Pitcher facing assault charge

Jul 25, 2008 - 7:37 PM DAYTON, Ohio (Ticker) -- Bond was set at $50,000 for Julio Castillo, a pitcher for the Peoria Chiefs of the Class A Midwest League, who was arraigned in court Friday morning on a charge of felonious assault after throwing a baseball into the stands and hitting a fan during a wild brawl Thursday night.

Judge Carl S. Henderson set a preliminary hearing for August 1 and ordered that Castillo's passport be surrendered, the Dayton Daily News reported. Castillo is a native of the Dominican Republic.

According to the Daily News, Castillo appeared to be trying to hit a Dayton player in the dugout. However, he missed and instead struck a fan, who had to be hospitalized. Castillo is being held overnight at Montgomery County Jail.

The Daily News reported that the fan was treated and released.

Fifteen players and both managers were ejected following a 10-minute, benches-clearing brawl in the bottom of the first inning of Thursday's Midwest League contest between affiliates of the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds. Peoria is managed by former Cubs great Ryne Sandberg, who is in Cooperstown, New York, for this weekend's Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.

An hour after the brawl, league president George Spelius reversed the ejections under advisement from the parent clubs, who didn't want to see their minor league teams have to use pitchers as outfielders to complete the game.

The contest finally resumed and Dayton posted a 6-5 victory. Spelius said it would be several says before he completes his investigation and hands out what surely will be multiple suspensions.

"People are asking me, 'Are you going to have this sorted out by this afternoon?' " Spelius said. "Is the Pope going to get married this afternoon? It'll probably be next week."

Three players were hit by pitches - one in the top of the first and two in the bottom of the inning by Castillo - before the benches emptied. One of the batters Castillo plunked was hit in the head.

The second batter Castillo drilled, Angel Cabrerra, slid hard into second base to break up a double play, prompting Castillo to brush back the next Dayton batter.

Dayton manager Donnie Scott complained to the plate umpire and began arguing with interim Peoria skipper Carmelo Martinez. The argument escalated and when Martinez pushed Scott, and the benches emptied after Castillo unleashed his throw toward the Dragons' dugout.

Castillo was drafted by the Cubs in 2004 and has played at Peoria since the beginning of last season.

Ironically, the Chiefs are set to make history on Tuesday, when they face the Kane County Cougars in the first minor league game to be played at Wrigley Field. They could be severely shorthanded, as seven Peoria players were ejected in Thursday's brawl.