Player Arrested as Cubs Minor League Peoria Chiefs Club is in Massive Brawl with Dayton Dragons in Class A Game

Fifteen players and both managers were ejected, a fan was sent to the hospital, and one player was arrested after a 10-minute bench-clearing brawl in the first inning between the Peoria Chiefs and Dayton Dragons on Thursday night in the Class A Midwest League.

Peoria Chief pitcher Julio Castillo was arrested and charged with felonious assault for allegedly throwing a ball that hit the fan during the fight. Montgomery County Jail officials said the 21-year-old Castillo was scheduled to be arraigned Friday. Video from the game shows Castillo throwing the ball angrily but doesn't show where the ball landed.

An hour after the brawl began, league President George Spelius, reached by telephone at his home in Beloit, Wis., reversed the ejections under advisement from the parent Reds and Cubs, who didn't want to see each team use two pitchers as outfielders. The game was completed with Dayton winning 6-5.

This wasn't an ordinary fight. Players from both sides were throwing—and landing—real punches. Castillo, the Peoria pitcher, appeared to be trying to throw a ball into the Dayton dugout, but instead hit a fan in the stands who had to be taken to a hospital. The fan's name and condition weren't immediately available.

After a Peoria player was hit in the top of the first, Castillo hit two batters in the bottom half -- one in the head. The second hit batsmen by Castillo, Angel Cabrera, made an aggressive slide into second to break up a double play. Castillo followed that by throwing his next pitch up-and-in to the next Dayton batter, Brandon Menchaca , prompting Dayton manager Donnie Scott to leave the third base box to complain to home plate umpire Tyler Wilson. Interim Peoria manager Carmelo Martinez -- filling in for Ryne Sandberg -- came onto the field to join the discussion.

The two managers began arguing, and when Martinez pushed Scott, the benches emptied.

Before the brawl, Dayton shortstop Zack Cozart was drilled in the helmet by a Castillo pitch and left the game. Also, Peoria second baseman Gian Guzman broke his leg trying to field a grounder.

Spelius said Friday he has spoken to the umpires about the brawl but still needs to read a report, review video footage and talk to team officials. He said he did not expect to make a decision Friday on possible sanctions.

A telephone message left by The Associated Press for Reds general manager Walt Jocketty, who attended the game, was not immediately returned.

Sandberg was in Cooperstown, N.Y., for the weekend's Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. Earlier this season, he was suspended three games for confronting the opposing manager during a game.