When you’re sitting in the outfield bleachers and Paul Goldschmidt comes to bat, it’s a great idea to pay close attention — especially at a home run-friendly stadium like Great American Ball Park.
The St. Louis Cardinals slugger crushed a home run Tuesday night that traveled an estimated 358 feet. It might have gone another couple of feet, but an unsuspecting fan stopped its flight with his body.
Goldschmidt’s solo shot in the second inning off Cincinnati Reds starter Graham Ashcraft left the bat at 102.9 mph, and as it neared the right-field bleachers, fans could be seen looking for the ball. One man sitting in the front row, however, didn’t pick up the baseball’s flight and it slammed into his left shoulder.
The fan immediately grabbed his shoulder as someone in his party checked on him. Other fans checked to see if he was OK. The Reds did not report an injury.
Great American is known as the most home run-friendly stadium in baseball, and fans in the outfield bleachers know they’ve got a great chance of taking home a souvenir. No one wants to take a brutal blow to the body from a long ball, though.
MLB fans felt the man’s pain.
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.