Teenage daughter of first base coach for the Toronto Blue Jays killed in apparent boating accident
The 17-year-old daughter of Mark “Bud” Budzinski, Julia Budzinski, her away on Saturday in what appeared to be a boating mishap on Virginia’s James River.
The 17-year-old daughter of first base coach Mark “Bud” Budzinski of the Toronto Blue Jays passed away on Saturday, apparently as a result of a boating mishap in Virginia.
The team confirmed Julia Budzinski’s passing in a statement on Sunday. Julia was Budzinski and his wife Monica’s eldest daughter. Her cause of death is not yet known to the general public.
“Our entire organization is devastated by this loss, and we are grieving with Bud and his family,” stated general manager and senior vice president of baseball operations Ross Atkins of the Blue Jays. Having known Bud for over 25 years, I have always respected his dedication to his roles as a spouse and father. Our entire clubhouse adores and respects him, and we all have a special place in our hearts for him.
As per the announcement, Budzinski will be spending time with his family, which consists of his two living children, and will not be joining the squad.
According to The Washington Post, Budzinski is in his fourth season as the first base coach of the Blue Jays. He was also a player with the Cincinnati Reds.
He exited a Blue Jays game on Saturday in the third inning due to a “personal matter,” according to The Associated Press.
Before Sunday’s game began, the Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays observed a moment of quiet in Julia Budzinski’s honor, during which her picture was displayed on a large screen, according to the AP.
According to WFXR-TV in Roanoke, Virginia, and WTVR-TV in Richmond, Virginia, high school student Budzinski passed away in a tubing accident on the James River.
According to a spokesman for the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, the 17-year-old girl passed away on Saturday when she and another girl tumbled off a tube that a boat was pulling. The victim was struck by the propeller of the boat when it impacted a wave, which caused it to topple over.
“The operator immediately jumped into the river to rescue the victim, as did another passing boat operator,” added the statement.
No foul play is suspected, and alcohol wasn’t a factor, the department said, noting that “lifejackets were worn.”
Information about the condition of the other girl who fell off the tube wasn’t immediately available.
Students from Glen Allen High School, where Budzinski was a rising senior, gathered Sunday night for a vigil in her memory, where Mark and Monica Budzinski also made appearances, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.
“She had just the best year. She had an awesome year,” Monica Budzinski said of her daughter at the vigil, according to the newspaper.
She continued, “It was a very happy, fun last day on Earth for her, sadly, obviously,” in reference to her daughter’s day on Saturday. However, it was joyful, lighthearted, and enjoyable.
That’s how I will remember her, and that’s how everyone should remember her. She cherished life. She cherished everything—sports, being outside, etc. She will continue to exist via all of you.
The Times-Dispatch stated that Budzinski participated in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and played varsity volleyball and soccer in high school. According to the publication, she was also an active volunteer with organizations that support those with disabilities and the vice president of the school’s National Honor Society chapter.
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