South Carolina baseball starter James Hicks out for season
South Carolina was dealt a devastating blow to its pitching staff this week with James Hicks now officially out for the season.
Mark Kingston announced Thursday the Gamecocks’ right-hander will miss the remainder of the season. Hicks will need Tommy John surgery.
“Any time a guy’s season is over he’s disappointed and we’re disappointed for him. He’ll have his surgery tomorrow and start his rehab immediately,” Kingston said. “I’ll guess he’ll be back for the majority of next year, which is a plus for next year’s team. It’s something we have to rally behind him, rally in his absence and support him. That’s what it’s all about right now. we’re his family in baseball and it’s our job to support him through this.”
Hicks entered the season as the projected Sunday starter. But, with Julian Bosnic on the shelf, started on Saturdays the first two weekends of the season.
He made two starts with a 5.14 ERA in seven innings with seven strikeouts and just one walk.
The junior college righty didn’t make it out of the third inning in his last start. He exited with what Kingston called at the time arm soreness.
His injury comes at an inopportune time for South Carolina. Not only do the Gamecocks host Clemson this weekend but it’s also during a time of flux in the Gamecocks’ pitching staff.
Bosnic is still out dealing with a flexor strain. He hasn’t pitched this season after entering the preseason expected to be one of the two frontline starters and still hasn’t started his throwing program to ramp back up.
Josiah Sightler, who was in the offensive lineup against App State, is dealing with oblique and elbow issues and likely won’t pitch against Clemson.
“A miracle could happen but I’m not counting on that. The oblique is better and, knock on wood, is not an issue right now. We just need the elbow to settle down,” Kingston said. “I don’t anticipate that being a long-term issue.”
The Gamecocks will go with Will Sanders (2-0, 3.00 ERA) on Friday night when South Carolina hosts the Tigers (7 p.m.). But there are now major question marks behind him Saturday at the neutral site game and Sunday at Clemson.
With the pitching staff banged up, it’ll be up to a host of newcomers, largely freshmen, to step up for South Carolina.
Aidan Hunter hasn’t allowed an earned run in 8.1 innings, striking out seven with six hits allowed. Michael Braswell, Cade Austin and Matthew Becker are also freshmen who’ve made multiple outings as well.
Austin’s started his last two games after a rough first outing and pitched well. Wesley Sweatt has also started during his career and could do it against the Tigers.
He’s made three appearances this year, all in relief, with a 2.57 ERA in seven innings and a .192 batting average against. He was the first arm on the mound once Hicks exited with an injury.
“This group will be resilient. This group will band together and this group will give it everything it’s got,” Kingston said. “We’ll go from there. We’re not going to feel sorry for ourselves and we’re not going to make excuses. We’re going to ask guys to step up and have bigger roles and they’ll do exactly that.”
