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Latest on Texas A&M star’s hand

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Texas A&M baseball’s Jace LaViolette enters the 2025 MLB Draft as one of the more intriguing prospects on the draft board.

The intrigue for the Aggies’ left-handed slugger doesn’t have to do with his skills and power at the plate, but instead the uncertainty with his health after sustaining a broken hand in the SEC tournament.

LaViolette’s position entering Day 1 of the MLB draft in Atlanta is similar to the one that his former teammate, Braden Montgomery, was in last season after he sustained a season-ending injury of his own in the NCAA Tournament, which cost Montgomery a few slots (and money) in the first round.

The Aggies’ 6-foot-6 outfielder, who is the No. 20-ranked draft prospect on MLB Pipeline, entered the 2025 college baseball season as the projected No. 1 overall pick, but with his hand injury and a down junior campaign, LaViolette has dropped into the No. 10 to No. 25 pick range in the first round.

Though his odds of being a No. 1 overall pick are done, LaViolette is still considered one of the best college position players available in this year’s draft. Known for his raw power and ability to demolish balls from inside the left batter’s box, LaViolette hit 68 career home runs in three seasons at Texas A&M while posting a career .285 average.

Here’s the latest injury update on LaViolette ahead of the first round of the MLB draft and more, including his latest MLB mock draft projections:

Jace LaViolette injury update

LaViolette sustained a broken left hand injury in the fifth inning of Texas A&M’s 3-2 second-round win against Auburn on May 22 in the SEC baseball tournament. The injury came about during an at-bat where LaViolette attempted to swing at a pitch before the ball came in on him and hit him off his knuckles and the knob of the bat.

He briefly stayed in the game but then exited the game after signaling into the Aggies’ dugout from first base that he couldn’t stay in the game and fight off the pain. He returned to Texas A&M’s dugout in the seventh inning with his entire left hand and wrist wrapped with a splint.

Texas A&M coach Michael Earley initially told reporters at the SEC tournament that LaViolette’s injury would keep him out for the remainder of the conference tournament, but the plans for the Aggies’ outfielder were reversed as he played in the quarterfinals vs. LSU.

“I’m not sure if I can say, but he will be out for the remainder of the tournament,” Earley said after Texas A&M’s win over Auburn on May 22.

While have been no public updates on how LaViolette’s recovery has been since the Aggies’ season ended on May 23, he did have surgery prior to Texas A&M’s quarterfinal game vs. LSU on May 23 and was in the lineup for that game. He was also invited to the MLB Draft Combine, which took place June 17 through June 21 at Chase Field in Phoenix.

What is Jace LaViolette’s injury?

LaViolette has been dealing with a broken left hand injury. He had surgery immediately, where he got a pin placed into his hand, and returned to the lineup the next day for the Aggies.

“Got hit in the hand yesterday. Broke a bone in there and got surgery and played today. I’d run through a brick wall for this guy (Texas A&M coach Michael Earley),” LaViolette said at the SEC Tournament on May 24.

Added Earley: “He had surgery last night at 7 p.m. and played in a game (tonight) at 6:45. For him to do what he did today, I mean that’s just maybe the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen on a baseball field and it just shows a lot about how much that kid cares about his team.”

Jace LaViolette MLB mock draft projections

Here’s a look at LaViolette’s latest mock draft projections from MLB draft analysts:

Jace LaViolette stats

Here’s a year-by-year breakdown of LaViolette’s stats at Texas A&M:

2023: .287 average/.632 slugging percentage/.414 on-base percentage with 64 hits, 63 RBIs, 50 runs scored and 33 extra-base hits (21 home runs)
2024: .305 average/.726 slugging percentage/.449 on-base percentage with 87 runs scored, 79 hits, 78 RBIs and 48 extra-base hits (29 home runs)
2025: .258 average/.576 slugging percentage/.427 on-base percentage with 61 RBIs, 56 runs, 51 hits and 27 extra-base hits (18 home runs)

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