For days last spring, TCU held out hope Luken Baker could return to the lineup in time for the baseball playoffs.
But he knew better.
The moment his outstretched arm had been hit by a baserunner, tearing ligament and muscle and fracturing bone, in a May 12 game at Oklahoma, the TCU hitting star knew what it meant.
“Right when I got hit, I knew” he said. “The first thing that went through my head was, ‘My season’s done. I’m done.’ ”
It turned out he was right, although the Frogs were correct to hold out hope — the injury had been to his left arm, and if the hairline fracture was small enough and the muscle and ligament tears healed quickly, there was a chance.