The play was eerily similiar to the one that ended Juan Encarnacion's playing career four years ago.
Watch the Konerkos' scary moment
You don't see the ball actually hit Hank Konerko (pictured during a reenactment), but you can see the velocity in which the ball traveled and also hear the immediate reaction of the crowd. Most of the time that's all you need to understand the potential seriousness of a situation.
The broadcast didn't immediately identify the man as Konerko's father, but Paul confirmed afterwards that his dad and brother were both fine after the ball shot over the White Sox dugout, deflected off his brother's hand, and struck his father on the chin.
That's good news. Really good news. It's even better news that Konerko's mother, who wasn't paying attention to the field, was not the one struck by the baseball because she wasn't even paying attention.
"My brother stuck his hand in front of my dad, trying to get it, and his thumb is pretty swollen," Konerko said. "And then my dad kind of got it through the hands off the chin. But they are both fine.
"And my mom was talking through the whole thing and didn't see anything," added Konerko with a smile. "When that ball went over the dugout, I almost didn't even want to look up there. I knew that was where they were sitting and I figured my mom wouldn't be paying attention. So, we dodged a bullet. My brother's thumb is black and blue. That's no big deal, compared to what it could have been."
Crisis averted.
And to ensure no other close calls take place in Arizona, perhaps the Konerko family would be better off spending Father's Day at Paul's 16,000 square foot house in Scottsdale.
By the way, the White Sox were victorious by a 6-2 score thanks in part to Konerko's 18th home run and his RBI single.
Mercy.
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