Texas A&M’s Jace LaViolette Out After Breaking Finger Against Auburn

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – Texas A&M outfielder Jace LaViolette broke a finger during Thursday’s SEC Tournament win against Auburn. LaViolette’s injury complicates the Aggies’ push for an NCAA Tournament bid as they advance in the tournament.

A&M head coach Micheal Earley confirmed LaViolette’s injury post-game, stating, “We’re going to see what we’re going to do with it. I don’t know if there’s a situation where we get him operated on. But he’s not going to be in the starting lineup for this tournament. We think if we can get this done, then we might be able to get him back for the postseason.”

In the fifth inning, LaViolette was hit by a fastball in the left hand, leading to immediate pain. He signaled for a substitute while on first base and later returned to the dugout with his hand wrapped and a splint on his pinky. Teammate Hayden Schott was seen checking on him during the game.

Shortstop Kaeden Kent spoke about LaViolette’s situation, saying, “It’s tough…but we have guys in the dugout that keep the vibes high, and it’s not as difficult as you think to come back from that.” Before exiting, LaViolette was 0-for-2 with one strikeout in the match, bringing his season batting average to .254.

LaViolette has had a significant season with 18 home runs and 59 RBIs. He recently broke out of a slump with a grand slam against Mississippi State, but his injury raises concerns about his future with A&M as he is projected as a first-round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft.

The Aggies secured a 3-2 victory over Auburn thanks to Kent’s three-run homer in the third inning, alongside solid pitching from Justin Lamkin, who allowed one run over five innings.

A&M will need to navigate the rest of the tournament without LaViolette and face LSU in their next game. It remains to be seen if he can return for later rounds, adding uncertainty to the team’s postseason aspirations.