YES Network cameraman hit by wild throw back to work after 2 months

NEW YORK -- YES Network cameraman Pete Stendel returned to work Thursday night, two months after he was hit in the face by a ball.

Stendel worked the center field camera during the Yankees' game against Detroit, YES spokesman Eric Handler said.

Stendel sustained an orbital fracture when he was hit by an errant throw from Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Hendersonon July 5. Stendel was positioned next to the Yankees'dugout on the first-base side.

After Henderson's errant throw, that game was delayed about 17 minutes as the Yankees' athletic training staff and medical personnel tended to Stendel in the camera well. Baltimore players came off the field and waited in their dugout as Yankees and Orioles, including Henderson, watched in obvious concern at a hushed ballpark.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone spoke to Stendel shortly after the incident. He did not know Stendel had returned and said he planned to speak to him before Friday's series opener against Milwaukee.

"That's great news," Boone said Thursday. "I had a chance to talk to him probably a day or two after the incident to hear him in good spirits because I know seeing him in real time, really scary, really scary ,and to hear the following day that he was doing well and looking like he was going to make a full recovery, I did not know that and that is awesome news and try to get a chance to hopefully see him tomorrow."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.