Foul Ball Safety Now believes it's time to name it. 

Through 30+ formal interviews with professional baseball players, and now daily conversations with athletes across all levels of the sport, Jordan Skopp has uncovered a pattern that cannot be ignored. Players are describing a shared psychological burden of persistent, present-tense anxiety tied to the possibility of injuring someone with a foul ball or broken bat. 

In private calls and conferences in 2026, players and baseball insiders have said:

- "Every time I swing the bat, I have anxiety."

- "When it's kids’ night, my feelings really spike."

- “One time I threw a ball over and it hit a woman in the face.”

- "I used to foul balls off on purpose, knowing I was putting people in harm's way."

Foul Ball Safety Now has heard consistent, emotional admissions from baseball-minded people. Skopp is overwhelmed by the outpouring of emotion from both current and former players and coaches. Many have been silently carrying these negative feelings for years.  

But human beings do not compartmentalize that easily. 

As Foul Ball Safety Now has deepened its engagement with baseball-minded folks, a clear picture has emerged of athletes who feel anxious and conflicted in moments of competition. They are experiencing the tension between doing their job and the consequences of doing it. 

This issue is not limited to America. Players competing overseas have shared concerns about ballparks and stadiums seating thousands of fans with little to no protective netting. The fear travels with them. 

It illustrates that athletes are aware of the risks and thinking about them in real time. 

Consider the Queen's College Investigation, in which a player expressed concerns about batted balls flying outside the field into the street or into the next-door elementary schoolyard where children could be injured. This is only the tip of the iceberg. In another case, we know those balls flying outside the park do have consequences. A lawyer in Modesto, California contacted FBSN to alert us to a serious 2023 incident in which a woman sustained a traumatic brain injury from a ball that hit her while she waited to enter the minor league ballpark there. 

How many players are competing while managing this invisible weight?

How many are stepping up to the plate with more than a flicker of dread inside of them? 

At its core, our efforts are about giving players the opportunity to play free and clear, without worrying where their balls or bats are landing. If you read 'Freedom For Baseball Players,' or explore our 'Public Safety is Pro-Baseball' page, you'll see that protecting fans also protects athletes. 

When proper safety measures are in place, the player can commit fully to the swing and the crowd can lean in without fear. We must acknowledge the reality that players themselves are describing. 

Baseball tracks everything. It's long overdue to track this too.