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Texas pitcher, potential first-round pick requires season-ending surgery

James Fletcher IIIby: James Fletcher III03/10/22jdfletch3
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John Rivera/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Texas Longhorns sophomore pitcher Tanner Witt requires Tommy John reconstruction surgery to repair an injury to his Ulnar Collateral Ligament, according to a release from the school. The injury stemmed from his last start against Alabama and was diagnosed by Texas Sports Medicine staff after further evaluation.

Witt, a Freshman All-American and All-Big 12 honorable mention in 2021, returned for his second collegiate season as one of the top prospects in the 2023 MLB Draft class. He finished his first season with a 5-0 record, five saves and a 3.16 ERA. Witt added 73 strikeouts in 57 innings.

During the injury evaluation process, Tanner Witt was scratched from his scheduled start for Texas against UCLA at the Shriners Children’s College Classic at Minute Maid Park. The Longhorns lost that game 5-1.

In his two 2022 appearances, Witt accumulated a 1.64 ERA in 11 innings with 14 strikeouts and three walks. The 6-foot-5, 215-pound right-handed pitcher will now miss the entire season for the No. 1 ranked team in the country.

Witt also has great baseball heritage, following in his father Kevin Witt’s footsteps after he was selected in the first round of the 1994 MLB Draft. His father played professional baseball for the Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres and Tampa Bay Rays and is now a hitting coach for the Miami Marlins minor league system. Tanner Witt’s mother, Lori, also played softball at Texas.

More about Texas baseball

The Texas Longhorns entered the season ranked No. 1 in the country this season as the favorites to claim the title in Omaha this summer. With many returning arms from the starting lineup and bullpen, including Tanner Witt, the future appeared bright.

After a hot start proved why the Longhorns earned that high preseason honor, a rough patch appeared with the loss against UCLA and another against Texas State during the mid-week slate. Despite the two losses and the loss of a key, Texas remains one of the top teams in the country and will boast its great depth the rest of the season.