Rangers draft Paralyzed player (BM)

Bliss · Jun 9, 2011

This is a real heartwarming story...

This 5'8 180pd young man collided with this 6'2 200pd young man

And was paralyzed as a result....

The Texas Rangers did a wonderful thing after....Here is the story...

Rangers help paralyzed player realize dream

by Job Cooper

Fate and an unfortunately placed line drive brought University of Georgia teammates Johnathan Taylor and Zach Cone together on March 6th.

The horrific collision in left-center field of Foley Field in Athens in the third inning of the Bulldogs' game with Florida State left Taylor with a broken neck and paralysis from the waist down.

His dream of playing professional baseball ended on that play.

The dream of getting drafted by a Major League team did not.

On Wednesday afternoon, Taylor's dream came true, when the defending American League Champion Texas Rangers showed themselves to be champions of the human spirit as well, selecting "JT" on the 33rd round of the 2011 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.

"As an organization, I think all of us are always trying to do the right thing in any situation," said Rangers Director of Amateur Scouting Kip Fagg. "Taking Johnathan in the draft today, it was something we felt was right."

The selection will reunite Taylor and Cone, as members of the Rangers organization, as the team had selected Cone with its second pick, No. 37 overall in the compensation round between the first and second rounds.

The Rangers' move to draft Taylor was roundly applauded in Athens, where the Bulldogs Baseball Team showed its solidarity with Taylor by wearing "JT-2" logos on its batting helmets and kept a framed photo of their fallen teammate in the dugout for every game, all the way through the Corvallis (Ore.) Regional final. The grounds crew also painted "JT-2" on the outfield wall in left-center field.
(Here is a video that shows their support and love for Taylor and just how much he meant to the team http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/060811aab.html).

"This was truly a classy move and a great gesture on the part of the Texas Rangers organization," said Georgia Head Coach David Perno. "J.T. is definitely a player worthy of getting drafted. He's been a big part of our program, and we are all very excited for him. When I talked to him after he got the call [from the Rangers], he was in the middle of his rehabilitation work, laughing and having a good time and was thrilled to be drafted."

"I was pumped up when the Rangers told me they were thinking about drafting J.T., and then I got a call saying that they had drafted him," said Cone, who was one of three players to wear Taylor's No. 2 jersey during the season (middle infielder Levi Hyams and right fielder Peter Verdin did so as well). "I was already planning on going over to see him and now we can talk about the Rangers. This made my day, it's just awesome, and I'm so happy for him."

The Rangers had presented Taylor an autographed team jersey a few weeks back while visiting Cone in the course of what they called normal predraft activity. Fagg said that the team had an interest in Taylor even before the tragic events of March 6.

"We would have drafted him either way, regardless of any other circumstances involving his injury or Zach's draft status," Fagg said. "Our area scout in Georgia, Ryan Coe, has had a relationship with Johnathan since he was a high school player. The club has always liked his passion and ability as a player."

Taylor, an Acworth, Ga., native, starred at North Cobb High School before committing to play at Georgia. In two-plus seasons he played 117 games, making 91 starts. He had a career .312 batting average, with 36 stolen bases in 48 attempts, including a team-high 23 in 27 attempts as a freshman in 2009.
A Consumer Economics major, Taylor was true student-athlete, being named to the SEC Freshman Academic Honor Roll in 2009, then earning a place on the UGA Athletic Director's Honor Roll in 2010.

He is currently rehabbing at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, where he continues to make progress. Getting the news of his drafting certainly raised his spirits.

"We're all very proud of him. It's just amazing," said his mother, Tandra Taylor. "When he got the call, his face lit up, and we were all very excited. It was awesome news."
Click to expand...

"Fans can donate to the Johnathan Taylor Fund through the University of Georgia Athletic Association website, georgiadogs.com. An account also has been set up at First American Bank and Trust (FAB). Donations can be mailed to the following account or dropped off at any FAB location.

First American Bank and Trust, c/o Johnathan Taylor Fund, P.O. Box 1688, Athens, Ga., 30603.

Fans wishing to send a message to Johnathan or the family can visit www.caringbridge.org/visit/Johnathantaylor."

botoan · Jun 9, 2011

Kunoichi said: ↑

"Fans can donate to the Johnathan Taylor Fund through the University of Georgia Athletic Association website, georgiadogs.com. An account also has been set up at First American Bank and Trust (FAB). Donations can be mailed to the following account or dropped off at any FAB location.

First American Bank and Trust, c/o Johnathan Taylor Fund, P.O. Box 1688, Athens, Ga., 30603.

Fans wishing to send a message to Johnathan or the family can visit www.caringbridge.org/visit/Johnathantaylor."
Click to expand...

Thanks for posting this Beautiful,

Every once in a while I am reminded about how great sports can be and how sports can lift the hearts and spirits of so many.

GQ Brotha · Jun 9, 2011

Very interesting and touching story indeed. thx for posting Kuno.

JordanC · Jun 9, 2011

Thank kuno for posting. I am sure this will lift him up a bit in spirits. What bad luck to have a freak accident like that....so young.

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Rangers draft Paralyzed player (BM)

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