George Kirby of the Seattle Mariners was recently surprised by a ball thrown back at him from the stands during his mound appearance. The incident occurred during a game against the Texas Rangers on Monday, August 3rd.
Kirby, a rookie pitcher, was making his first major league start when he was hit by the ball. He was in the middle of his warm-up pitches when a fan threw a baseball back onto the field from the stands. The ball struck Kirby in the shoulder and he immediately stopped his warm-up routine and looked up into the stands.
The fan who threw the ball was quickly identified and ejected from the game. The Mariners organization released a statement condemning the fan’s actions and saying that they take safety seriously. They also said that they would be taking further action against the fan in question.
Kirby was able to shake off the incident and continue with his warm-up routine. He went on to pitch five innings, allowing only one run and striking out five batters in the Mariners’ 5-1 victory. After the game, Kirby said that he was surprised by the incident but that he was able to focus on the task at hand and not let it affect his performance.
The incident serves as a reminder of how important it is for fans to be respectful of players and to remember that they are there to enjoy the game, not disrupt it. It is also a reminder of how quickly things can change in sports, and how important it is for players to stay focused on their job no matter what happens.
Overall, George Kirby handled the situation well and was able to stay focused on his job despite being surprised by a ball thrown back at him from the stands. His performance in the game showed that he was able to put the incident behind him and focus on pitching. The Mariners organization also handled the situation well, condemning the fan’s actions and taking further action against them.