Span hits mom with foul ballWilson only sore after scary incident in Twins game

TAMPA, Fla. -- Twins outfielder Denard Span struck his mother, Wanda Wilson, in the chest with a foul ball during his at-bat in the top of the first inning on Wednesday at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Span was leading off the game against the Yankees' Phil Hughes when he fouled a 3-2 pitch directly to the left of the visitors' third-base dugout, where a group of his family members were settling in for the game.

The ball struck his mother, and Span immediately dashed into the field-level seats, consoling her as help arrived.

According to an announcement, paramedics checked on Wilson and while she was sore, she declined to go to a local hospital and instead remained at the stadium, seeking a seat in the shade to rest and watch the game.

After the delay, Span returned to the plate and looked at a called third strike from Hughes, remaining in the game. He exited after the top of the third, going 0-for-2.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

The article's been updated since the game ended, with player and coach comments, including some regarding Span's reaction, as follows:

"It was a pretty scary moment," said Minnesota right-hander Brian Duensing after the Twins defeated the Yankees, 4-2. "It happened so fast. I was talking to Denard about it, and he said that once he fouled the ball off and hit it, then he realized it was his mom. He knew right away, so he ran over there. From what I heard, she's all right, but it could have been way worse."

Paramedics stationed at the stadium checked on Wilson and while she reported being "sore," she declined to go to a local hospital and instead remained at the stadium, seeking a seat in the shade to rest and watch some more of the game.

Span left the stadium without speaking to reporters, but he fired off a seven-word Twitter message on his mobile phone around 4 p.m. ET, reading, "My mom is feeling OK right now!"

"That is kind of weird that something like that would happen," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said in Fort Myers, Fla. "I'm glad she's OK."

There is a vertical net behind home plate on the field level at the Yankees' spring home, but it does not stretch all the way to the dugouts. Wilson was sitting in an area of five-seated rows that is unprotected.

"It's kind of a really dangerous spot," Hughes said. "I think they should move the nets all the way in to the dugout, because you can get those foul balls like that, arguably coming back harder than if a guy just nicks one and it goes back to the screen.

"That's really tough. I know he's from around here, so it had to weigh on him when he was out trying to finish that at-bat and go on in the game."

After the delay, Span returned to the plate and looked at a called third strike from Hughes, remaining in the game. A Tampa native, Span exited after the top of the third, going 0-for-2.

"It affected him," said Twins pitching coach Rick Anderson, who was serving as Minnesota's acting manager for the split-squad game. "He wanted to come out then, so we took him out. He went and saw her, and then he said, 'Oh, I'll stay in.' He's real close, and obviously it's his mom. Finally, we said, 'Just go. Go be with her.'

"I know it tore him up pretty good. She's doing well, they said she's fine, and he got a chance to be with her. I'm sure he'll probably buy her a nice dinner tonight and nurse her along."

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.