PITTSBURGH -- A fan fell from the right-field stands onto the field at PNC Park on Wednesday night as the Pirates hosted the Cubs.
The Pirates issued the following statement after the game:
"Tonight, during the seventh inning of the game at PNC Park, an adult male fell from the right field bleachers onto the field of play. Pittsburgh EMS, as well as the Pirates and Cubs athletic training teams and other PNC Park personnel reacted and responded immediately and administered care. He was transported to Allegheny General Hospital. No further information is available at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."
Pirates chairman Bob Nutting also released a statement Thursday morning:
“We are all deeply saddened and truly heartbroken after the terrible accident that occurred last night. It was one of the most difficult moments many of us have ever experienced. We are devastated. Pirates baseball is a community, and our fans are like family. In times like these, we must come together, support one another and keep him and his loved ones in our prayers.
“We also want to thank and appreciate the efforts of the first responders who rushed to his attention and provided him with compassionate care."
Pittsburgh Public Safety posted from X (formerly Twitter) Thursday morning that the incident is being treated as accidental in nature, and that the fan is still in critical condition.
The fan fell over the railing as Andrew McCutchen’s hit in the seventh inning bounced through the left side of the Cubs infield, then was deflected into shallow right. A second person jumped from the lower part of the outfield wall to help the person who fell. It was unclear if the second person was a family member or a bystander assisting.
“I want to offer thoughts and prayers with the incident that happened earlier in the game and thank both our medical staff, the Cubs' medical staff, EMS, everybody that got to the gentleman, and just ask everybody to keep him in your prayers,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said postgame.
“I hope the gentleman’s OK,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “I’m thinking about his family and him right now. Obviously scary. I didn’t see it happen, but I saw it out there after the play. I just hope everything turns out OK.”
Play stopped for approximately 10 minutes, with players and fans watching as the fan was tended to and eventually transported off the field.
“Obviously we are just praying for him, good strong recovery, just to be with him and his family,” Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson, who was at the center of the play in question, said. “Never been a part of something like that and obviously hope to never be a part of something like that again.”
The right-field wall at PNC Park is 21 feet tall in honor of Roberto Clemente, who wore No. 21. According to the PNC Park architect of record, the railings above the Clemente Wall measure 36 inches, exceeding the current code requirements of 26 inches.
“We’re devastated [by] the situation that took place yesterday,” McCutchen said Thursday morning. “We all came in here, together, as a team, after the game and said a prayer for him. We hope the best for him and his family, just so he knows and his friends and family know that we’re all thinking about him and praying for the best for him. We just hope he pulls through.
“It was a tough situation. We’re definitely thinking about him. I’m definitely thinking about him, and we just hope for good news.”