The incident during the May 23 Padres-Athletics game left the fan with a small, circular hole, as if a spike from McNeil's cleat had pierced his face
Credit: Athletics on NBCS/X
NEED TO KNOW
- Jeff McNeil accidentally struck an elderly man with his cleat while diving for a foul ball during the Athletics-Padres game on May 23
- The Athletics player appeared to injure the Padres fan, who had a cut on his face in footage captured after the incident
- Commentators called the elderly man “tough” as he dabbed at his wound at San Diego’s Petco Park
Jeff McNeil accidentally struck a spectator with his cleat during a recent game, leaving the elderly man with at least one visible cut on his face.
As the Athletics took on the San Diego Padres on Saturday, May 23, McNeil, 34, dove into the stands in an unsuccessful attempt to catch a foul ball. He instead made contact with an elderly fan in the stands at Petco Park in San Diego, Calif. — and struck him in the face with his cleat.
The A's star went for the ball, a foul from the Padres' Gavin Sheets, as the bases were loaded and the San Diego team was up by one run in the bottom of the second inning, footage from the NBC Sports California shows.
Stretching out in an acrobatic attempt to nab the foul, McNeil dove headfirst into the ballpark stands, diving on top of one fan before turning his body and legs, which then struck the elderly man.
Jeff McNeil accidentally cleated a fan in the face trying to make this play 😬 pic.twitter.com/ZzQAVKHnwz
— Athletics on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) May 24, 2026
The two-time MLB All-Star's cleat knocked the man's glasses askew while his shoe landed on his neck and lodged there for a moment. The cleat also struck his face before ending up at his neck, if the cut on the fan's face is any indication.
Footage of the stands after the clash shows the elderly man — who appeared to be a Padres fan based on his gear — putting a piece of fabric to his face to cover a bloody cut on his cheek.
The cut was in the shape of a small, circular hole, as if a spike from McNeil's cleat had pierced his skin.
PEOPLE has reached out to the Athletics, the Padres and a Petco Park spokesperson for comment.
Credit: Orlando Ramirez/Getty
McNeil has not yet commented on the incident.
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One commentator on the NBC Sports California broadcast called the incident a “tough spike job,” while another could be heard over footage of the injured saying, “That's a tough guy.”
According to one fan's account on X, the man — who has not yet been identified — left his seat after the incident, but returned later in the game to “a nice ovation.”
A photo shared by the fan shows the Padres fan with his hand raised. Another picture shared by the same fan shows someone bringing the man a gift bag.
The Padres went on to win the game 2-0.
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