Texas A&M baseball faces a challenging situation as they continue their pursuit of a spot in the NCAA Tournament, now without one of their standout players. Outfielder Jace LaViolette suffered a hand injury during the Aggies’ SEC tournament match against No. 10 Auburn. The incident occurred in the fifth inning when LaViolette was hit by a pitch from Auburn’s left-handed pitcher, Carson Myers. Following the injury, he exited the game, which raises concerns about the team’s prospects moving forward.
Texas A&M manager Michael Earley confirmed after the game that LaViolette will miss the remainder of the conference tournament. LaViolette was seen returning to the dugout later in the game with his hand wrapped in a splint, indicating the severity of the situation. Prior to his injury, LaViolette had a solid season, hitting .259 with 18 home runs and being recognized as the No. 7 prospect in the upcoming MLB draft.
Despite the loss, the Aggies managed to pull off a narrow 3-2 victory against Auburn, advancing them to the quarterfinals where they will face No. 3 seed LSU, currently ranked as the top team in the nation. This win exemplifies the resilience of the team, as they will need to rally together in the absence of LaViolette.
ESPN’s Kris Budden provided updates during the broadcast, noting that there was an X-ray machine on site, alleviating the need for LaViolette to leave the venue for medical evaluation. His initial cries of pain were audible across the field, a testament to the seriousness of the injury.
As Texas A&M prepares for their upcoming match against LSU, they will focus on coming together to support one another and capitalize on the talent within the roster to move ahead in the tournament. Though losing a key player like LaViolette is a significant setback, it also presents an opportunity for other athletes to step up and showcase their capabilities on the big stage.