A lawsuit was announced Thursday that said a boy suffered a fractured skull and brain damage when he was accidentally hit by a baseball thrown by a Los Angeles Angels player.
The team should have more nets along the side of the field and players shouldn't throw balls during the warm ups in areas where spectators could be struck, according to the lawsuit by the boy's mother.
The lawsuit said that on Sept. 15, her son was walking with his father in the first row of stadium seating toward the dugout, where players were meeting fans and signing autographs more than an hour and a half before the game. He was hit on the side of the head by a ball thrown to another player.
Kyle Scott, the family's lawyer, said that Bryson was rushed to the emergency room in critical condition and sent to a children's hospital for 2 1/2 days of monitoring. Scott said that since then, Bryson has done well academically but has difficulties paying attention and has abnormal brain activity which raises concerns about his long-term development.
Galaz said in a statement that he has struggled in school since that day.
A message was sent to the Angels.
The lawsuit was announced at a news conference near Angel Stadium, where the Angels were to play the Astros later in the day.
Getting a baseball at an MLB game is a signature event for any fan but it can come with a cost. Fans can suffer serious injuries from balls or bats that fly into the stands. Major league parks have expanded protective nets in recent years to increase safety.
In 2015, MLB encouraged teams to have nets or screens that extend in a semi-circle between the ends of the dugouts closest to home plate. All 30 ballparks had nets that reached at least that far by opening day.
The league said at the end of the year that some teams would extend the nets. A woman died four days after she was hit in the head by a foul ball at Dodger Stadium. It was thought to be the first foul ball death at an MLB stadium since 1970.
Scott, the family's attorney, said that the accident would not have been prevented if Angel Stadium had extended its nets beyond the dugout. Extending it farther down the foul line and having players warm up far from spectators could have made a difference.
The lawsuit said that it was negligent for the defendants to have their pitcher warm up and prepare for the scheduled game by throwing at a high velocity outside of the bullpen and in an area where a bad throw could hit a spectator.
After the 2020 season, the Angels declined to offer him a new contract and he left as a free agent. He is in the minor league system.
After the incident, the team called for help, after Middleton went over to check on a crying Bryson. Scott said that an Angels official followed up with an email but when the family asked for help with their medical bills no one responded.
The lawsuit seeks damages and coverage of medical costs.
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