Blue Jays outfielder Jesús Sánchez injured when Camden Yards fan throws ball onto field

A bizarre scene unfolded at Camden Yards in the sixth inning of Sunday’s series finale between the Orioles and Blue Jays. A ball thrown from the stands during a break in play injured Toronto right fielder Jesús Sánchez in what appears to have been a misunderstanding.

As seen from the Peacock broadcast, Sánchez turned toward fans in right field and seemed to wave with his glove. He turned away, but a ball then came into the frame and struck Sánchez on the right arm. He crouched in pain, then dropped the glove off his left hand and signaled for a trainer to visit him from the dugout.

Toronto manager John Schneider joined a trainer in the outfield, and Schneider soon signaled to the dugout for Yohendrick Piñango to replace Sánchez.

Sánchez exited with a right wrist contusion, and the Blue Jays said X-rays were negative for a fracture.

A statement from an Orioles spokesperson said the club has “identified the fan and removed them from the ballpark while we conduct a thorough investigation.”

The Peacock broadcast marveled at the unusual situation. Orioles Hall of Famer Jim Palmer, serving as a color commentator, said, “What’re you thinking?” He added: “I’d fingerprint it right now,” referring to the baseball.

Fans in the area told The Baltimore Sun and Peacock that the incident appeared to be an accident. A teenager threw the ball to him, the fans said, but Sánchez had already turned away.

“It was a misunderstanding. I wasn’t trying to play catch right there with them. I just looked at them, and they thought maybe that I wanted them to throw the ball back to me,” Sánchez told reporters through an interpreter.

Schneider added that he is “sure the kid feels bad. I’m assuming there’s no ill intent there. But yeah, just ball coming on the field during the inning is something that shouldn’t happen.”

Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said he knows Baltimore is looking into the situation.

“We don’t want anyone getting hurt or fans throwing the ball on the field or anything like that,” Albernaz said. “I think the imaging came back OK for Sánchez. Something you don’t want to see, but I know we’re looking into it.”

This article has been updated.