[quote]Batting helmets have been mandatory for MLB players since 1956 and anyone reaching the big-leagues after 1983 must wear a helmet with an ear flap. Minor League players must wear flaps that cover both ears.[/quote]
Angels' pitcher Matt Shoemaker was one of several pitchers to take batted ball to the noggin last season: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2661756-matt-shoemaker-injury-updates-on-angels-pitchers-head-and-return
For the 2017 season, he says he'll be wearing a cap with protective plates: http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19038149/matt-shoemaker-los-angeles-angels-settles-protective-cap
Head injuries, especially ones as dramatic from a batted ball, are serious business. There's no MLB rule preventing pitchers from wearing head protection at their discretion, but they usually only choose to do so after a serious injury.
Should it be required?
Why or why not?
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As a kid I always had a fear of being a pitcher for that very reason. Still have it actually. The first thought in my mind is "There's a chance the ball is going to be hit real hard and come directly at my face."
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To be fair, it should be up to the team or players. They're putting themselves at risk, but I don't personally think it should be up to the league
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Honestly, yes. They're the closest one to the ball if it's hit, which means they have the biggest risk of severe injury. Both from the ball, and from the bat.
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4 RepliesAre they adults?
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Honestly, I'm undecided. It's scary as hell when a pitcher gets hit in the head, but at the same time, many pitchers will find protective headgear cumbersome, and the stuff I've seen is atrocious. As it stands, I feel like this is one of those things that the league wouldn't be able to enforce unless it was collectively bargained, because the MLBPA would fight it at the behest of most of the league's pitchers. In the future, however, I can see this becoming the norm. If protective headgear is mandated at the little league level, on up through high school and college, by the time a kid got drafted, he would be used to wearing it. It could wind up being something like the NHL's helmet policy, where players already in the league could choose not to wear a helmet, but players entering the league after the mandate had to wear them.
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2 RepliesNope. Pitched for 10 years and it would just throw off your balance and control
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I think if a pitcher wants to, then more power to him but I don't think it should be mandatory. It doesn't happen nearly enough to force the issue.
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Cricket poses a greater harm to the deliverer and no helmet is used for that.
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2 RepliesYou're kidding right?
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3 RepliesEdited by Alpha alt 3: 4/4/2017 6:12:38 AMConsidering the proximity from the batter, and how the pitcher is just finishing a motion and unable to quickly react, I'd say yes. I've seen things happen far too common for a no.
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Nope. Reasoning - because.
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Option - Yes Required - No
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2 RepliesEdited by Baur: 4/4/2017 3:39:22 PMI don't think it should be required. I guess it could be an option for the pitcher. I remember pitching once and I got a line drive to the shoulder. Hurt a ton but it's the best place to be hit by a ball(besides the glove of course). It was numb for a couple minutes.
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No, pitching with a helmet would be way too uncomfortable. It should be optional, but not required.
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As a pitcher, no. They should be optional. But definitely not required. If you're going to require anything, require plated hats, like Shoemaker got. Batting helmets are cumbersome and would not be comfortable for pitching. Especially when you need a wide field of view and to be able to turn your head at any moments notice.
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Edited by Dammit: 4/4/2017 4:23:06 PMPadded/plated hats optional. Straight up helmets no. And I lost two teeth taking a line drive back to the face.
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2 RepliesI'm being completely honest when I say I don't care. Baseball is a dying sport. In a couple years, there won't be any pitchers left to wear helmets.
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Optional. They need a good design first. I'm not sure many pitchers want to wear a helmet like John Olerud.
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1 ReplyIt should be optional but not required. The likelihood of a pitcher getting hit on the head by a ball is slim.
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2 Replies
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5 RepliesI believe the glove is supposed to catch the ball?
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I'm being completely honest when I say I don't care. Baseball is a dying sport. In a couple years, there won't be any pitchers left to wear helmets.
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Reminds me of the time in highschool a girl was pitching and a jock was batting, and all the jocks were trying to hit as far possible(of course) She kept getting closer and closer as she did her pitches and got hit on the lower left side of her chin Yeah she had to go to the hospital and the next time I saw her(try to take this a little seriously guys) the crimson chin.
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2 RepliesAfter seeing the accident with cricket in Australia with a batter being hit in the head with a ball, with a helmet on should suffice that head injuries can be easily caused and fatal if something goes wrong. Baseball pitchers with no head protection are could easily suffer a serious life threatening head injury
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Yes; safety should be a priority