During yesterday’s spring training game between the Pirates and the Braves at Walt Disney World, a sports photojournalist from Pittsburgh captured an amazing moment from an everyday superhero. This hero had no cape; he sported a baseball cap, sunglasses and buffed-up forearms.
Photographer Christopher Horner lit up twitter with the photos that captured the moment, receiving nearly 5,00 Likes and Shares within 24 hours.
Take a look at the tweet with the original photos — more evidence why MLB is recommending that teams extend their protective netting.
@BiertempfelTrib The two frames showing just how close the bat was to the boy’s head. pic.twitter.com/7VwnfWp8L1
— Christopher Horner (@Hornerfoto1) March 6, 2016
Comments on the photo range from congratulating the man saving the kid (of course), to disappointment in the boy for not paying attention to the game. However, we have yet to see anyone point out that the bat brand was Sam Bat, which we know is probably irrelevant to the story — but that’s our role!
For his part, Pirates outfielder Danny Ortiz, the player who accidentally released the bat into the stands, said he was unaware of the close call at the time.
“I went home and my wife said to me, ‘You almost killed that kid!'” Ortiz told The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “I saw the picture. It was crazy. … That guy took [a blow] for the kid. The father, or whoever he was, he protected that kid,” Ortiz said.
So, do you think MLB teams should extend the nets? Do you think this kid should have been paying more attention to the game? Discuss with other fans on our forum, where we’ve already begun the conversation.