Line drive fractures girl's skull during Dodger batting practice

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A three-year-old girl suffered a fractured skull after she was hit by a line drive off the bat of Russell Martin at Dodger Stadium Monday night.

The girl's injury Monday is not believed to be life-threatening but it was not clear if she would have any long-term disabilities, said Dodgers spokesman Joe Jareck.

The accident occurred when Martin hit a line drive in the stands near third base, hitting the girl and knocking her unconscious, Jareck said. The girl was sitting with her father, who rushed her to the first-aid station. The fire department transported her to Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

Jareck said batting practice continued, but Martin was upset by the incident and has offered to pay for her medical expenses.

Jareck said he did not have the girl's name.

A hospital spokeswoman would not comment on the girl's condition, citing patient privacy laws.

Martin said he was relieved it wasn't worse.

"As soon as it hit, I heard the sound. I knew it wasn't a good sound and then I saw him grab her," Martin told MLB.com. "It didn't look like she was moving so that was scary. … I mean, I've hit somebody before but not where they had to be rushed to the hospital."