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When Easton Breyfogle hurt his hamstring last season, Adams took his spot as ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s left fielder. Adams started seven straight games, batted .409, had a four-game hitting streak and hit his first career home run in a UA win at ASU.

But in the seventh game, Adams crashed into the wall at Smith’s Ballpark in Salt Lake City. He injured his shoulder and ended his season.

“I was definitely frustrated,� Adams said. “I need to probably get more familiar with the visiting fields before I go out full speed into the wall.�

Adams laughed when he said that last part, but he knows how important it is to be available. The Wildcats need him again.

With star outfielder Brendan Summerhill out three to four weeks because of a hand injury, Adams is getting another chance to start. He’s expected to open in right field when ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ (19-5, 5-1 Big 12) hosts Baylor (17-7, 2-4) in a three-game series starting Friday night at Hi Corbett Field.

“It’s the worst thing in the world, getting injured; trust me, I went through it,� said Adams, a third-year sophomore from Mesa. “But it’s part of the game. It happens. So you just gotta be ready.

“It’s your job. You have to do it.�

Adams had been starting in left while Breyfogle nursed a quadriceps injury. Breyfogle returned for Wednesday’s win over Seattle, socking a two-run homer in the seventh inning.

“Great timing for us,� UA coach Chip Hale said afterward. “The home run tonight was huge. And he’s running well. That’s the big thing for him.�

Hale said it’ll be impossible to make up Summerhill’s production; the junior leads the Wildcats in multiple offensive categories, including hits, total bases, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.

Without their leadoff man, Hale adjusted the Wildcats’ lineup Wednesday by moving everyone up a spot. Aaron Walton batted first, followed by Mason White, Garen Caulfield, Maddox Mihalakis and Adonys Guzman.

“We just have to bide our time and fill in,� Hale said. “We just have to keep battling and find different ways to score runs.

“I had talked to the coaches a couple weeks ago: What would it look like if Walton led off and Summerhill hit second? Walton has been really good stealing bases, so he gets his shot now.�

Walton, a transfer from Samford, is slashing .349/.487/.558 with a team-high eight stolen bases in nine attempts.

Adams is batting just .177 this season but has drawn nine walks in 44 plate appearances, lifting his on-base percentage to .349. Adams also has exhibited patience in a broader sense. He was a highly rated recruit out of Red Mountain High School who had to wait for his opportunities. He redshirted as a freshman in 2023.

“That’s why baseball is a team sport,� Adams said. “When you get called, you gotta do what you’re supposed to do. There’s roles, and you gotta play those roles. Just controlling the controllables.�

One of those aspects is his attitude. Adams and senior Tommy Splaine are role models in that regard, according to Hale.

“Whether he’s playing or not playing, he has a great attitude,� Hale said of Adams. “I tell the guys, ‘Look at two guys: TJ Adams and Tommy Splaine.’ You can never tell whether they made an out or got a hit or (they’re) sitting on the bench or playing. That’s the kind of attitude you want from your players.�

‘One pitch at a time’

ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s No. 1 starter, Collin McKinney, will have to manage his emotions Friday night.

McKinney spent his first two seasons at Baylor before transferring to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ last summer. He’s from the suburbs of Houston, which is about three hours southeast of Waco.

“I think it’s just the way Kevin (Vance, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s pitching coach) teaches: One pitch at a time, execute that pitch and (do) not worry about what the other uniform looks like,â€� Hale said. “It’s going to be interesting to see how he handles it. We have to be cognizant of that as he goes on, how many pitches he (throws) and how tired he gets. Is it going to be more tiring for him trying to do great against his old team?â€�

McKinney is off to a strong start as a Wildcat. He has a 1.40 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 25â…” innings.

But McKinney rarely has gone deep into games. He has pitched more than 4â…” innings only once, on March 7 vs. Pepperdine. His 13.5% walk rate is the highest among ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s starters.

“Just strike throwing,� Hale said of McKinney’s short outings. “The other night (Friday at West Virginia), he was throwing the ball great, striking guys out — and then he started to walk guys and couldn’t find the zone. So if he can stay in the zone, he can give us seven innings easy with his stuff.�

The emotional factor is a wild card. Caulfield’s advice: Don’t think about anything other than the next pitch.

“Just go up there and try to win pitches and not worry about the noise,� Caulfield said. “I’m excited for him. I think it’s a good opportunity to show them how much better he’s gotten over the past year, and he’s looking forward to it for sure.�

Inside pitch

– Caulfield said Wednesday that he was feeling “100 times better� than last weekend, when he missed the first two games of the West Virginia series because of an illness. He fell asleep during the Wildcats’ 16-inning victory over the Mountaineers on Friday night. “I woke up, my laptop on my bed was still open, and I saw ‘Your event has ended,’� Caulfield said. “I checked ESPN and saw we won in 16 ... crazy.�

– Breyfogle also watched the Friday-night marathon on ESPN+ as he skipped the trip to rehab his quad injury. “It’s definitely weird seeing everyone play on TV, because normally that’s me out there,� Breyfogle said. “But I was super proud of them. Obviously, that’s a tough environment, and the cold weather doesn’t help.�

– . ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ hung on for an 8-6 win over Seattle. “That’s this midweek deal,â€� Hale said. “There were a ton of upsets of big-time teams. You cherish wins. There’s no bad wins.â€�

– The Wildcats improved to 14-0 at Hi Corbett. It’s their best start at home since opening the 2017 season with 17 straight victories at Hi C.

– Right-handers Owen Kramkowski (3-2, 6.31) and Smith Bailey (1-1, 2.30) will follow McKinney this weekend. Baylor will start lefty Ethan Calder (3-3, 5.46) on Friday and lefty Carson Bailey (2-0, 3.96) on Sunday. The Bears’ Saturday starter is TBA.

– this week ranked its top 300 prospects for the 2025 MLB Draft. Six current Wildcats made the list: Summerhill (19), White (87), McKinney (214), Guzman (290), Walton (293) and left-hander Jack Berg (296).