Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Dodger Joc Pederson's Monster Home Run Ball Reportedly Hit A Woman In A Wheelchair In The Face
It has not been a very good week for Dodgers when it comes to hitting fans in the face with their balls.
On Monday, Yasiel Puig tossed a ball to a fan in the stands at Yankee Stadium, a typical, friendly gesture often transacted between player and fan, only to nail her in the face, knocking her tooth out. Puig met with the fan for Wednesday's game, where he offered her a non-threatening souvenir as a peace offering of sorts, and of course hashtagged it.
Saturday night's game in Arizona however was much more sinister. Joc Pederson hit a 463-foot bomb to deep center field—the longest Dodger home run of the season. And apparently it, uh, hit a woman who was sitting back there in a wheelchair, according to Derek Montilla, an Arizona sports podcast host and commentator:
Support for LAist comes from
The Joc Pederson home run hit a woman in a wheelchair in the face. She was just taken out by paramedics. #Dodgers #Dbacks
— Derek Montilla (@Cap_Kaveman) September 18, 2016
He also tweeted that, "There was a lot of blood."
According to the MLB Statcast, the ball was traveling 109.9 MPH as it exited contact with the bat which sounds very fast!
The Arizona Diamondbacks could not be reached for comment to confirm what happened, but if you pause the video at the moment of alleged impact, it does in fact look like someone in a seated position gets hit in the face, as we can see from the reaching of the hands to the unprotected face:
The irony is that, in the game previous Pederson sported a helmet featuring a faceguard, not because he feared facial injury but "because it looked cool."
Joc Pederson is latest MLBer to wear faceguard, despite not having suffered a facial injury. pic.twitter.com/eTTaFeSP0z
— Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) September 16, 2016
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Isolated showers can still hit the L.A. area until Friday as remnants from the tropical storm move out. -
First aspiring spectators must register online, then later in 2026 there will be a series of drawings. -
It's thanks to Tropical Storm Mario, so also be ready for heat and humidity, and possibly thunder and lightning. -
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5425437/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6298x3897+0+0/resize/640x396!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
L.A. County investigators have launched a probe into allegations about Va Lecia Adams Kellum and people she hired at the L.A. Homeless Services Authority. -
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass suspended a state law allowing duplexes, calling more housing unsafe. But in Altadena, L.A. County leaders say these projects could be key for rebuilding. -
This measure on the Nov. 4, 2025, California ballot is part of a larger battle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives next year.
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/45c201e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6298x3894+0+0/resize/786x486!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
Best of LAist