Florida State baseball player Steve Spradling hospitalized after skydiving accident

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State officials say senior baseball player Steven Spradling is lucky to be alive after a weekend skydiving accident.

The 23-year-old outfielder remained hospitalized Friday in Melbourne after suffering multiple injuries Sunday. He underwent surgery to have rods and plates inserted into his hip.

Spradling was injured after making a faster landing than normal. He was forced to adjust his fall roughly 100 feet above ground to avoid a potentially fatal collision with another skydiver.

Florida State coach Mike Martin says he's thankful Spradling survived the accident. Spradling, from Boynton Beach, will be hospitalized for a few weeks and in a wheelchair for some time during his recovery. Martin says he wasn't sure whether the injuries would be career-ending or when Spradling may be able to return to Florida State.