Giancarlo Stanton has been plunked plenty of times. But by his own home run ball?
The New York Yankees star homered over the Green Monster during Saturday’s 8-5 win, connecting in the seventh inning against the Boston Red Sox.
The outfielder then got quite a surprise from a strong-armed fan while rounding second base at Fenway Park.
A man wearing a black T-shirt heaved the souvenir from his first-row seat on top of the left-field wall, and the ball took a hop and bounced off Stanton.
New York Yankees’ outfielder Giancarlo Stanton hit a home run in the seventh inning on Saturday (pictured) against the Boston Red Sox
A Red Sox fan caught the ball and threw it back at Stanton (left). The ball took a hop and bounced off Stanton as he rounded second base (right)
‘I wouldn’t have thought it got to me that fast with a fan throwing it,’ Stanton said. ‘I’ve never seen it happen before, so that wasn’t my first thought.’
The slugger continued his home run trot, but turned his head, smiled and appeared to tip his cap to the fan.
‘He got it that far, got his target, he got in trouble for it,’ Stanton said. ‘I think it’s fine on both sides.’
The game was briefly halted as umpires gathered near the third-base line to point out the fan to stadium security officials.
According to Fenway Park officials, the fan was subsequently ejected.
‘You see a lot of things in these games,’ Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. ‘I think some places it’s tradition, it lands on the field. Should probably just hang onto it.’
The slugger continued his home run trot, but turned his head, smiled and appeared to tip his cap to the fan (pictured)
The game was briefly halted as umpires gathered near the third-base line to point out the fan to stadium security officials. Pictured: Stanton (right) celebrates his solo home run with shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria (left)
Stanton’s solo homer, the Yankees’ 266th of the season, gave him his 100th RBI and 38th home run of the season. Pictured: Stanton celebrates his solo home run as he rounds first base
It is considered tradition for home fans to throw back a home run ball when it is that of the visiting team.
Stanton said he doesn’t believe the man meant to hit him.
‘That’s the idea when you’re an opposing fan, but I don’t think that’s what he meant to do,’ Stanton said of the incident, according to ESPN.
‘Either way, if I was looking up, I could’ve grabbed it easily.’
Stanton’s solo homer, the Yankees’ 266th of the season, gave him his 100th RBI and 38th home run of the season.
‘It happens all the time at our stadium,’ Stanton said. ‘So not too worried about it. Plus, that could be a special ball. We needed it anyway. I think he lost some money, possibly, on it.’
Second baseman Gleyber Torres hit a two-run homer in the fourth to snap the Yankees’ tie with the 1997 Seattle Mariners for the most in a single season in major league history.
‘That was cool for me,’ Stanton said. ‘A lot of cool things happened for our team today, so it was a good day.’