Minor league pitcher convicted in Dayton fan-beaning case

DAYTON, Ohio -- An Ohio judge has convicted a minor league pitcher of injuring a fan when he threw a baseball during an on-field melee in Dayton last year.

Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Connie Price found 22-year-old Julio Castillo guilty Tuesday of felonious assault causing serious physical injury.

Castillo, of the Dominican Republic, was pitching for the Peoria Chiefs against the Dayton Dragons when the bench-clearing brawl broke out. Castillo threw a ball that hit a fan in the head and caused a concussion.

During last month's trial, Castillo testified that he threw the ball downward toward a dugout to try to keep opposing players from rushing the field and was not aiming at anyone.