CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox are a few years removed from the marketing slogan "the kids can play," but on Thursday afternoon, one young fan took it literally.

During the seventh inning of Thursday's contest between the White Sox and Orioles, a young boy -- who appeared to be around 4 or 5 years of age -- ran into left field, prompting Chicago outfielder Dayan Viciedo to pick him up and return him to his family in the box seats.

The child and his family of four were asked to leave after it was determined the boy was allowed to run down the aisle and onto the field with little discouragement from his guardians, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

"Safety is our No. 1 concern, and we are happy that the child is fine," said Scott Reifert, the team's senior vice president of communications. "Going on the field is stuff we take very seriously. It is not something we condone in any way."

Viciedo said he acted swiftly in scooping up the boy because he had concerns about the child's safety.

"What I was thinking was I hoped that a ball didn't hit him; that is why I grabbed him," Viciedo said through translator Jackson Miranda.

Viciedo said he never had seen that young of a fan run on the field during a game, and his teammates were in agreement.

White Sox starting pitcher Gavin Floyd watched the incident unfold from the clubhouse after leaving the game earlier in the inning.

"It is abnormal," Floyd said. "It is usually an adult who is not sober."