Singer Eager to Get Back on Mound for Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Brady Singer was warming up for his scheduled start at Mississippi State on May 17 when he felt the back of his leg tighten up.

Singer is not a doctor, but he knows what a hamstring strain is.

"I felt it pull,'' he said. "I have obviously pulled a hamstring before. I kind of knew when it happened."

Singer was scratched from the start and did not pitch in the SEC Tournament. His time away from the mound is soon to end.

Gators coach Kevin O'Sullivan announced Thursday that freshman right-hander Tommy Mace will start Friday afternoon's game against Columbia in the Gainesville Regional, Florida's first game of the 2018 NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile, Singer is scheduled to start on Saturday against either Florida Atlantic or Jacksonville.

Singer's unavailability played a key role in Florida limping into the tournament with six losses in seven games.

"The injury to Brady, he really got us out of our routine,'' O'Sullivan said. "He starts every Friday night in the league. The next thing you know I'm throwing two freshmen out there on weekends."

Singer's importance to the Gators is Captain Obvious clear, including to Baseball America, which named Singer its National Player of the Year on Thursday. Already named the Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Year, Singer enters Saturday's start with a 10-1 record and 2.25 ERA. He has allowed only 59 hits in 88 innings while striking out 92 and limiting opponents to a .186 average.

His teammates are ready for Singer's first pitch Saturday.

"That's huge. He's our leader on the mound," closer Michael Byrne said. "Everyone knows what he is capable of doing. It's going to be nice to see him out there again."

Singer said he has thrown multiple bullpen sessions since the injury, including a light one the day after he suffered the injury. The hardest part was not pitching as the Gators ended the regular season with four consecutive losses and then lost two of three in the SEC Tournament.

"I've never missed a start and obviously never taken two weeks off,'' he said Thursday. "It was incredibly hard. It just fires me up more to come out on Saturday. I feel great. I feel 100 percent and ready to go."

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Singer Eager to Get Back on Mound for Gators

Players Mentioned

Michael Byrne

Tommy Mace

Brady Singer

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