Steven Souza Jr. was much more concerned about the woman stretchered out of Tropicana Field on Friday night after being struck by a foul ball that came screaming off his bat than he was about his 0-for-3 performance in Tampa Bay's 1-0 loss to the Chicago White Sox.
"That woman's health is way more important than my results in the game," Souza told reporters. "She was beat up pretty good, it looked like it caught her right in the eye, which wasn't a good sight. It's just so unfortunate. I'll be praying for her, hoping that she's OK."
Here is the foul ball by Souza and his reaction. Not good. (sped up slightly) https://t.co/YcE34jEwG8
— Dr Cork Gaines (@CorkGaines) April 16, 2016
Souza likely breathed a sigh of relief Saturday morning, though, when Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reported that the woman is in stable condition at the hospital.
Play was immediately halted Friday after Souza's unfortunate foul ball in the bottom of the seventh inning, and the 26-year-old even jumped into the stands to watch medical personnel tend to the woman, 63, who was conscious and talking before being taken to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg for further tests.
"You feel for the lady and her family," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "The last thing you want to do is come to a ballgame as a player, as a coach or as a fan and see anybody get hurt."
When play resumed 12 minutes later, Souza ended up striking out against left-hander Chris Sale for his third strikeout of the game.
"To try and focus back in on facing one of the best pitchers in the AL right after you see someone extremely hurt, it's hard," Souza said. "But I've got to be a professional, to stop and care about her but care about my teammates too and try to carry out that at-bat like a professional to the best of my ability."
