Robinson back on the baseball field
Austin Robinson with Bob Jones baseball coach Jared Smith (Record Photo/Lindsay Vaught)
MADISON- Bob Jones senior outfielder Austin Robinson was back on the field Tuesday, one week after being rushed to the Intensive Care Unit at Huntsville Hospital. But he wasn’t practicing. He was there to lend support to his teammates as they practiced for a game against Huntsville that night.
Austin isn’t cleared for any baseball activity. He goes back to the cardiologist on June 29th. All baseball activity wraps up next week and the team has the month of July off.
“I plan on playing next spring. I’m looking forward to my senior year and getting back on the field with my teammates,” Robinson said. “Since Coach Smith came here we have worked hard and more guys are trying out wanting to be on the team.”
“I’m not one to want to be in the spotlight. The reaction has been amazing.”
The team was playing at Buckhorn and Robinson was playing rightfield. A left-handed batter, he tried to bunt but the ball hit him in the left upper chest knocking his heart out of rhythm. He staggered briefly then fell to the ground. Coaches and two Buckhorn parents came to his aid immediately.
“I’ve never seen anything like that,” said Kevin Elwell Bob Jones assistant baseball coach. “I’ve seen guys get hit in the head or the eye and had serious injuries but never seen anybody hit in the chest like that and never anything that life threatening. I was in the dugout and knew the way he went down it was serious.”
Bob Jones baseball coach Jared Smith said that Austin was having an excellent summer with the team and was the starting rightfielder and also played some designated hitter.
“Whenever he’s comfortable to get back lifting and working out we will be ready,” Smith said. “For him to be back normal a week later is a blessing because we were concerned about his long term health. On the field it was one of the scariest events of my life. He progressed very quickly, he was in ICU two days, and the next day he was ready to go.”
Austin’s dad John was at the game and he called his mother Leslie. The game was stopped and canceled. Medflight airlifted Austin to the emergency room.
Smith went to the hospital where he stayed for most of the next two days.
Austin also has two sisters, Caroline (19) and Rebecca (15).
“It has brought our family even closer together, just enjoying being with one another. We’re planning a vacation to the beach in July so I’m looking forward to that,” Robinson said.
Next week Smith will hold his first Bob Jones baseball camp for kids grades 1-6. He has room for more to sign up.
