Tennessee baseball starting second baseman Gavin Kilen has been ruled out for Thursday night’s series opener at Alabama, according to the pregame SEC availability report. Kilen was listed as questionable on Wednesday’s initial availability report.
The middle infielder is dealing with a lower-body injury that he suffered in Tuesday’s loss to East Tennessee State. Kilen has not been ruled out for the entire weekend. He is considered day-to-day.
Game one between No. 1 Tennessee and No. 12 Alabama is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET in Tuscaloosa. Thursday’s game will be broadcast on ESPNU. Game two of this weekend’s three-game series is set for 7 p.m. on Friday night, while the series finale on Saturday is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Kilen leads the Vols in numerous categories less than two months into his Tennessee career. He is hitting .431 with 10 home runs, 25 RBIs, four doubles, three triples and 20 walks. Kilen UT’s first 21 games of the season.
The Louisville transfer ranks in the top 40 nationally in 10 different offensive categories and was named the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Player of the Week and SEC Player of the Week on March 3.
Russell and Osuna ruled out
Tennessee RHP AJ Russell and slugger Alberto Osuna were officially ruled out for this weekend’s series on the initial report. Russell continues to work his way back from Tommy John surgery, while Osuna remains ineligible after transferring from D2 Tampa in January.
There were not any Alabama players who were ruled out at the beginning of this weekend’s series.
Russell ‘got going too fast’
Tony Vitello emphasized several times after Tennessee baseball’s win over St. Bonaventure last Sunday that Russell has not come close to suffering any setbacks in his return from Tommy John.
Russell last pitched in a game over two weeks ago on Feb. 25. It was his first appearance since having reconstructive surgery last June to repair the UCL in his throwing arm. The righty threw 17 pitches against North Alabama in his return to strike out the side looking. Russell hasn’t pitched in the eight games since, however.
“Zero. Not even close, the opposite,” Vitello responded when asked if Russell has suffered any setbacks. “No setbacks. Got going too fast and so hold your horses.
“AJ just leapfrogged too many things. And so I think it’s time for everybody that’s involved to take a deep breath, have a conversation and say, he showed what he can do. We feel good about the throwing program and the protocol, but let’s take a deep breath and look out for the long run of what we’re trying to do with our season and his career combined.”
Tennessee is now targeting April for Russell to consistently make in-game appearances. Russell has thrown multiple bullpens since he pitched against North Alabama.
“I think looking at those months of April and May, I think that makes more sense with kind of the pow wow that was had with all parties involved,” Vitello said. “If the button needed to be pressed, it could be pressed.
“It’s kind of take a deep breath (and) recalibrate mode, and kind of start a new throwing program to prepare more to be a starter as opposed to, he came in the other day and just got three outs.”
Russell underwent surgery at the end of last season following months of pain and soreness. He needed a full reconstruction of the UCL in his right arm, but Tennessee’s orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Matthew Rappe, was able to repair it with an internal brace, GoVols247 reported following the procedure. It cut Russell’s recovery time down from 12-18 months, to approximately eight months.
