Will Texas A&M baseball’s Jace LaViolette play today in College World Series?

Will Texas A&M baseball’s lineup feature star Jace LaViolette today following injury?

Texas A&M baseball is slated to play tonight for a chance to advance to the College World Series finals. Due to a weather delay last night, their opponent is still yet to be determined, pending the result of this morning’s game between Florida and Kentucky.

To Texas A&M baseball fans, however, there is something slightly more pressing than the matchup. Star outfielder Jace LaViolette’s status is currently up in the air after he apparently tweaked his hamstring in the latter half of Monday’s game against Kentucky.

Since then, all the talk has been about whether or not LaViolette will be able to play in today’s game. The delay last night gave the Aggies a bit of a leg up, given that whoever they face will have not only played an extra game, but will be essentially playing a doubleheader, but to be without LaViolette might be a precarious situation nonetheless.

Jim Schlossnagle seems determined that LaViolette should see the field, however. In an appearance yesterday on the SEC Network, Schloss mentioned that Jace will play “in some form.” Whether this is gamesmanship, the same kind of availability that Kristaps Porzingis had in game 4 of the NBA finals, or a legitimate green light remains to be seen.

One thing is for certain: even if the Aggies triumph tonight, they will need LaViolette for the final. With that in mind, it may not be the worst thing to treat him with caution in this game. You don’t want to concede anything, of course, but you can’t risk further injury with a star player like this.

I’m hoping to see LaViolette back in full form tonight, but I’m just not sure it’s likely. I think this Aggie team is talented enough to advance without him, but they will need all hands on deck if they make it to the final.