Michael Earley raves about Jace LaViolette playing with broken hand: 'Ultimate competitor'

Texas A&M star Jace LaViolette is playing against LSU in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals despite suffering a broken left hand in the Aggies’ previous game. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Texas A&M head coach Michael Earley discussed what it means to him for LaViolette to play through the pain.

“I was just, yeah, emotional,” Earley said. “I can’t say enough good things about him. I love him to death and he’s out there fighting for us, and that’s exactly what we need.”

LaViolette suffered the broken hand when it was hit by a pitch in the fifth inning of Texas A&M’s 3-2 win over Auburn on Thursday. After the game, Earley said that LaViolette would be out for the remainder of the SEC Tournament.

However, less than 24 hours after this statement, the Aggies reversed course. According to TexAgs reporter Ryan Brauninger, Texas A&M was informed that LaViolette’s hand injury can’t get any worse and it is a “pain management” situation. Clearly, LaViolette can handle the pain.

In his second at-bat against LSU, LaViolette hit a single to drive in a run. Michael Earley approved of LaViolette’s pivotal hit early in the game.

“Great at-bat. He’s dealing with some pain and that’s why he’s playing. It’s about pain tolerance,” Earley said. “Ultimate team guy, ultimate competitor, and that’s why he’s out there.”

Before the game, the junior outfielder reportedly told Austin Statesman report Tony Catalina that he would “run through a brick wall” for his team. Evidently, that pales in comparison to a broken hand.

Jace LaViolette’s decision to play undoubtedly was a massive boost to morale for Texas A&M. He is one of the best players in the country this season and is projected to be a top-10 pick in the 2025 MLB Draft.

“A slow start this spring hurt his chances to become the first four-year college outfielder to go No. 1 overall since Darin Erstad in 1995, but he’s still arguably the best college position player available,” LaViolette’s draft profile on MLB.com reads. “He set a school freshman record with 21 homers in 2023 before going deep 29 times and leading Texas A&M to the Men’s College World Series Finals last year.

“Possessing as much raw power as anyone in the Draft, LaViolette is built to crush balls with a quick left-handed stroke, the strength and leverage in his impressive 6-foot-6 frame and a focus on launching pitches to his pull side… His power and solid arm strength fit the right-field profile to a tee.”