Fan hospitalized after falling into Royals bullpen at White Sox game

A fan was hospitalized after falling into the visiting Kansas City Royals bullpen during Wednesday's Chicago White Sox game against the Royals.

The incident happened in the fourth inning with Royals runners on first and second and none out. The game paused briefly as workers tended to the fan. Stadium staff used a stretcher to carry him from the bullpen area beyond the right-field wall.

The White Sox issued a statement ahead of Thursday's series finale. "We reached out to the fan to check on his well-being, and his friend was able to share a positive report," the team said. "The entire White Sox organization and clubhouse are wishing him a speedy recovery." The club added that the fan appeared headed in the right direction for recovery.

MLB.com video showed the fan tumbling over a roughly 3-foot-high barrier from the front row of Section 105 in the right-field seats at Guaranteed Rate Field. He fell in front of a red advertisement for a local butcher shop and landed on grass and dirt at the west end of the bullpen.

The footage captured him standing up as White Sox second baseman Chase Meidroth hit a run-scoring sacrifice fly to Royals center fielder Lane Thomas for the first out of the bottom of the third inning.

The bullpen sits behind the right-field wall and in front of Sections 104 and 105. Its barrier has a concrete base rising 10 to 12 inches, topped by a metal fence about 2 feet high. The front row of seats sits roughly 3 feet behind the fence.

Royals relievers retreated to a far corner of the bullpen after the fall.

A similar accident took place last year at a Pittsburgh Pirates game. Fan Kavan Markwood fell over the wall and nearly 20 feet onto the outfield warning track. He was rushed in critical condition to Allegheny General Hospital’s trauma unit. Players and spectators appeared shaken as medical staff from both teams and EMS stretchered him off the field.