Texas SS David Hamilton out for season after rupturing Achilles in scooter accident

A year after a magical run to the College World Series, the Texas Longhorns will play the 2019 season without junior shortstop David Hamilton, the school announced on Saturday.

With the team preparing for the season opener in a little more than a month, Hamilton suffered a ruptured Achilles and underwent successful surgery on Friday. Orangebloods was the first to report the injury.

On Tuesday, head coach David Pierce revealed the cause of the injury:

With the loss of second baseman Kody Clemens, Hamilton was expected to take on an even larger role as the offensive catalyst and defensive mainstay in the middle.

Instead, the Horns will have to replace the team’s best returning hitter — Hamilton hit .291 with five home runs as a sophomore — and half of the tandem that helped turn a nation-leading 73 double plays. A particularly effective hitter at the top of the lineup, Texas will miss Hamilton’s bat handling after 11 bunt singles last season and 43 walks last season. He was also a highly effective base runner, stealing 31 bases, the most since Tim Moss stole 40 in 2002.

As a result, Hamilton earned second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2018.

After playing all over the diamond last season, senior Mason Hibbeler could replace Hamilton at shortstop, but there are other players with experience at the position from high school like freshmen Bryce Reagan and Alec Carr.