Toddler Recovering After Being Hit By Home Run Ball At Sox Game

CHICAGO (CBS) -- One family will never forget an otherwise forgettable White Sox game.

During the fourth inning of Monday's game against the Cleveland Indians, a young boy was hit by a home run ball.

CBS 2's Jim Williams caught up with him at Lurie Children's Hospital.

Little Rowan is doing pretty good for a toddler hit in the head by a screaming home run.

"All of a sudden we heard people go 'oh,' and I looked up and there's the ball right there," said Michael Sender, the boy's father.

In the left-field stands at U.S Cellular Field, Michael Senders was holding his seven-month-old in his left hand and had a split second to protect two-and-a-half-year-old Rowan to his right.

"I had to basically just wrap his head up with my hand like this, and I got him I think about like that," he said.

Dad deflected the ball, but it still hit Rowan, who suffered multiple small skull fractures. You can see the imprint of the baseball's seams on his forehead.

"He got very lucky by having the ball deflected away instead of having a direct hit to his head," Northwestern Neurosurgeon Dr. Jerome Volk said.

His mother, Stacy, was in the bathroom with their four-year-old daughter at the time. She doesn't regret having her kids in a landing spot for home runs.

"I don't see holding my kids back," Stacy said. "Even after this I'll still take him to Sox Park."

One study says 1,700 people a year are injured at major league parks, including a fan two weeks ago at Wrigley Field.

Just pay attention, the Senders say.

"Keep your eyes up and keep your eye on the ball," Michael said.

Stacy and Michael Senders praised the White Sox organization for its quick action in aiding little Rowan. The team says it's giving the family a care package, plus an invitation to another game. Rowan was expected to released from Lurie Children's Hospital today.