You are allowed to use a face mask for protection from pitched or hit baseballs. Some leagues, especially in youth baseball, are making face masks mandatory for hitters or fielders or both. There is no uniformity in baseball on this issue, although many medical and safety organizations have called for more protection, including mandatory face masks, for younger players.
Major Leagues
Major League Baseball doesn't prohibit face masks, though very few, if any, batters or fielders use them. MLB has a long-standing image, and players were slow to adopt a mandatory helmet rule. Beginning in 1971, batting helmets were made mandatory. Earflaps on helmets, which offer more protection to batters, later became mandatory as well. The only player required to wear a standard helmet with a face mask is the catcher.
Face Masks
Technology has greatly improved face masks. The EMask, a face mask for batters and fielders, is made of clear polycarbonate, so there are no bars to interfere with your vision. It can be attached to any helmet, and, as of 2011, it is the official face mask of the Women's Pro Fast-Pitch league and the National Fastpitch Catcher's Association. A Chevy Suburban even ran over the face mask to test its protective ability and the EMask remained intact.
Dangers
Face masks in Little League are encouraged, but they are not mandatory. Many medical associations and baseball people strongly recommend that they become mandatory for youngsters. John T. Reed, author of "Youth Baseball Coaching," cites studies showing that there were 170,000 head and facial injuries as far back as 1980, or 75 injuries per 1,000 players in a season. As a result, the National Safety Council and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry called for mandatory face mask rules. So have a number of other organizations, including the "Physician and Sports Medicine Journal" and the American Council of Ophthalmologists.
Considerations
According to Home Run Monkey, a batted ball can travel at speeds of 80 to 110 mph. The website argues that face masks for fielders should be mandatory, saying, "Facial injuries can be devastating and life-altering." Parents who look at the statistics regarding baseball injuries may feel compelled to equip their youngsters with face masks. Many advocate the move for youth organizations, high school baseball associations and the NCAA to require face masks for batters and fielders, especially since technological advances have greatly improved face masks.
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