A toddler hit in the face by a line drive during today’s Yankees-Twins game at Yankee Stadium is “doing OK,” according to a report from the New York Post.
The positive news came from Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who said the young girl was hit in the mouth.
The Yankees issued this statement, only confirming that the girl was taken to an area hospital.
“The child who was struck with a batted ball today was given first aid at the ballpark and is receiving medical attention at an area hospital. The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, known as HIPAA, prevents the team from giving more information. We will have no further comment at this time.”
Thankfully, there isn’t video showing the ball striking the girl, but ESPN’s cameras following the game showed how hard the ball was hit and the player reactions moments after. This is not very easy to watch.
Child gets hit by a foul ball at Yankees game. The players' reactions say it all. pic.twitter.com/YIyaBJq7tT
— Jordan Heck (@JordanHeckFF) September 20, 2017
The Post adds that this isn’t the first time a fan has been hit in the stands. It happened twice earlier this year, once on an Aaron Judge line drive and another when a piece of a broken bat hit a fan, bloodying them.
Yankee Stadium only has netting protecting fans sitting within 70 feet of home plate, although more teams are installing extra netting all the way to the ends of the dugouts.
Minnesota was the first team to put in extra netting.
It’s unclear if netting reaching the end of the Yankees dugout would’ve kept today’s incident from happening.
Hope everything is alright with the little girl that got hit with the foul ball … her thoughts are with us for a speedy recovery
— Sir Didi Gregorius (@DidiG18) September 20, 2017
Thoughts and prayers with the little girl struck by the foul ball today. Hoping for a speedy recovery.
— Buck (@OfficialBuck103) September 20, 2017
The Yankees won the game 11-3 to sweep the three-game series.
