Indians pitcher wounded by bullet
Denney OK after being struck in calf by stray shot
KANSAS CITY -- Indians pitcher Kyle Denney is reported to be in good spirits and feeling little pain, one day after a bullet fired at one of the team's buses in Kansas City struck him in his right calf.
"After speaking with Kyle late this morning, he is in great spirits and is currently without pain in the calf," team spokesman Bart Swain said Thursday. "The only pain he has experienced today was when water hit the wound during a morning shower."
Denney was not limping and did not require the use of crutches, Swain said. He was expected to rejoin his Indians teammates Thursday afternoon in Minneapolis, where they will play their final series of the season against the Twins.
Denney was quick to recover from a bizarre incident that occurred just hours after the Tribe's 5-2 victory over the Royals at Kauffman Stadium late Wednesday.
Around midnight ET, as the second of two buses in the Indians' caravan traveled on a ramp between Interstates 435 and 70, en route to Kansas City International Airport, a bullet struck the bus in its passenger side.
"[The players] heard a loud pop, and (outfielder Ryan) Ludwick felt something," Swain said. "Then Kyle eventually felt a burning sensation in his right calf. He didn't know what it was, but he reached down and saw blood."
Ludwick had apparently been struck in the leg by debris from the bullet entering the side of the bus, but he was not injured, Swain said.
Team trainers Lonnie Soloff and Rick Jameyson quickly removed the bullet from Denney's calf as the bus continued its trek toward the airport. Airport paramedics transferred Denney to St. Luke's Northland Hospital in Kansas City, where he was treated and released by 3:45 a.m. ET, Swain said.
At the time of the incident, Denney, who had received a no-decision in the team's victory, was dressed in women's apparel as part of an annual initiation rite for Indians rookies. He was wearing a red USC cheerleader's outfit, including a blonde wig and white knee-high boots.
Oddly enough, the boots might have saved Denney from a more serious injury.
"Because of the boot, the bullet didn't go far into his calf," Swain said. "So that helped him. When Lonnie and Rick opened the boot, the bullet pretty much popped right out."
The Kansas City Police Department is investigating the incident, with the assistance of the Royals.
"It appears that it was a random incident and happened somewhere out on I-70," Royals team spokesman Aaron Babcock said. "So it would appear this would not be a case of the Indians being a target, from what the police have indicated to us."
Swain said there was no altercation between the Indians' players and the Royals' fans. In fact, the Tribe rookies, all dressed in women's garb, held a jovial autograph session after the game.
"There was nothing going on with anybody," Swain said.
Royals team captain Mike Sweeney expressed shock Thursday when he was informed of the incident.
"The first thing we can say to the Indians' organization is that we're sorry this occurred and, hopefully, it was just an accident," Sweeney said. "In any event, it doesn't reflect on Kansas City ... that well.
"It's just scary and unfortunate that it happened. We'll keep them in our prayers."
