Cubs Player Horrified After Foul Ball Hits Child

Teammates had to console distraught Chicago Cubs center fielder Albert Almora Jr. on Wednesday night after a foul ball hit a little girl in the stands. Almora fell to his knees after he hit a line drive that hit the young fan at the Houston Astros' stadium in the fourth inning of Wednesday's game, the Chicago Tribune reports. After he struck out, he was seen crying with a security guard close to where the girl had been sitting near the third baseline at Minute Maid Park, reports the BBC. Other players from both teams also appeared shaken. "The young fan that was struck by a foul ball during tonight's game was taken to the hospital," the Astros said in a statement. "We are not able to disclose any further details at this time."

After the Cubs' 2-1 victory, a visibly upset Almora told reporters that he locked eyes with the girl after hitting the ball—and the rest of the at-bat was a blur. "Right now I'm just praying and I'm speechless," the 25-year-old said. "I'm at loss of words. Being a father, two boys ... but God willing I'll be able to have a relationship with this little girl for the rest of my life. But just prayers right now and that's all I really can control." The girl had been sitting around 10 feet from where the netting to protect fans from foul balls at the stadium ended, the AP reports. Asked if he thought stadium netting should be expanded, Almora said: "Right now obviously I want to put a net around the whole stadium." (Last year, a fan was killed by a foul ball at Dodger Stadium.)