FAYETTEVILLE — When Arkansas junior infielder Jared Gates was injured six days before the start of the season, Razorbacks coach Dave Van Horn said the team had lost its hottest hitter.
Gates broke the hamate bone in his right hand when he was hit by a pitch during a February scrimmage, which required surgery and several weeks of rehabilitation. He was not able to grip a bat for about three weeks.
He made his debut at third base for the Razorbacks last Wednesday against New Orleans and also started last Friday at Missouri, but went 0-for-6 in those games and didn't see any playing time in the final two games last weekend.