Pirates pitchers wear new headgear during workout

Pittsburgh Pirates pitchers Mark Melancon and Jared Hughes became two of the first pitchers this spring to try out new protective headgear when they donned the helmet-cap "hybrid" during their bullpen sessions Sunday.

Hughes said earlier this month that he planned to try out the new lightweight headgear - a product designed by California-based company Boombang in conjunction with the league and players union - after narrowly avoiding a comebacker to the face during a game last summer.

"I did a list of why I would use it, and the pros outweighed the cons by far," Hughes told Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune-Review last week. "The cons were it might look goofy, or people might tease me. That's all superficial stuff. The pros are it could save my life."

The headgear has an average thickness of about 0.7 inches, and provides the greatest safety in areas most susceptible to catastrophic injury, according to Boombang. The company visited Hughes in camp to custom fit the visor to his head.

Although head protection isn't mandatory for pitchers, the idea has gained momentum in recent seasons. MLB pitchers have been struck in the head by comebackers a dozen times since September 2012, according to ESPN.

Alex Torres of the Atlanta Braves has worn an alternative form of padded cap, built by IsoBlox, since 2014.