Vanderbilt pitching prospect dies in drowning accident

Vanderbilt Commodores pitcher Donny Everett drowned on Thursday. He was 19 years old.

A tragedy has struck the Vanderbilt community with the passing of Donny Everett on Thursday night. Everett, 19, was considered one of the best young pitchers in college baseball, with many believing his was a future first-round pick.

Unfortunately, all that promise came to a terrible conclusion for the freshman when he drowned in a Tennessee lake on Thursday night. After going to the lake with four people, Everett attempted to swim but began to sink below the surface, per ESPN.

One young man attempted to save him but could not continue to pull Everett along without going sinking as well. He eventually let go and Everett sank, only to be pulled out of the water later by rescue squad divers.

"“We learned last night of the tragic death of Donny Everett, an outstanding young man who exemplified the best of our university,” Vanderbilt athletic director David Williams said Friday. “As you can imagine, the team, the athletic department and the university are trying to come to terms with this tragedy. His parents and loved ones are on our minds and in our prayers as we share in their grief.”"

While any death is tragic, it is even more so in the case of a young person. Everett has so much potential both within and outside of baseball, only to see it end so early. Hopefully, Everett’s memory will live on and those who had to witness the horror can recover.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Vanderbilt and the Everett family in this tough time.