College baseball player, 19, killed in car crash days after debut

Radford freshman Joey Raccuia died in a single-vehicle accident just four days after making his collegiate debut.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Radford University baseball player Joey Raccuia, a 19-year-old freshman shortstop/right-handed pitcher, was killed in a single-car crash on Wednesday, just four days after making his collegiate debut. The accident occurred a few miles from the Highlanders' baseball stadium, and Raccuia was pronounced dead at the scene. Raccuia was the son of former Radford head coach Joe Raccuia, who now works for the Kansas City Royals.

Why it matters

The tragic loss of a young student-athlete has deeply impacted the Radford community and the broader college baseball world. Raccuia's death comes at the start of the season, raising questions about player safety and the challenges of balancing academics, athletics, and the risks of the road.

The details

Joey Raccuia, a 19-year-old freshman shortstop/right-handed pitcher for the Radford Highlanders baseball team, was killed in a single-car crash on Wednesday, just four days after making his collegiate debut. The accident occurred a few miles away from the team's baseball stadium, and Raccuia was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

  • Raccuia made his collegiate debut on March 1, 2026.
  • The fatal crash occurred on March 5, 2026, just four days after Raccuia's debut.

The players

Joey Raccuia

A 19-year-old freshman shortstop/right-handed pitcher for the Radford Highlanders baseball team who was killed in a single-car crash just days after making his collegiate debut.

Joe Raccuia

The former head coach of the Radford Highlanders baseball team, who is now a player development staff member for the Kansas City Royals. He is the father of Joey Raccuia.

Alex Guerra

The current manager of the Radford Highlanders baseball team.

Brady Whitacre

A player for the Radford Highlanders baseball team.

Susan Trageser

The vice president of student affairs at Radford University.

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What they’re saying

“We are heartbroken to share news of the passing of Joey Raccuia. Joey's impact on our team, this community and all the lives he touched went far beyond the playing field, and we miss him deeply.”

— Radford Baseball (Instagram)

“It is with deep sadness that I share news of the death of Joey Raccuia, a first-year student at Radford. We are heartbroken by his passing yesterday and extend our condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time.”

— Susan Trageser, Vice President of Student Affairs, Radford University (Message to Radford community)

“[Raccuia] was clearly with us today. There's absolutely no question about it. If you don't believe in a higher power, you better start believing after that. It was fate.”

— Alex Guerra, Manager, Radford Highlanders Baseball (ESPN)

“We knew before the game, no matter how it went, we were going to stick together. We had the conversation too of 'What would Joey want to do?' Joey would want to go out and play.”

— Brady Whitacre, Player, Radford Highlanders Baseball (ESPN)

What’s next

Radford will look to continue to honor Raccuia during its series with Virginia Tech, which begins on Tuesday.

The takeaway

The tragic loss of a young student-athlete has deeply impacted the Radford community, highlighting the fragility of life and the importance of supporting one another during difficult times. Raccuia's memory will live on through the continued efforts of his teammates and the Radford baseball program.