GRANVILLE — The news wasn’t all bad for WVU star pitcher Maxx Yehl.
The 6-foot-6 junior left-hander was evaluated late Saturday by WVU athletic trainer Steven Rosier, as well as school medical officials following the Mountaineers’ 11-9 loss against Kentucky.
WVU head coach Steve Sabins said Sunday the team received good news on Yehl’s evaluation.
“I think he’s feeling pretty good,” Sabins said. “He threw a little bit at the back end of (WVU’s 10-5 win against Wake Forest on Sunday). He said he felt fine. He told me that he felt way better.”
Yehl, the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, came out during the first inning after throwing just 36 pitches against the Wildcats. He gave up two hits and four runs in those 36 pitches and also walked one and hit two more batters.
After facing just seven batters, Yehl grabbed his left shoulder and asked for the trainer to come out to the mound. He was then removed from the game.
“His shoulder tightened up on him (Saturday),” Sabins said. “I think maybe he was having muscle spasms. There was something going on with his shoulder.”
Yehl had Tommy John surgery in 2024, which forced him to miss all of last season. He was named the Big 12’s top pitcher this season after going 8-2 with a 2.14 ERA, which is the sixth-lowest ERA in the country.
He also missed two weeks during the regular season after feeling soreness in his bicep and shoulder. Yehl came back from that to record a win against Kansas State before throwing a complete-game six-hitter against Kansas.
As for Yehl returning again this season, Sabins said it was a possibility, but only if the Mountaineers forced a winner-take-all game on Monday.
“I wouldn’t be shocked, if we can get this thing to Monday that that guy could potentially be in the game,” Sabins said.
