This may seem a bit backward, but at a Richmond Flying Squirrels Minor League Baseball affair last week, a foul ball that was returned to the field of play in one of the rudest ways known to man nailed the opposing pitcher right in the leg. Though the fan probably thought it would be an hilarious attempt at alternative heckling, the incident has resulted in a potential lawsuit and a one-way ticket to embarrassment city. Everybody hates you now, dude!
Video following the jump.
From the Richmond Times-Dispatch:
JC Ramirez, a 22-year-old prospect with the Philadelphia Phillies, was on the mound in the fifth inning Tuesday when Richmond’s Brandon Belt fouled a ball into the upper deck on the third-base side. A fan, whom Squirrels officials identified but have declined to name, threw the ball back and hit Ramirez in the lower left leg, near the shin.
Alan Nero, managing director of the baseball division of Octagon, an agency that represents Ramirez, said yesterday “there doesn’t seem to be any significant injury to the extent that there would be some sort of lawsuit that would be based on some sort of damage. A decision has not yet been made as to whether any criminal charges will be placed.
Squirrels personnel escorted the fan out. The club sent a letter to the fan yesterday notifying him that he was banned for life from Squirrels games or any event at The Diamond.
Banned for life from a minor league baseball game, you say? That doesn’t sound like a punishment, it sounds like a great way to avoid company-wide ‘togetherness’ outings.
There’s video of the incident and though it is quite grainy, you can tell by the crowd’s reaction that the incident happened around the one-minute mark. My question is, doesn’t this person have anything better to do than record the fifth inning of a double-A baseball game from the nosebleed section? He must watch that video over again later in accordance to the study he is conducting on how to bore himself to death.
Brandon Belt foul tip ends up back on the field from RVA News on Vimeo.
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Reading pitcher mulling options after being hit by fan’s thrown ball [Richmond Times-Dispatch]
Fan hits player with baseball, ejected from park [NBCSports]
