CHICAGO CUBS star Albert Almora dropped to his knees and sobbed after he accidentally hit a stray baseball at a child.
The foul ball on his left hurtled wildly into the crowd during the Cubs' game at Houston and the young girl had to be rushed out of the stands.
The child could be seen visibly upset in the stands but later reports confirmed she was taken to hospital for checks, but was OK.
But Minute Maid Park, as well as Almora, 25, fell silent and held its breath fearing the baseball had seriously injured her.
Almora, a dad of two himself, was overwhelmed with guilt in the immediate aftermath of the incident and slumped to one knee.
Players from both teams looked on stunned as they worried the young girl had been seriously hurt.
A father could be seen taking the girl out of the stadium after the ball had hit her, while fans looked on with their heads in their hands.
Later when fielding, the emotion of the incident appeared to catch up with Almora and overwhelmed he slumped on to a security guard.
He had been chatting with the female steward, asking after the girl's wellbeing, and overcome with emotion, was taken to the bench and replaced.
As soon as I hit it the first person I locked eyes on was her
His team-mates appeared sympathetic as he held his glove to cover his face.
With a trembling voice, Almora told reporters: "As soon as I hit it the first person I locked eyes on was her.
"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.
"I'm speechless and lost for words.
"Being a father with two boys, I want to put a net around the whole stadium, but I'm so sorry.
"I was upset and it just put things in perspective."
Source: Read Full Article