During Sunday’s ballgame, Twins catcher Gary Sanchez is feeling very fortunate after narrowly avoiding serious injury, as he made his way back to the dugout, the two-time All-Star nearly walked into a full swing from teammate Gilberto Celestino during Minnesota’s 5-1 victory against the Chicago White Sox.
With two outs in the eighth inning, Chicago sent in Kendall Graveman to face Sánchez, which led to the incident. Celestino nearly struck Sánchez in the on-deck circle as he was headed back to the dugout to learn more about the reliever.
Celestino missed Sánchez’s face by mere inches.
“I had a few minutes to go and ask a couple questions about that pitcher,” Sánchez said through a translator. “I saw his bat was on his shoulder just standing there in the on-deck circle and so I went back to the dugout and I didn’t notice he was swinging,”
After the bat passed, Sánchez dropped his head, and Celestino leaned back with a shocked expression on his face.
“He almost hit me, but thank God, nothing happened, it’s just an accident. It’s fine.”
After the incident, Fans then reacted to the viral clip on social media, with one person writing: “Well [expletive] me sideways that was close. And 67 knew it! 24 best thank his lucky stars he ain’t dead!”
Gary Sanchez narrowly being the victim of a horrific injury during Sunday’s Minnesota Twins game against the Chicago White Sox.
📝 Read more: https://t.co/YaOYeNtbxIpic.twitter.com/ULnMZKDx9S
— Audacy Sports (@AudacySports) September 5, 2022
“I coached tee ball this summer and this happened like 10 times every practice,” another replied.
“This is terrifying,” another tweeted. “That could’ve, and likely would’ve, done life-changing damage.”
Sanchez could have suffered a severe injury as a result, but fortunately, he only evaded it. On Monday, Sanchez made a significant comeback by hitting a home run in his first game back at Yankee Stadium as a part of the traveling team. In exchange for shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa and third baseman Josh Donaldson, he and Gio Urshela were traded to the Twins this offseason.
The fact that the worst-case scenario was avoided is a positive in this situation. Fortunately, everyone is okay.
Sources: Dailywire, Washingtonpost, Espn