CHICAGO -- The Royals-White Sox game at Rate Field was delayed for a brief time Wednesday after a fan fell into the Kansas City bullpen in right field.
The fan can be seen on video tumbling over a rail above the bullpen during the bottom of the third when the White Sox scored a run on a Chase Meidroth sacrifice fly. The fan appeared to rise from his seat as the ball took flight before falling.
"From what I've heard, the fan was kind of standing up on the edge of the bullpen, and kind of just went over," said Royals reliever Nick Mears, describing the incident. "Then saw him lying there."
The game went on until the top of the fourth. After Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. walked, the game was halted when a stadium official flagged the attention of umpire crew chief Chris Conroy, alerting him to the incident unfolding in the bullpen. Both managers were summoned from their respective dugouts for an explanation.
"There was a little bit of talk about it in the dugout, but we really had no idea what was going on," Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino said. "So I don't know what's going on now, but I hope the guy is OK."
After receiving assistance, the fan was taken out of the bullpen on a gurney. The White Sox said the fan was subsequently taken to a local hospital for further treatment, and they provided more details about his condition Thursday.
"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 in a statement. "The entire White Sox organization and clubhouse are wishing him a full and speedy recovery."
According to the White Sox's original announcement, the short delay was to allow club personnel to provide treatment. As the fan was being attended to, the players and coaches in the Royals' bullpen gathered in the corner near a gate to give the response team extra space to work.
"Baseball is just a game," Mears said. "Obviously human lives are something different. Just created space for all of the people to come in and try to help him out. Making sure that he had the best care that he could get in that moment was kind of our priority."
Mears said those in the bullpen received at least some good news after the game resumed.
"We were talking with the security guard down in the bullpen at the time," Mears said. "And he said that by the time [the fan] got to the hospital, he was in much better condition."