Players Shaken After Line Drive Strikes Young Girl at Yankees-Twins Game
Wednesday's game between the Yankees and Twins was stopped for about four minutes after a foul ball off Todd Frazier's bat struck a young girl.
After the line drive went into the stands, the crowd let out a gasp then when silent. Frazier looked distraught as he watched events unfold, and Yankees designated hitter Matt Holiday appeared to be crying.
Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network announcer Michael Kay said he feared the ball struck a young fan. The camera showed a man carrying a toddler out of the stadium as fans cheered in support. The St. Paul Pioneer Press' Mike Beradino tweeted that the child appeared responsive.
This is not the first time a child has been hit by debris at a Yankees game. A child was hit by a fragment from a broken bat at Yankee Stadium in May, which prompted a discussion as to whether the team should add more protective netting. Per the New York Post, the team did not plan to add more netting.
Update: The Yankees sent the following message to SI.com: "The child who was struck with a batted ball today was given first aid at the ballpark and is receiving medical attention at an area hospital. The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, known as HIPAA, prevents the team from giving more information. We will have no further comment at this time."
Yankees manager Joe Girardi said he received news that the girl was doing alright.
After the game, Twins second baseman Brian Dozier suggested that either children should not sit in the lower sections of the stadium or that each ballpark should have more netting.
"I don't care about the damn view of a fan," Dozier said. "It's all about safety. I still have a knot in my stomach."
Dozier also said that the MLB Players Association has been trying to implement rules that would require additional netting in ballparks.