Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jesus Sanchez left Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles in the top of the sixth inning after being hit with a ball that came from the right field stands.
Sanchez departed the field holding his right arm with the training staff and manager John Schneider and was replaced by Yohendrick Pinango in right.
Video later showed that during a mound meeting on a 2-0 count, Sanchez was facing the right field bleachers and appeared to be in a conversation with someone in the crowd. A ball then came in and hit an unsuspecting Sanchez on the arm, causing him to recoil in pain and eventually leave the game.
According to Jacob Calvin Meyer of the Baltimore Sun, several fans in right field described the situation as an accident. Meyer reports fans said a young fan saw Sanchez flapping his glove as if to indicate he wanted to play catch during the stoppage in play. The fan then threw the ball late after Sanchez had turned away and hit him in the arm.
Just talked with several fans in RF who saw what happened.
They described it as an accident. They said a young fan, about 13, saw Sánchez flapping his glove as if to indicate to play catch. The kid then threw the ball late, after Sánchez turned around.
The fan was kicked out. https://t.co/U4oqvXR7RU
— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) May 31, 2026
According to Meyer, an Orioles spokesperson said the fan was ejected from the ballpark.
“We have identified the fan and removed them from the ballpark while we conduct a thorough investigation,” the Orioles said via Meyer.
The 28-year-old Sanchez has been one of Toronto’s most productive hitters of late, slashing .400/.419/.625 with 10 RBI over his last 15 games.
The Blue Jays trailed 6-0 at the time of the incident.
More to come.
