DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — A minor league pitcher accused of throwing a ball that hit a fan during a bench-clearing brawl was charged with felonious assault.

Peoria Chiefs pitcher Julio Castillo was arrested Thursday following the fight with the Single-A Dayton Dragons, authorities said Friday. Umpires ejected 15 players and the team’s managers following the 10-minute brawl.

Castillo, 21, was scheduled to be arraigned Friday, Montgomery County Jail officials said. Video from the game shows Castillo angrily throwing a ball, but doesn’t show where the ball landed.

The fan, who remains unidentified, was treated at Miami Valley Hospital and released, said hospital spokeswoman Nancy Thickel. She didn’t know the extent of the fan’s injuries.

The Dragons are affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds, while the Chiefs are affiliated with the Chicago Cubs.

Three Peoria batters were hit in Wednesday’s game between the clubs. After a Peoria player was hit in the top of the first on Thursday, Castillo hit two batters in the bottom half — one in the head. The second hit batsmen by Castillo, Angel Cabrerra, made an aggressive slide into second to break up a double play.

Castillo followed that by throwing his next pitch up-and-in, prompting Dayton manager Donnie Scott to complain to the home plate umpire. Interim Peoria manager Carmelo Martinez — filling in for Ryne Sandberg — came onto the field to join the discussion.

The two managers began arguing, and when Martinez pushed Scott, the benches emptied.

The teams protested the ejections by phone to Midwest League president George Spelius, saying they didn’t want pitchers playing in the outfield to complete the game. After an hour delay, the ejections were reversed and the game resumed. Dayton won 6-5.

Spelius said Friday that he spoke to the umpires about the brawl. He said he needs to read a report, review video footage and talk to team officials before any possible sanctions.

Chiefs spokesman Nathan Baliva said Spelius will handle the issue.

“He’ll hand down the appropriate punishments he deems necessary,” Baliva said.

Reds general manager Walt Jocketty witnessed the fight from the stands. Cincinnati spokesmen Rob Butcher said Friday neither the Reds nor the Dragons would comment.

Sandberg was in Cooperstown, N.Y., for the weekend’s Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.

Aaron Brown, a fan who was standing in the lower section of the stadium near home plate, said the fight was sad for baseball. Players ran out of the dugout, and “all hell broke loose,” he said.

“You see paramedics running into the stands. Just when you think it ends, there is another group trying to fight. I was really surprised they continued the game. I’ve never seen anything like it before,” Brown, 28, of Columbus said.

 

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