From Fractured Spine To Pitcher Of The Year

by • Featured Stories

By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR.
Editor/Collegiate Baseball

SALISBURY, MD — Jimmy Adkins is a remarkable story.

In the spring of 2021, the righthanded pitcher and middle infielder for Salisbury University experienced severe pain in his lower back.

An MRI uncovered that he had fractured the L-5 area of his lower spine.

The only possible cause of the injury for this rare condition was that he swung a bat thousands of times each week, fielded balls, ran the bases, pitched and did weight training.

The injury didn’t require surgery, but he was forced to wear an upper body hard, plastic brace which immobilized his upper torso nearly 24 hours a day for three months.

Then he went through rehabilitation for his back the next six months.

It turned into nine months of torture for this talented athlete.

Then something incredible happened in the spring of 2022.

Focusing only on pitching for the Sea Gulls, he posted a 7-2 record, 3 saves and 1.87 ERA over 17 appearances as he struck out 87 batters in 91 1/3 innings with only 13 walks.

He was named NCAA Div. III National Pitcher of The Year and was a first team All-American.

It just doesn’t seem possible, but it happened.

To read more of this article, purchase the March 10, 2023 edition of Collegiate Baseball or subscribe by CLICKING HERE.