It’s easy to forget multiple individuals were impacted by the incident that injured a New York Yankees cameraman during what became a 6-3 Baltimore Orioles win at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night.
Orioles rookie shortstop Gunnar Henderson delivered the throw that hit cameraman Pete Stendel in the head during the bottom of the fifth inning and understandably was shaken up after the win.
“Every time that a ball goes over the first baseman or even a foul ball from the hitter, you don’t want to see it going towards a fan,” Henderson said about the play in question, per Kevin Manahan of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. “Just happened to be in the wrong spot. I hope he’s doing all right. My prayers go out to him and just thankful for the guys that rushed over there to him to help him in aid.”
Henderson added he was “doing pretty fine” despite what could have been a traumatic event. YES Network, the television home of the Yankees, tweeted on Wednesday night that Stendel was conscious and undergoing tests at a local hospital.
“It sucks that that happened to him,” Henderson continued. “But it’s just trying to play the game hard, and sometimes that happens.”
Henderson was attempting to complete a double play when his throw sailed well over first baseman Ryan O’Hearn and then hit Stendel as the camera operator filmed the action. After a delay of roughly 15 minutes, Stendel indicated he was OK by flashing signs as a cart transported him from the field: