Jalen Niles is recovering from a devastating, career-ending injury suffered two weeks ago during the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament.
The Florida A&M senior shortstop was injured midway through the semifinal at Rickwood Field on May 23, when he collided with a Grambling State runner sliding into second base.
Niles was carted off the field and diagnosed with a broken tibia and fibula, along with a dislocated ankle in his right leg.
He underwent surgery the next morning at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital.
The 23-year-old faces a six-month recovery process, he told the Tallahassee Democrat.
“I can’t put weight on my right leg for the next three months,” Niles said. Once the cast is removed, he’ll begin rehabilitation.
Reflecting on the injury, Niles told the Tallahassee Democrat, “Everything happens for a reason. They (doctors) seem very optimistic about me getting to 100 percent, so hopefully that can happen. And if I still want to, I can try to play or move around and be fully functional in whatever I decide to do.”
After his injury, FAMU head coach Jamey Shouppe and several players visited Niles in the hospital.
Determined to support his teammates, Niles pushed to attend the championship game. “Originally, I wasn’t supposed to be able to make it. I think they were going to try to keep me in the hospital for like two or three days after the surgery just to monitor everything,” he told the newspaper. “But after we beat Grambling, there was no way I would just sit there.”
A walk off walk to secure the W 🐍⚾️‼️#AndreDawsonClassic @MLB @FAMU_Baseball @jalenniles01 pic.twitter.com/572Mhpp4SD
— MLBDevelops (@MLBDevelops) February 24, 2024
“I knew I had to support them, just like they came to support me. It just wouldn’t feel right for me to be watching that game on TV,” Niles said. “They were playing for not only themselves or a SWAC championship, but trying to do it for me so I can go out on a positive note.”
Niles expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from FAMU athletic director Angela Suggs, teammates, coaches, and even opponents. “It felt good to feel appreciated for what I’ve done for the program and not just let everything I’ve done go unnoticed. Those people care about me outside of what I can do on the field, and I know they also have my back in other parts of life. It’s helped the process. I don’t feel alone.”
Being in the SWAC is a brotherhood. We care about each other. We may not want the best for the other team on the field, but we always want the best for everybody in life.”
