Tennessee baseball outfielder Reese Chapman is out for the Vols’ SEC Tournament opening game against South Carolina with a face injury, the Vols’ listed on the SEC Availability report.
Chapman suffered the face injury on Monday afternoon during Tennessee’s practice when he was struck in the face with a line drive. Tennessee took Chapmen to UAB hospital for further evaluation but Chapman was alert and communicating during the entire process.
With the recency of the injury, it is unclear the severity or how long it could sideline Tennessee’s starting right fielder. However, Chapman’s availability for the remainder of the tournament is uncertain at this point.
The senior outfielder exits the regular season red-hot at the plate after hitting six-for-13 with three extra-base hits and four RBIs in Tennessee’s series victory over Oklahoma over the weekend.
After a solid junior season as a full-time starter, Chapman has perhaps been Tennessee’s best hitter in his senior season. Over the course of the regular season, Chapman slashed .316/.422/.577 with 10 home runs, 19 doubles, one triple and 44 RBIs.
Chapman was also very productive in SEC play, slashing .306/.391/.603 with seven home runs, 13 doubles, one triple and 26 RBIs.
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With Chapman is sidelined, it’s unclear who would start in his place since the senior has started all 55 gams this season. Jay Abernathy and freshman Nate Eisfelder would be natural fill ins but neither have played right field this season.
Garrett Wright could potentially move from centerfield to right field with Abernathy starting in the middle of the outfield instead. Henry Ford, who has started at third base for Tennessee this season, also has experience in right field when he was at Virginia.
Chapman is the second Tennessee player to suffer a face injury this season. Catcher Stone Lawless was hit-by a pitch in his face against Vanderbilt and missed nearly three weeks before returning to the field.
Tennessee enters the SEC Tournament with a 36-19 (15-15 SEC) record landing as the 10-seed. The Vols played poorly in their first four SEC series, leaving a series loss against LSU with a 4-8 SEC record. But starting with a series sweep at Mississippi State, the Vols posted an 11-7 SEC record in their final six series.
If the Vols get past 15-seed South Carolina, they will face off against seven-seed Arkansas on Wednesday evening with the winner advancing to the quarterfinals on Friday.
First pitch for Tennessee baseball’s SEC Tournament opening game is at approximately 5:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday evening at the Hoover Met. Dave Neal and Lance Cormier are on the call for the SEC Network.
