American Family Field adds padding to the area of ​​the wall that Brewers' Frelick hit while chasing a foul ball

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Sal Frelick returned to the Milwaukee Brewers' lineup at the start of the playoffs without having to worry about touching metal if he hit a wall again.

Frelick injured his hip On Friday, his left side touched the metal chain link in a window in the right side wall of American Family Field that had no protective padding. When the Brewers began their work NL Wild Card Series At the New York Mets on Tuesday, padding was added to cover that window.

This isn't the first time stadiums have changed their fences or walls after a player was injured on impact. For example, Aaron Rowand was playing for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2006 when he ran face-first into the fence at Citizens Bank Park. At Rowand's request, additional padding was ordered and ultimately installed on the fence.

Frelick recovered quickly and was back in right field for Game 1 on Tuesday. He had been walking with a crutch over the weekend.

“Yesterday I wouldn’t say he looked 100%, but he was moving,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said before the game. “I was shocked at how well he moved. They feel like he's going to be a step ahead today and that's the only reason he's there. If we see that’s not the case, we’ll pull him out of there.”

Frelick's injury occurred when he hit the sidewall during the Brewers' third inning while trying to intercept a drive by Francisco Alvarez that went into foul territory. 8:4 win about the Mets.

“We've all seen Sal run into walls and do whatever and then he'll pop right back up,” Murphy said. “The fact that he didn't get up and couldn't – he walked off the field himself but as soon as he got to the dugout he had to be carried. “I thought there was no way he was going to play. Luckily it wasn’t anything structural and he’ll get through it.”

As Frelick hit the side wall, his left side hit the metal chain link inside the window. Murphy said the window was there so the ground crew could see what was going on.

“Obviously I know there's a wall and I've seen that window before just from fucking out there,” Frelick said Saturday. “But I never thought twice about it.”

Now he apparently doesn't have to worry about it at all.

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