a day off,” Thomson said. “Might give him another one. He’s played every day and he’s got some body soreness — just general — but he’s fine.”

Brandon Marsh appears on the verge of rejoining the Phillies after playing rehab games Thursday and Friday with Triple A Lehgh Valley. Marsh “could be” active Saturday vs. the Diamondbacks, per Thomson. 

Rojas’ bat has been a bright spot at the bottom of the Phillies’ lineup — the 24-year-old is hitting .305 with a 115 OPS+ — but he’s made some prominent defensive mistakes. What will Marsh’s return mean for him? 

“Don’t really know, but Rojas has played very well,” Thomson said. “I like where his swing is at right now. We just have to play it by ear.”

Painter moving up 

Andrew Painter’s stint with Single A Clearwater is over. 

The Phillies’ top prospect is scheduled to start for Lehigh Valley next Thursday and throw approximately 60-65 pitches, Thomson said. 

Painter started four times with Clearwater, totaling 11 1/3 innings. He had a 3.97 ERA, 12 strikeouts and one walk. 

“Very good,” Thomson said. “Healthy and the stuff has been good. Even though he gave up a couple home runs last night, I think we ramp up the competition now a little bit.”

On deck 

While Thomson has yet to announce Taijuan Walker’s role with Ranger Suarez back in the fold, he said Cristopher Sanchez will start Wednesday against the Rays. 

These are the Phillies’ starters through that game: 

• Aaron Nola on Saturday vs. Arizona
• Suarez on Sunday vs. Arizona
• Zack Wheeler on Tuesday at Tampa Bay 
• Sanchez on Wednesday at Tampa Bay 

Ahead of their series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night, the Mets made a roster move to bolster the bullpen.

RHP Austin Warren was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse, while RHP Ty Adcock, who was selected to the major league roster on Thursday, was optioned back to Triple-A.

Adcock entered the game down 4-2 with two outs in the top of the ninth, allowing one hit and walking one over 0.1 IP.

Warren has pitched to a 4.35 ERA over seven appearances in the minors this season, recording 14 strikeouts with nine walks over 10.1 IP. The 29-year-old was a sixth-round pick by the Los Angeles Angels in 2018 and made his MLB debut in 2021. He pitched in 32 games for LA across three seasons (2021-2023), owning a 3.55 ERA with 31 strikeouts.

Warren was designated for assignment by the Angels prior to the 2024 season and then signed with the San Francisco Giants, where he appeared in six big league games (1.69 ERA with seven strikeouts over 10.2 IP). The Mets claimed him off waivers on Jan. 15.

Additionally, New York announced that RHP Paul Blackburn (right knee inflammation), who's yet to pitch in the majors this season, was placed on a rehab assignment with High-A Brooklyn. Blackburn pitched two innings for the Cyclones on April 19, allowing one run on two hits (one HR) while walking two over 38 pitches. He had a 5.68 ERA over five spring training outings before landing on the injured list late in camp.