Reese Chapman injury update from Tennessee baseball coach Josh Elander

HOOVER, AL – Tennessee baseball coach Josh Elander hopes outfielder Reese Chapman will be back "sooner rather than later" after the senior missed the SEC Tournament after being hit by a line drive at practice.

"It seems to be — we're hoping to have him back sooner rather than later," Elander said after the Vols were eliminated by Arkansas 8-4 in the second round on May 20. "We'll see how that one plays out."

Chapman was injured at practice at the Hoover Met on May 18, the day before Tennessee’s first-round game against South Carolina. He was taken to UAB Hospital in Birmingham for evaluation and was alert, aware and communicative throughout.

“It was a pretty scary moment,” Elander said on May 19. “But thank goodness he seems to be in a better spot than what we thought from the beginning.”

Chapman traveled back to Knoxville to undergo a procedure for a cheek fracture and was not in attendance for both games.

Chapman hit .316 with 10 home runs and 44 RBIs in the regular season as a middle-of-the-order bat for Tennessee. He started 55 of the team's 56 games in the regular season as its usual right fielder.

The Vols' NCAA Tournament draw will be revealed on May 25.

Emmett Siegel covers Tennessee baseball for Knox News. Email: emmett.siegel@knoxnews.com; X: @EmmettSiegel_

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Reese Chapman injury update after Tennessee outfielder suffers cheek fracture