Columbia Fireflies clubhouse manager in critical condition after golf cart crash
A clubhouse manager for the Columbia Fireflies minor league baseball team is in serious condition following a golf cart crash.
CJ Yarborough, the visiting clubhouse manager for Columbia’s baseball team, is in “stable but critical condition” at Prisma Health Richland Hospital, according to a statement released by the Fireflies. He may be facing a serious brain injury, and it is not yet known whether he will be able to breathe or function on his own, according to a GoFundMe set up by friends and family to assist with Yarborough’s medical expenses.
On Sept. 17, an “ordinary game day,” Yarborough was riding in a golf cart when he suffered a serious accident, according to a post on GoFundMe.
Yarborough is a University of South Carolina student and a South Carolina native, known for his passion for the sports industry, love of motorcycles and big smile. He started his career with the Fireflies as a batboy during their first season in 2016.
“If you have been to a Fireflies game, you have most likely seen CJ Yarborough on field running back and forth between dugouts,” the Columbia Fireflies said in a tweet.
In addition to working over 10-hour days managing the visiting clubhouse at Segra Park, Yarborough is also a longtime employee of Jake’s bar in Five Points, another Columbia institution.
“(He) isn’t just a hard worker, he’s a loved worker,” according to GoFundMe.
“We ask that you please keep CJ and his family in your thoughts and prayers as they go through this difficult time,” the Fireflies said in a statement.
