A scary moment halted play during Wednesday’s Yankees-Orioles game when a cameraman was struck by a ball and eventually carted off the field.
Camera operator Pete Stendel was hit in the head by an errant throw from Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson. Yankees medical staff immediately ran out onto the field to attend to Stendel and both teams were instructed to leave the field.
The errant throw happened in the fifth inning with one out and Anthony Volpe at the plate. The rookie hit a grounder to second baseman Adam Frazier who threw to Henderson covering second for one out. Henderson then threw over to first but it went high and appeared to hit Stendel in the camera well.
After almost 20 minutes, Stendel was carted off the field as he gave a gesture to a cheering Yankee Stadium crowd.
“Definitely praying for him. It was good to see him coherent and raising his hand going off,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after the game. “But I saw it pretty well right away and it was very scary. … A difficult scene there and hopefully he’s okay.”
“That was scary. I think I speak for all of us when I say our thoughts are with him, I hope he’s doing alright,” Jake Bauers she said. “Hope he’s doing better. Hope to see him back there soon.”
According to the YES Network following the end of Wednesday’s game, Stendel is conscious in the hospital and undergoing tests.
Stendel has also worked with SNY. Fans may notice Stendel as the cameraman in the outfield when Edwin Diaz came in from the bullpen last season.