Radford University Freshman Baseball Player Joey Raccuia Dies in Crash Near Campus
Joey Raccuia, a 19-year-old freshman on the Radford University baseball team and son of former Highlanders head coach Joe Raccuia, was killed in a single-vehicle wreck on East Main Street in Radford, Virginia, on Wednesday.
The crash occurred at around 11:20 a.m., according to The Roanoke Times. First responders provided medical assistance, but Raccuia was pronounced dead at the scene.
The wreck remains under investigation, and police are asking anyone with information to call Capt. J.L. Slaughter at 540-267-3711.
Joey Raccuia had played in two of the team’s seven games this season, both as a second baseman, batting 0 for 3. He was also listed as a pitcher, according to his bio on the team’s official website.
A freshman from PDG Academy, his college career was only weeks old.
His death carries particular weight at Radford because the Raccuia name is inseparable from the program itself.
Joey’s father, Joe Raccuia, was a Radford graduate and former team captain in 1995, a season that saw the team win a school record 30 wins, per Radford University.
The elder Raccuia returned to his alma mater in 1996 as an assistant coach and again in 2007 when he was named the team’s fifth head coach. Over 12 seasons between 2008 and 2019, he built the Highlanders into one of the Big South’s most competitive programs.
In 2015, Joe Raccuia led the team to a record 45 wins. That year, the Highlanders won their first Big South regular season and tournament championships while also advancing to the NCAA regional round for the first time in program history.
In 2017, the team won another Big South championship and earned a second NCAA Tournament berth.
Joe Raccuia produced 13 MLB Draft Picks during his tenure, including the Big South’s only first-rounder in Eddie Butler in 2012. He now works for the Kansas City Royals in scouting and player development.
Joey chose to follow his father’s path back to Radford, the same program his father once captained and then coached to historic heights.
The Radford baseball team confirmed the death in an Instagram post on Feb. 26. “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,” the team wrote.
The university also sent a message to the broader Radford community, per WDBJ.
“Dear Highlander Family, 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,” the university wrote.
Radford is 5-2 this season and is set to host Bryant in a three-game series this weekend. Players are wearing a patch on their hats and helmets that reads “JR 30,” in reference to his number.
BOTTOM LINE: The crash remains under investigation, and anyone with information can reach Capt. J.L. Slaughter at 540-267-3711.
Production of this article included the use of AI. It was reviewed and edited by a team of content specialists.
