Blue Jays outfielder exits after fan throws ball onto field

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jesús Sánchez was forced to leave Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles after being struck in the right wrist by a baseball thrown from the stands by a young fan. The incident occurred during the sixth inning at Camden Yards in Baltimore.

Sánchez sustained a contusion on his wrist, but X-rays taken after the game were negative for a fracture. He was replaced in right field by Yohendrick Pinango. The Orioles ultimately won the game 9-5.

According to Sánchez and his manager, John Schneider, the throw was the result of a misunderstanding. Sánchez explained through an interpreter that he was not attempting to play catch with fans during a break in play. "I wasn’t trying to play catch right there," Sánchez said. "I just looked at them, and they thought maybe that I want them to throw the ball. It was a complete misunderstanding." He added that his wrist "hurts a little bit" but that he expects to be all right.

Schneider described the interaction as playful, suggesting a young fan, reportedly between 12 and 13 years old, took a gesture literally. "He was kind of talking to a, I think it was a 12-year-old kid ... in a playful manner, like almost ‘let’s...