Toddler hit by home run ball at White Sox game

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A toddler is recovering after he was hit by a home run ball at a White Sox game.

Rowan Senders, 2, is a big fan of the Sox mascot Southpaw, but not so much a fan of Cleveland Indian Mike Aviles, who whacked a hard-hitting home run at U.S. Cellular Field on Monday night. The 4th inning homer flew into the left field stands, directly where Rowan and his family were sitting.

"I was looking down at him and I heard the whole crowd go, 'Oh!' and I looked up and there was the ball there in the air, and it was travelling at us," said Michael Senders, father.

Senders' wife had just left to take their 4-year-old daughter to the bathroom. Rowan was sitting in the seat to Senders' right. The father of three was holding his 7-month-old daughter with his left arm and the ball was coming right to Rowan.

"My first reaction was to try to cover him, but I had my daughter in my left arm so I couldn't get in the way. So I put my hand over his face like this, and it partially hit my hand and it partially hit his head," Michael Senders said.

Michael Senders said Rowan was bleeding from out his nose and mouth, and the actual stitching from the ball left an imprint on the toddler's forehead. Paramedics arrived immediately.

"They were super responsive, they were quick, they had everything ready to go. They had a stretcher, you know, they wheeled him onto it, they got us out quick," said Stacey Senders, mother.

Rowan was treated at Lurie Children's Hospital.

"We did a CAT scan which showed there was a skull fracture with underlying contusion, or bruising, to the brain," said Dr. Jerome Volk.

Dr. Volk said Rowan is expected to make a full recovery.

Rowan perked up when the White Sox sent a special care package to the hospital. As for returning to a game, his parents say absolutely; they don't want Rowan's first trip to a White Sox game to be his last.

"Balls leave the park all the time, and that's part of the excitement about the game. I grew up at Comiskey Park, it was the joys of going to the park and I want my kids to experience that," Stacey Senders said.

When the Senders are ready to return, the White Sox have invited them back as special guests.

Rowan could be released from the hospital as early as Tuesday night.