It is with a heavy heart that we transmit this news. Kentucky baseball player Ben Jordan, who also played for the basketball team last season, passed away at 22. Zack Klemme, sports editor at The Daily Independent in Ashland, shared the news on Twitter this morning.
Sad to report that former West Carter star Ben Jordan, two sportsman, died. Jordan was 22 years old.
He was playing baseball in Kentucky and was also on the 2019-20 Wildcats player roster.
– Zack Klemme (@zklemmeADI) January 12, 2021
During his season as a walk-on, Jordan appeared in two games, having only one chance against eastern Kentucky. During the summer, he decided to return to baseball full time. He was a right-handed pitcher for the Cats and played both sports at West Carter High School in Olive Hill, Kentucky, where he was the team’s best rebound and kicking pitcher of all time and the eighth in the school’s history of career points. As a senior, he won the Eastern Kentucky Conference Defense of the Year Player and added honors from First Team EKC during his senior season.
“Like so many others in the state of Kentucky, basketball has been a part of my life since I was a kid,” Jordan said in a statement after joining the basketball team last fall. “When the opportunity arose to join the UK basketball team, I wanted to enter it with an open mind, especially as I moved away from the sport to concentrate on baseball. After a few days of practice, it is clear to me that I want to commit to this.
“Baseball was and will remain my priority, but I am excited about the opportunity and the challenge of competing in two sports that I love to practice. I talked to coach (Nick) Mingione about it and we did it with all his blessing. I look forward to helping with practice and being a great teammate this season. “
“I really appreciate Ben helping our team and agreeing to be part of it,” said John Calipari at the time. “He has great behavior and a way that fits very well with this team. The guys already hugged him like one of ours. I think he will be a great addition to this team. “
As a baseball player, Jordan was an Under Armor All-American in 2016, Rawlings-Perfect Game Second Team All-American in 2017, and was considered the overall number 97 in baseball and the third right-handed pitcher in the class of 2017. After redshiring his first year in Kentucky, Jordan returned to the field in 2019, where he appeared in 10 games and shot 8.2 entries in total, allowing for eight strokes and seven runs, while eliminating eight.
Our hearts are with your family and friends at this devastating time.
UPDATE: UK confirmed the news.
Our hearts are broken today. Do not worry, @ ben3jordan. You will always be part of us. ? pic.twitter.com/n94brIHb1B
– Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) January 12, 2021