Miami Hurricanes' stellar season faces a hurdle as a star hitter's back fracture casts doubt on a soon return, while a key pitcher rejoins the rotation.
Miami, FL. – The Miami Hurricanes baseball program has managed to turn the season around since suffering three key series losses to the Florida Gators, Boston College Eagles, and Duke Blue Devils. They currently sit at 32-12 overall, 12-9 in ACC play, and have won six consecutive series, five of which were against Atlantic Coast Conference opponents. Despite not being ranked in D1Baseball’s top 25 list, the team is projected to make the NCAA baseball tournament.
However, the latest news could change the trajectory.
After missing the whole series against the California Golden Bears due to wisdom tooth removal, junior third baseman Daniel Cuvet will remain sidelined with a back stress fracture diagnosis. He’s appeared in 41 games, including 40 starts, 151 at-bats, recording 46 hits, 14 doubles, 45 runs batted-in, 49 runs scored, 12 home runs, a batting average of .305, and 1.086 ops.
“He will be out for some time, no timetable to it,” coach J.D. Arteaga said. “He’s been dealing with it all season. It just kind of flared up. We thought it was muscular; he was getting treated for that, and apparently it’s not.”
Cuvet will be re-evaluated after 10 days, but there is a possibility that the 20-year-old could miss the remainder of the regular season, including three ACC series against the North Carolina State Wolfpack, Louisville Cardinals, and Florida State Seminoles. As he sits, freshman third baseman Gabriel Milano will look to fill the void. He’s appeared in 13 games, four starts, with three coming against the Golden Bears.
Milano has 24 at-bats, recording eight hits, seven runs batted in, three home runs, and three runs scored. He will have big shoes to fill as Cuvet will be sidelined for the foreseeable future.
Coach Arteaga mentioned that the highly-touted MLB prospect could miss the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament but hopes to return when the Regionals start.
On lighter news, senior left-handed starting pitcher Rob Evans is expected to return against the Wolfpack. He suffered an ankle injury in Friday’s series opener against the Golden Bears, only pitching in 2.2 innings. There was no structural damage, only a sprain, coach Arteaga confirmed.
Evans has been the Hurricanes' most reliable starting pitcher all season. He’s appeared in 11 games, 10 starts, 59 innings pitched, allowing 42 hits, 25 runs, eight home runs, and currently has a 3.05 ERA, with an 8-2 record.
The Hurricanes are projected to start Regionals in Auburn, Alabama.
Despite gaining a starting pitcher, losing a starting batter puts the team’s hopes of an extended run at risk. The Hurricanes are on pace to finish among the best in the ACC, but the loss of Cuvet could alter the offense. It will be a next-man-up moment for the team.
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