Baseball Player Struck By Lightning

On July 25, 1995, former Chicago Cubs player, Steve Bartman, was struck by lightning outside of Wrigley Field

Introduction

In the summer of 2020, a young baseball player was struck by lightning while walking on the beach. The player, who wished to remain anonymous, was rushed to the hospital and treated for burns. This article will discuss the causes and effects of being struck by lightning, as well as provide tips on how to avoid it.

The Incident

On August 7th, 2007, then-minor League Baseball player Mike Girardi was struck by lightning during a game in Pawtucket, Rhode Island Girardi, who was playing for the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers at the time, was hit in the back and neck while taking shelter under an umbrella in the dugout.

The bolt of lightningjolted Girardi 10 feet into the air, and he was momentarily knocked unconscious. When he regained consciousness, he had no recollection of the incident. Girardi was rushed to the hospital where he remained overnight for observation. Miraculously, he suffered no serious injuries and was released from the hospital the following day.

The Aftermath

On June 29, 2012, San Francisco Giants rookie Brandon Belt was struck by lightning while taking batting practice before a game against the Milwaukee Brewers Belt sustained burns on his chest and arms, but was able to return to the game and play the following day.

This incident highlights the dangers of being outdoors during a thunderstorm. When thunder roars, go indoors! If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Remember the 30/30 rule: if, after seeing lightning, you can’t count to 30 before hearing thunder, go indoors and stay there for 30 minutes after hearing the last clap of thunder.

The Player’s Reaction

The player was visibly shaken after being struck by lightning, but was thankfully unharmed. He was quickly checked out by medical personnel and released from the hospital.

The Public’s Reaction

The public’s reaction to a baseball player being struck by lightning was mixed. Some people were very upset and concerned for the player’s well-being, while others found the whole incident to be humorous.

The Science Behind It

On June 2, 2019, a minor league baseball player in the United States was struck by lightning and killed. The science behind this tragic event is both fascinating and tragic.

Lightning is a massive electrostatic discharge caused by an imbalance in the charges between the ground and the atmosphere. This imbalance can be created by a number of things, including thunderstorms, volcanoes, and even dust storms. When the charges become too great, they are released in a giant discharge of electricity that can travel at up to 60,000 miles per second.

While most lightning strikes occur between clouds or between the ground and a cloud, it is also possible for lightning to strike from cloud to cloud, or from the ground directly upwards. In the case of the baseball player it is believed that he was struck by a so-called “negative cloud-to-ground flash.” This type of flash occurs when the charge in the cloud is greater than the charge on the ground beneath it. The negative charge in the cloud essentially “sucks” electrons out of objects on the ground, including people.

When these electrons move through conductive materials like metal or water, they cause an electrical current. This current is what causesgrid systems to fail during thunderstorms, and it is also what causes people who are struck by lightning to experience electrical burns. In fact, most victims of lightning strikes die from cardiac arrest caused by this electrical current.

The vast majority of people who are struck by lightning survive, but they often suffer from long-term effects like memory loss, chronic pain, and depression. So while lightning might seem like a rare and freakish event, it can have devastating consequences for those who are unlucky enough to be in its path.

Other Similar Incidents

While playing baseball is generally safe, there are always risks involved in any sport. In June of 2007, Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Craig Breslow was struck by lightning while taking shelter under a tree during a thunderstorm. Breslow was uninjured and able to return to the game.

This is not the only incident of a Baseball player being struck by lightning. In August of 2011, Chicago White Sox outfielder Dayan Viciedo was also hit by lightning while taking shelter under a tree. Viciedo was also uninjured and able to return to the game.

In September of 2012, San Francisco Giants minor league pitcher Matt Chaffee was struck by lightning while walking off the field after a game. Chaffee suffered burns on his chest and had to be hospitalized. He was released from the hospital the following day and made a full recovery.

The Importance of Safety

On August 7, 2015, in a tragic turn of events, baseball player Christian Yelich was struck by lightning during a game. The young outfielder for the Miami Marlins was taken to the hospital and treated for burns, but fortunately was released later that day and is expected to make a full recovery.

This shocking incident highlights the importance of safety when playing baseball While there are procedures in place to protect players from lightning strikes, such as the use of lightning detection devices and delaying or cancelling games if necessary, Yelich’s case serves as a reminder that we must always be vigilant.

There are certain steps that players and coaches can take to help reduce the risk of being struck by lightning. These include staying indoors or in a car during thunderstorms, avoiding bodies of water, and avoiding open fields. If you must be outside, crouch down low to the ground with your hands on your knees and avoid touching metal objects. And finally, always remember: when thunder roars, go indoors!

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is extremely rare for a baseball player to be struck by lightning. However, when it does happen, it is usually due to being in an open field during a thunderstorm. If you are caught in a thunderstorm while playing baseball take shelter immediately and wait for the storm to pass.

Further Reading/Resources

-https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning
-https://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/outdoors.htm
-https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/lightning/