Mark Kingston updates Gavin Casas injury after South Carolina's win over Kentucky

During Friday’s win over Kentucky, South Carolina third baseman Gavin Casas left the game early with an apparent injury. Head coach Mark Kingston provided more clarification after it was originally reported to be a broken hamate bone.

“It’s not official that it’s a done deal. I know supposedly a hot mic caught that it was definitely something. Our official doctors still need to look at it,” Kingston said.

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Casas left the game with a 2-2 count and the bases loaded in the fifth inning. Talmadge LeCroy eventually came in after Casas left and would strike out swinging.

Kingston said this could potentially be “a Christian Walker situation” and referenced that all South Carolina fans knew what meant. Walker, who played for the Gamecocks from 2010-12, fractured the hamate bone in his left wrist during the 2011 College World Series.

If Casas does miss some time, it would be something of a big loss for the team. The senior slugger has had a solid week in the SEC Tournament, homering twice and driving in four runs. Casas delivered a three-run homer in the win on Friday to kickstart South Carolina’s scoring.

“But we are not going to say Gavin’s season is over yet until we exhaust all things that might get him on the field,” Kingston said. “If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. But we’re not going to be in the mindset yet that it’s over. But we’re not going to be of the mindset yet that it’s over.”

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For now, LeCroy will be back at third base while Casas undergoes testing with doctors. Kingston was asked who the emergency third baseman would be if LeCroy were to go down.

“Lee Ellis is more than capable of playing third, short, second, and if we need to go to Lee Ellis we’ll go to him confidently,” Kingston said.

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