Texas baseball fans got a bit of a scare Friday night when star outfielder Aiden Robbins made an early exit during the Longhorns' dominant 10-0 victory over Missouri at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
Robbins, who has been a powerhouse at the plate this season, started the game as the leadoff hitter but was pulled before the third inning. After recording a strikeout in his first at-bat and not seeing any action in right field, the team confirmed that Robbins was sidelined due to an illness.
Head coach Jim Schlossnagle provided an update after the game, noting that Robbins began feeling unwell during batting practice. "He started feeling bad during (batting practice), and then was feeling better leading up to the game, and got worse once he got out there and started moving around," Schlossnagle said. The coach added that Robbins would be monitored overnight, but his status for Saturday's regular-season finale remains uncertain.
This is a tough break for the Longhorns, especially as Robbins has been a standout performer this season. The Seton Hall transfer has been a contender for all-conference honors in his first year with Texas, boasting an impressive .348 batting average with 19 home runs and 53 RBIs—ranking second on the team in all three categories.
Interestingly, Robbins entered Friday's game as the front-runner for the Texas triple crown. However, teammate Carson Tinney has since surged ahead with 20 home runs after going deep twice against Missouri. Meanwhile, Casey Borba drove in two runs to take the team lead in RBIs, and Anthony Pack Jr. raised his average to .352 with a 2-for-4 performance.
As the Longhorns gear up for the postseason, all eyes will be on Robbins' recovery. For now, the team can take comfort in their depth and the strong performances from the rest of the lineup.
