The atmosphere at a ballpark is meant to be exhilarating—crowds roaring, bats cracking, and the collective buzz of fans cheering on their teams. But on Wednesday night at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park, the excitement gave way to horror when a fan fell from the 21-foot-high Clemente Wall in right field, prompting a renewed discussion about stadium safety.
The fan, identified as Kavan Markwood, plummeted to the warning track just as Pirates veteran Andrew McCutchen roped a two-run double to give his team a 4-3 lead over the Chicago Cubs in the seventh inning. The energy of the moment was immediately replaced by concern as players, trainers, and stadium staff rushed to his aid.
Markwood received on-site care for approximately five minutes before being carted off the field and transported to Allegheny General Hospital’s trauma center. As of Thursday, he remained in critical condition. Authorities confirmed that the fall is currently being treated as an accident.
The incident struck a haunting chord for longtime baseball fans and stadium officials alike. Similar tragedies have occurred before—most notably in Arlington, Texas in 2011, and Atlanta, Georgia in 2015—both of which resulted in fatal outcomes. These accidents have led to hard questions about whether current safety measures in stadiums go far enough.
A Fragile Balance Between Experience and Safety
Part of what makes baseball so special is its unique intimacy—the game invites fans close to the action, fostering a sense of participation rather than passive observation. But that closeness can come with risks.
At PNC Park, the railing along the Clemente Wall stands at 36 inches, which exceeds the building code minimum of 26 inches. Yet despite being above legal standards, questions are being raised about whether that height is truly adequate, especially when fan enthusiasm, alcohol, and fast-paced game moments collide.
“Ballpark railing height is determined by local laws and codes,” said Brian Warecki, vice president of communications for the Pirates. “The railing along the Clemente Wall meets—and exceeds—those requirements.”
Still, this hasn’t prevented tragedy elsewhere. After the 2011 death of Shannon Stone, who fell 20 feet attempting to catch a ball tossed by a player for his young son, the Texas Rangers responded by raising the railing height at their ballpark to 42 inches. In Atlanta, 30-inch rails at Turner Field became a point of contention following the fatal fall of Gregory Murrey in 2015. His family later reached a settlement with the Braves.
Expanding Protective Measures
Beyond fall-related incidents, Major League Baseball (MLB) has been incrementally upgrading safety infrastructure to address other hazards—namely, foul balls. For decades, minimal netting was placed directly behind home plate. But in 2015, after a string of injuries, MLB issued recommendations that netting be extended to cover the entire area behind the dugouts. By 2018, all 30 teams had complied.
The conversation intensified again in 2019 after a two-year-old girl was seriously injured by a foul ball at a Houston Astros game. The resulting outcry led to expanded netting in many stadiums, some stretching as far as the foul poles. It became a wake-up call: physical proximity to the action, though thrilling, must be balanced with the responsibility to protect.
Still, some changes remain optional. For instance, MLB does not impose strict rules on alcohol sales, leaving it to individual teams to determine cutoffs. Traditionally, most clubs stop sales by the end of the seventh inning. However, in 2023, as new rules to shorten game time were introduced, some teams experimented with extending alcohol sales through the eighth inning. After public backlash, many have since returned to the earlier cutoff.
The Human Element
What makes these incidents especially tragic is their preventable nature. Enthusiastic fans lean too far over railings, or lose their balance in the heat of the moment. In such emotionally charged environments, a few inches of railing can be the difference between safety and catastrophe.
Still, stadiums face a difficult balancing act. Raising barriers significantly could impact sightlines and the fan experience—factors that teams are wary of altering in a game so steeped in tradition.
But as seen with extended netting and improved rail heights in some parks, change often follows trauma. The challenge is whether proactive measures can take precedence over reactive ones. In the wake of the PNC Park incident, many fans, families, and organizations will once again be asking: how much risk is too much?
Looking Ahead
For now, the focus remains on Markwood’s recovery. Yet, his fall has already reignited discussions about the standards and responsibilities that come with hosting thousands of spectators at live sporting events.
Baseball is more than a game—it’s a community gathering, a cultural institution, and for many, a source of lifelong memories. But the safety of that experience must remain a priority. As MLB and its teams continue to evolve, the hope is that thoughtful, preventive action will become the rule—not the exception. Because in a sport where every inch counts, the smallest changes can save lives.
