With two outs in the second inning, sophomore right-hander Kurt Barr dealt to Oakland catcher Brandon Heidal. Heidal popped the ball high into foul territory behind first base, seemingly a difficult defensive play to make.
But sprawling out near the wall, sophomore right fielder Greg Pace Jr. made an athletic sliding catch to retire Heidal. Pace’s incredible effort ended the inning, leaving himself due up in the third inning for the Michigan baseball team.
But he never got to the plate. In fact, he didn’t even get back on his feet immediately.
As Pace made the tough snag, sophomore first baseman Mitch Voit attempted to do the same. As Pace slid, Voit slammed into him, and Ray Fisher Stadium fell silent.
After several minutes on the ground, Pace rose to his feet with the help of trainers and teammates around him. Limping off the field, it was clear that he would not return to the game. One inning later, Voit was exited the game.
While the Wolverines were never in danger of falling to the Golden Grizzlies, the loss of their best defensive outfielder and most complete player was a scary sight for a team that has struggled to win games.
“You know, we’re in a midweek game,” Michigan coach Tracy Smith said postgame. “Certainly before conference (games) we’re going to be precautionary and get them out. Let’s see what we’re dealing with.”
And while Voit seemed to escape a serious injury, the extent of Pace’s is still unknown.
If his injury is long term, the Wolverines will miss an important piece in their outfield. Holding just a .154 batting average and .290 OBP, Pace’s impact can easily be overlooked. But his ability to chase down hard-hit balls and deliver accurate throws make him an integral piece for Michigan. As his sliding catch during the collision showed, Pace tracks fly balls well and has a strong glove.
Even more important than Pace, Voit is a leader for the Wolverines, providing value both at the plate and on the mound. Improving on a freshman season where he earned All-Big Ten Freshman Team honors, Voit currently holds a .340 batting average and a .923 OPS. As Michigan’s best hitter — and arguably pitcher — Voit’s versatility is irreplaceable.
If both players miss time, the Wolverines will be without important pieces on both sides of the ball. And with a three-game series against No. 18 Coastal Carolina kicking off Friday, missing Voit or Pace could alter the trajectory of Michigan’s weekend. Already facing an uphill climb against a strong team, the Wolverines likely need the presence of both Pace and Voit to attempt to steal the series.
“I don’t have any information on that at this point,” Smith said regarding the injuries. “So we’ll wait and see.”
If necessary, junior outfielder Joe Longo and senior first baseman Dylan Stanton could fill the gaps in Michigan’s lineup as they did Wednesday. Both have a plethora of experience, but don’t provide the offensive and defensive skill sets that Voit and Pace offer. Additionally, the pitching rotation is already thin after graduate left-hander Jacob Denner pitched three innings on Wednesday. Therefore, losing Voit’s arm could be extra costly against the Chanticleers’ talented lineup.
Injuries are sure to afflict any team, but three games under .500 — and two weeks out from conference play — injuries to crucial players may dig the Wolverines into a deeper hole. For a team struggling to play its best, losing either Voit or Pace could exacerbate those woes.