NEW YORK -- A scary moment occurred during the fifth inning of the Orioles’ 6-3 win over the Yankees on Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium, when YES Network cameraman Pete Stendel was struck in the head by an errant throw from Baltimore shortstop Gunnar Henderson.
Henderson was trying to turn a double play, but the ball sailed over the head of first baseman Ryan O’Hearn and hit Stendel, who was stationed in the camera well adjacent to the Yankees’ first-base dugout.
The game was delayed for 17 minutes while Stendel was attended to, as players were visibly concerned before briefly departing the field. When Stendel was carted off, he raised his arm in the air and held up a peace sign, receiving loud cheers from the crowd in the Bronx.
YES Network later shared that Stendel is conscious and undergoing tests in the hospital.
After the game, Henderson was among the players from both sides who sent their well wishes to Stendel.
“I hope he's doing all right,” Henderson said. “My prayers go out to him, and I'm just thankful for the guys that rushed over there to help him in aid.”
"I think I speak for all of us when I say our thoughts are with him,” Yankees outfielder Jake Bauers said. “I hope he's doing all right. I hope he's feeling better, and hope to see him back here soon. He had a pretty bad reaction when he got hit, so it was scary to see."
New York manager Aaron Boone noted it was a “difficult scene,” while Baltimore skipper Brandon Hyde said it was “tough to watch.”
"I'm definitely praying for him,” Boone said. “It was good to see him coherent and raising his hand going off [the field]. I saw it pretty well right away, and it was very scary.”