The mother of a 6-year-old boy, who suffered a fractured skull and brain damage when he was accidentally hit by a baseball thrown by a member of the Los Angeles Angels has sued the team for negligence.
The incident occurred on September 15, 2019, when pitcher Keynan Middleton, who was warming up on the field, threw a ball toward another Angels player who missed the catch. The ball struck Bryson, the son of Beatrice Galaz, in the side of the head. Bryson and his father were near the first row of stadium near the dugout, where players typically meet fans and sign autographs well before the opening pitch.
After the incident, Bryson was rushed to the emergency room and placed in critical condition. He ultimately was sent to a children’s hospital for monitoring for 2 1/2 days, according to the mother’s attorney, Kyle Scott.
Scott went on to note that he has difficulties paying attention and with social interaction. Further, medical exams show abnormal brain activity. Scott told the media that this raises concerns about his longer-term development, especially as school subjects become more complex. In a statement, Galaz said in a statement that her son “has struggled in school. He’s simply not the same.”
The lawsuit claims the team should have had more netting along the side of the field. Further, it suggests players shouldn’t throw balls during warmups in areas where spectators have been encouraged to come early to meet players, while unwittingly placing themselves in danger.
“MLB has had a policy for years to install more on the field screening during batting practice as a way to reduce injuries to both players and fans,” noted Gil Fried, a University of West Florida sports law professor, who is also an expert in such matters. “This could easily be minimized now with more screen installed in most stadiums and having players throw towards the outfield wall or towards the infield rather than towards the stands.”
