Tampa Baseball Family Mourns Death of Jimmy Hodgskin

TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa baseball program wishes to express its heartfelt sympathies following the death of former pitcher Jimmy Hodgskin. The two-year letterwinner was killed in an automobile accident on Sunday.

"Our hearts are broken as we lost a member of our Spartan baseball family today," says head coach Joe Urso. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Hodgskin family during this very difficult time."

Hodgskin, a native of Windermere, Fla., spent three years at UT, playing for the Spartans in 2014 and 2016. After spending two seasons at Troy University, the left-hander redshirted at Tampa in 2013 while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.

A second injury appeared to be career-ending in 2015, though Hodgskin made a successful comeback, becoming a key bullpen pitcher for UT last season. He appeared in 12 games in 2016, striking out 11 opposing hitters while holding opponents to a .189 average against.

"Our hearts are heavy today as we received the news that we lost a Spartan family member today," says associate head coach and pitching coach Sam Militello. "Jimmy will be truly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Hodgskin family."

Among his top performances for Tampa last season was a scoreless inning in an exhibition game versus the Philadelphia Phillies at Brighthouse Field. He also threw three hitless innings at Embry-Riddle and a scoreless frame at No. 39 West Florida.

James Gardiner Hodgskin is the son of Jon and Lori Hodgskin. His younger sister Ashlee attended and played volleyball at Saint Leo University, also a member of the Sunshine State Conference.

Following is a post from former teammate Michael Calkins.