RealGM

In the nearly 17 months since then-Oakland Athletics pitcher Brandon McCarthy was struck in the head by a line drive and suffered life-threatening brain injuries, Major League Baseball says it has received and tested numerous prototypes from different vendors for padded caps to provide some head protection against high-speed shots off the bat.

On Tuesday morning, MLB informed its 30 teams that it has approved such a product for the first time, after consultation with the players' association, according to Dan Halem, MLB executive vice president for labor relations.

There is no rule limiting players as to the protection they can choose to wear, even without an MLB license, as long as what's worn doesn't interfere with play. Foster said the new isoBlox product provides some protection against speeds above 90 mph, but not protection at the same level as below that speed.

As they begin to offer the new product to major league pitchers -- whose acceptance of changes in appearance and feel is an open question -- both Halem and Foster said they see great potential for youth league players and their parents to embrace increased protection and evolving devices. Soon to hit the market, Foster said, is an isoBlox skull cap with the type of padding major leaguers will have at their disposal, except this will slide into standard adjustable caps and be removable.