As Major League Baseball continues to search for the perfect form of protective headgear that can be offered to the league's pitchers, it appears they are getting closer.

An ESPN report has announced that a collaborative effort by both Major League Baseball and the MLB Players' Association has given birth to the latest form of protective hearwear that will be worn by 20 pitchers this spring.

According to MLB vice president Patrick Houlihan, the new headgear can be best described as a "A hybrid of a cap and a helmet."

Depending on the size of the hat, the gear weighs anywhere from 10 to 12 ounces and a carbon fiber shell that resembles the visor of a batting help complete with single earflaps.

The gear is built to give extended coverage to the forehead and temple areas and any spot where catostrophic injury could occur if it were hit.

Until now, the only protective headwear that had recieved both MLB and MLBPA approval had been isoBLOX protective caps. The isoBLOX caps have struggled to catch on in the league, however, due to their bulky and somewhat unappealing look.

As of now, only former Padre and Met reliever Alex Torres has worn the isoBLOX cap in the big leagues.

Houlihan expressed that the league is hoping the headgear will catch on among pitchers in the league. He also said that the first group of pitchers to where the caps will be made up of pitchers who were previously struck with a batted ball, pitchers who have inquired about the caps and pitchers who are considered opinion leaders in the league.

To read the full ESPN article and check out the new headgear, click here.

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