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Tony Vitello updates the status of second baseman Gavin Kilen

On3 imageby: Eric Cain04/05/25_Cainer
Syndication: The Knoxville News-Sentinel
Tennessee infielder Gavin Kilen (6) smiles after hitting a run home during a Tennessee baseball game against Samford at Lindsey Nelson Stadium at the University of Tennessee on Sunday, February 23, 2025.

Starting second baseman Gavin Kilen, who has recorded just one at-bat for Tennessee over the past nine games, is working to recover from a hamstring injury and was listed as questionable on Thursday’s initial availability report ahead of the weekend series against Texas A&M.

Prior to Friday’s series-opener, Kilen was downgraded to OUT. Tony Vitello gave an update on the status of Kilen for the remainder of the weekend.

“More pinch-hit status,” Vitello answered on the roll for Kilen this weekend. “Obviously, you’re looking at who they got in the bullpen and a right-left matchup. So, it’s more of a pinch-hit status and it was a really good matchup for him at South Carolina. But because Fish [Andrew Fischer] hit a homer, the RBI situation went away and we’re kind of left in limbo a little bit. So, it was good to get him a look because the first one, is the first one.” 

Kilen made his return back to the field Saturday afternoon during the second for a three-game series on the road at South Carolina’s Founders Park.

He came on as a pinch hitter in the top of the eighth, in place of designated hitter Levi Clark. It was his first game action since injuring his hamstring on Tuesday, March 18, against east Tennessee State. The at-bat ended with a groundout to shortstop as he swung at the first pitch he saw.

“Gavin is better. Making progress, for sure,” Vitello previously said last week. “He’s been able to swing a little bit. We’ll probably go slower than he wants on that, but, you know, we’ll see. There’s a good chance he could at least do something this weekend.”

Kilen was listed as questionable and then a game-time decision before Friday’s contest at South Carolina. His pinch hit appearance on Saturday was his lone at-bat of the weekend. Kilen was listed as available on Sunday, but did not play. He also did not appear in Tuesday’s midweek win over Tennessee Tech.

Kilen led Tennessee in average (.431), hits (31), home runs (10, RBI (25), runs (32) and slugging percentage (.986) at the time of his injury. Manny Marin has been the primary option at second base during Kilen’s absence.

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