Watch: Red Sox ball boy gets hit on the head by a ball traveling at over 90 mph
A ball boy for the Boston Red Sox certainly had his protective headgear to thank for last night after he was struck on the head by a ball traveling at over 90 miles per hour. Ball boys and ball girls play an important role in the smooth functioning of an MLB game. In addition to that, they also put themselves at considerable risk while doing the job, which is why they always wear helmets when they are out on the field.
A short video clip of the episode was posted by Jomboy Media on various social media platforms such as Instagram and X/Twitter.
Watch the incident unfold in the video below:
The incident occurred at Fenway Park on Tuesday night where the Red Sox hosted the reigning World Series champions Texas Rangers for the second contest of their three-game series. The home fans were in a buoyant mood as their team followed up their victory from the previous night by opening up a six-run lead by the fifth inning to almost guarantee a series win.
Red Sox shortstop Nick Sogard stepped up to the plate in the latter stages of the game while the Fenway crowd was in full flow as they performed the Mexican Wave around the stands. Meanwhile, the ball boy in question was seated on his spot beside the first base fence.
Sogard, who only made his MLB debut earlier this month, is a switch-hitter who was batting right-handed at the time when he was offered a fastball on the outside part of the plate. The rookie made good contact with the pitch but slashed it foul towards first base. The ball rifled off his bat at more than 90 mph and hit the Red Sox ball boy right on the head.
Fortunately, his helmet was fully intact when the ball struck the side of his head on the flap, which is designed to protect the ears.
Special design of helmets proved crucial for Red Sox ball boy
The Red Sox ball boy seemed remarkably unperturbed by the blow following the initial shock. He got up quite quickly and signaled he was unhurt as he shared a broad smile and continued with the game. It was a lucky escape, but at the same time, the helmet also served its purpose well.
Incidentally, ball boys and girls wear slightly different helmets from the ones used by batters in the MLB. Nowadays, most hitters use a version that also guards the cheek and the jaw, but the extra protection is all on one side. The helmet that the Red Sox ball boy was wearing did not have the extra protection, but it contained protective flaps on both ears, which likely played a crucial role in keeping him unhurt.