Jan. 4, 2013

FSU’s Spradling Injured in Skydiving Accident

Stephen Spradling (left), a senior outfielder at Florida State, was severely injured in a skydiving accident on Sunday afternoon, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

According to the newspaper, Spradling is recovering at Holmes Hospital in Melbourne and is expected to remain there for several weeks. Assistant coach Mike Martin Jr. told the paper that Spradling has a broken pelvis, broken hips, broken ribs and a broken bone in his back and is expected to be confined to a wheelchair for at least two to three months.

The Tallahassee Democrat and WarChant.com both reported that Spradling was injured when he tried to avoid colliding with another skydiver and crash-landed. 

Seminoles head coach Mike Martin said in a statement released by the school: “Our thoughts go out to Stephen and his family. I was truly scared for him when I heard the news. How many people live to tell a story of a skydiving accident? We are all very thankful that he is still alive. I just thank God that he is OK and is pointed in a direction of a full recovery. His entire Seminole family is thinking about him, and we hope and pray for Stephen to make a full recovery.”

Spradling, who starred at Broward College before arriving at FSU, appeared in 35 games with 11 starts and batted .262 (11 for 42) with four RBI for the Seminoles last year. Included were a pair of at-bats at the College World Series and an RBI single in a Super Regional win over Stanford. At Broward, Spradling was a team captain in 2011 and was a Dean’s List student during his two years. He hit .500 during conference play in 2010.

(photos courtesy of FSU Media Relations Office)