As embarrassing as inadvertently or unknowingly scooping up a fair ball can be for ball boys and ball girls, at least it's something we see fairly commonly. If you fall into that category, yes, you probably wear it for awhile and lose a little sleep for a couple nights. But at least you know you're not alone.
Unfortunately for the ball boy down the right field line at Kauffman Stadium on Friday night, he's very much alone in his feelings right now, because his run-in was a little different than what we're used to seeing.
It happened during the seventh inning of the Blue Jays 8-4 victory over the Royals. Alcides Escobar skied a foul ball down towards our ball boy who was seated just beyond the tarp. The ball was clearly still in play, which is why the cameras focused on Blue Jays' right fielder Rajai Davis charging towards the spot the ball appeared to be heading. Then, suddenly, the ball boy comes into the picture and the announcers gasp, anticipating a collision.
Thankfully, the worst was avoided, but his appearance was enough to cause a distraction and allow the ball to fall safely in foul territory. No interference was called on the play, I guess because no real contact was made, so Escobar had new life at the plate. He would ground out harmlessly a couple pitches later.
Here's another angle of the play in gif form courtesy of GoldAndOrSmith.
A strange play indeed, though I'm glad we're able to leave it at just that and we're not talking about another freak injury for Toronto. It didn't seem the like ball boy intended to cause trouble or serve as a distraction, I think he just lost his train of thought for a minute or possibly assumed Davis would not have a chance to make a play on the ball.
I can honestly easily see how either could happen (being out on a major league field can be overwhelming), though I doubt it will to this ball boy again if he's given another chance to perform the duty.
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