Arkansas loses another infielder, but 2 on the mend

Arkansas infielder Hunter Wilson is helped off the field during a game against Alcorn State on Tuesday, March 14, 2017, in Fayetteville. Wilson was injured when he fouled a ball of his leg.

— Arkansas infielder Hunter Wilson was injured during an at-bat Tuesday and could miss considerable playing time.

Wilson suffered a shin injury when he fouled a ball off his right leg during the fifth inning of the Razorbacks' 3-2 win at Baum Stadium. Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said Wilson suffered a deep bone bruise but an X-ray did not reveal any breaks.

"He hammered the ball off his upper shin," Van Horn said. "In talking to the trainer, he thinks it's a really deep bone bruise.

"He's a really tough kid, so for him to act the way he acted - he couldn't put weight on it. I think he'll probably be out for a while."

Wilson is the third Arkansas infielder to go down to an injury this season, but the Razorbacks could be getting the other two back soon.

Van Horn said second baseman Carson Shaddy is probable to return for the Razorbacks' SEC opener against Mississippi State this weekend. Shaddy suffered a sprained right ankle during a game against Rhode Island last Sunday, but an X-ray on the ankle did not reveal any breaks.

"We'll do everything we can to get him ready for Friday," Van Horn said. "I do believe he'll play this weekend....He's moving around a lot better and he says he's playing Friday."

Van Horn said corner infielder Jared Gates could make his debut as early as next Wednesday against New Orleans, and should be back in the lineup for Arkansas' series at Missouri next weekend. Gates, a junior-college transfer, broke the hamate bone in his right hand during a scrimmage six days before the season began.

Gates was projected to be Arkansas' starter at either first or third base.

"He's starting to do some light (batting practice)," Van Horn said. "He's throwing. (The surgery) was on his throwing hand and that's his bottom hand when he hits."

Shaddy and Gates should add some more pop to the Razorbacks' lineup. Shaddy is batting .333 with 16 RBI and 3 home runs this season, while Van Horn called Gates the team's "hottest hitter" at the time of his injury.