Donald Edward Everett (April 16, 1997 – June 2, 2016) was an American baseball pitcher. He attended Vanderbilt University, where he played college baseball for the Vanderbilt Commodores. He was considered one of the top prospects for the 2015 Major League Baseball draft. Everett drowned during his freshman season at Vanderbilt.
| Donny Everett | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: April 16, 1997 Clarksville, Tennessee | |
| Died: June 2, 2016 (aged 19) Manchester, Tennessee | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right |
Career
editEverett attended Clarksville High School in Clarksville, Tennessee. As a junior, he had an 11–1 win–loss record with a 0.61 earned run average (ERA) and 105 strikeouts. As a senior, he was the Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year for Tennessee.[1][2] For the season, he had a 9–1 record with a 0.93 ERA and 124 strikeouts. He also batted .412 with two home runs and 34 runs batted in. He committed to Vanderbilt University to play college baseball.[3][4]
Everett was considered one of the top prospects for the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft.[5] Due to a reported signing bonus demand of "more than $2 million", Everett was not selected until the Milwaukee Brewers chose him in the 29th round, with the 871st overall selection.[6] Everett turned down signing bonus offers reportedly as high as $2.5 million from teams who decided against drafting him so that he could attend Vanderbilt.[7]
Everett missed the first half of his freshman season with an injury. When he returned, he pitched to a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings pitched.[8]
Death
editEverett went fishing at Normandy Lake in Manchester, Tennessee, with his Vanderbilt teammates on the night of June 2, 2016. Everett tried to swim across the lake and drowned.[9] According to Coffee County Sheriff’s Department, Everett had called for help to his friends, who thought he was “just joking around because he was smiling and did not seem to be in distress”. Emergency crews were called to the scene around 5:00 pm. He was later pronounced dead. He was 19. Having just finished his freshman year, he died one day before Vanderbilt University was to enter the 2016 NCAA Division I baseball tournament.[8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ George Robinson (May 28, 2015). "Donny Everett named Gatorade Baseball Player of Year". The Leaf Chronicle. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
- ^ Murphy, Michael (May 28, 2015). "Vanderbilt baseball signee Donny Everett named Gatorade player of the year". The Tennessean. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
- ^ George Robinson (November 12, 2014). "Clarksville pitcher Donny Everett signs with Vandy". The Leaf Chronicle. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
- ^ Austin, Chris (November 13, 2014). "Clarksville High Wildcats Donny Everett signs with defending NCAA Baseball National Champions Vanderbilt University". Clarksville Online. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
- ^ Law, Keith. "Tenn. high-schooler Donnie Everett looking like a first-round pick". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
- ^ Murphy, Michael (June 10, 2015). "Vandy signee Donny Everett goes in 29th round". The Tennessean. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
- ^ "Inside Baseball: Mets, Twins among early buyers and more MLB news". CBS Sports. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
- ^ a b Sparks, Adam (June 3, 2016). "Vanderbilt pitcher Donny Everett dies in drowning accident". The Tennessean. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
- ^ Miller, Scott (June 1, 2017). "Pitcher Donny Everett Was Headed for Stardom Until Life Tragically Intervened". BleacherReport.com. Bleacher Report, Inc. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
External links
edit- Career statistics from Baseball Reference (Minors)