Holbrook: Crowe likely out for 2016

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina will go another baseball season without ace Wil Crowe.

Coach Chad Holbrook said Thursday that Crowe was likely to miss all of the 2016 season after having Tommy John surgery last spring. Holbrook said Crowe is progressing well in his recovery and is expected to be permitted to pitch in April.

Holbrook, starting his fourth season as head coach, said that would probably be too late in the season to have the impact he could when healthy for 2017. Crowe was the team’s right-handed ace when he hurt his elbow last season and missed the final two months.

Holbrook said Crowe would take a red-shirt season and return for 2017.

Crowe has an 11-7 record with a 3.52 earned-run average in 24 starts over the past two seasons.