Kentucky basketball hiker and pitcher Ben Jordan dies at 22



[ad_1]

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky says Ben Jordan, a right-handed pitcher who played on the men’s basketball team last season due to a shortage of players, has died. He was 22 years old.

The school announced Jordan’s death on Monday in a statement and a Kentucky baseball spokesperson said coach Nick Mingione spoke with the player’s family. Leaving school did not specify the cause of death.

Mingione said in a statement Tuesday that the program was devastated to learn of Jordan’s passing.

“There are no words to express the shock and sorrow our team is feeling with the loss of Ben,” said the coach. “It was an absolute joy to train and be there. … We are all in pain and we will find a way to move Ben’s legacy forward and keep it in our hearts forever.

The 6-foot-9, 250-pound Jordan joined the Kentucky basketball team last season when he lacked enough players to practice. He only played one minute in two games, but training against 6-11 Nick Richards was cited to help Richards become an All-Southeastern Conference first-team selection by the Associated Press and coaches.

“Ben made an impact on our team last season in many ways with his kind heart, big smile and wonderful personality,” coach John Calipari said in a statement. “He cared so much about this place and it meant so much to him to be a part of this team.

The Olive Hill, Ky. Native was averaging 7.27 points earned in 2019 after pitching 8 2/3 innings in 10 games and allowing eight hits, eight runs (seven earned), 12 walks with eight strikeouts in the game. stick. Jordan redshirted his 2018 freshman season while recovering from an injury.

Jordan was on the active roster of 35 Kentucky baseball players last spring, but had not joined the team due to his basketball obligations before the season was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. He also made the SEC’s Spring Sports Academic Honor Roll.

[ad_2]

Source link