Front Office Football Central

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1891804

Quote:

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A Cleveland Indians pitcher was treated and released from a Kansas City hospital Thursday, a day after being shot in the right calf when a bullet pierced the team's bus and grazed another player.

Team trainers were able to remove the bullet from the calf of Kyle Denney, who was not seriously hurt, club spokesman Bart Swain said. The rest of the team was unharmed. The shooting occurred late Wednesday night as the team rode to Kansas City International Airport after a game against the Kansas City Royals.

As part of a rookie hazing ritual, Denney was wearing a Southern California cheerleader's uniform when he was shot. The outfit included high white boots.

"Our trainers said the boots may have saved Kyle from further injury," Swain said.

Swain said the shot was fired into the side of one of the Indians' two buses while it was on a ramp between Interstate 435 and I-70, grazing outfielder Ryan Ludwick. "It went through his pants and then hit Denney," Swain said. "At first, there was a little bit of panic. Once we realized Kyle was OK, fears were subsided."

Police said on Thursday that a tip has led to the identification of a possible suspect, who is not in custody. Police spokesman Darin Snapp said Wednesday night it wasn't known if the team's bus was the intended target. Telephone messages left for the Royals were not immediately returned.

The Indians arrived safely at the airport and boarded a plane bound for Minneapolis early Thursday. Denney, who started Wednesday night's 5-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium, was expected to rejoin the Indians on Thursday in Minnesota, where Cleveland begins its final series of the season Friday.

After getting called up from Triple-A Buffalo on Sept. 14, the 27-year-old Denney is 1-2 with a 9.56 ERA in four starts with Cleveland. He beat Kansas City 8-3 on Sept. 19 for his first major league win.