Glen Allen HS student dies in James River boating accident

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 3, 2022

A Glen Allen High School student died July 2 when she was struck in the James River by the propeller of the boat behind which she had been tubing.

Seventeen-year-old Julia Budzinski was a rising senior at the school and the daughter of Toronto Blue Jays' first base coach Mark Budzinski, a former standout baseball player at the University of Richmond and longtime coach in Minor League Baseball who has spent the past four seasons with the Blue Jays.

Julia Budzinski fell off the tube in which she was riding and into the water, but when the boat pulling her and another person circled back to retrieve them, a wave apparently pushed the boat toward them, and its propeller struck Budzinski, who died at the scene. Budzinski's mother, Monica, and sister, Lily, were in the boat at the time. (The Budzinskis also have a son, Josh.) It was being operated by a friend of the family, according to Virginia Department of Wildlife  Resources officials.

During a ceremony at Glen Allen High School July 3 to honor Julia Budzinski's life, her mother encouraged mourners to remember the way she lived, not the way she died.

"It was a very happy, fun last day on Earth for her. It was happy, laughing, having a good time," Monica Budzinski said. "That's the way I'm going to remember her, that's the way everybody needs to remember her. She loved life, she loved being outside, sports, everything."

Budzinski was a member of the varsity soccer and volleyball teams at Glen Allen High and also participated in the school's Fellowship of Christian Athletes organization. In addition, she was the vice president of the National Honor Society at GAHS and a community volunteer.

Word of Budzinski's death circulated through the community locally – and throughout the circle of Major League Baseball nationally and internationally. The Blue Jays and other teams held moments of silence in Budzinski's honor during the holiday weekend, and the Blue Jays wore her initials "JB" on their hats during Monday's game, a 5-1 loss to Oakland in Toronto.

"This devastating loss is felt by our entire organization, and we grieve alongside Bud and his family," said Blue Jays General Manager Ross Atkins. "I have known Bud for more than 25 years and have always admired his commitment as a dad and husband first. He is loved and well-respected by our entire clubhouse and holds a special place in all our hearts."

"There are good men and there are great men," Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo told reporters in Toronto. "He is a great man. You could ache for anybody, but he's a special kind of person."