BY MATT SIGLER
mcsigler@go.olemiss.edu
Sophomore right-hander Chris Ellis / Austin McAfee
Entering the 2013 season, sophomore right-hander Chris Ellis was in position to be the go-to guy on the mound for Ole Miss on Sundays. However, an abdominal injury put all that aside and forced Ellis out of action. Now, 42 games into the season, Ellis is back at full strength and is hoping to return to his same form from the preseason.
“I’m just trying to get back into things,” Ellis said. “I’m feeling good. I’m 100 percent. Trainer (Josh) Porter did a good job getting me back together, and things have been going good. I haven’t been hurting at all.”
After a successful freshman campaign in which he made 19 appearances compiling a 4-0 record, Ellis said that being forced to sit out hasn’t been as bad as some may think.
“It hasn’t been too bad, my senior year I had an arm injury, so I kind of went through the same thing,” he said. “I kind of knew what to expect.”
The injury has not only forced Ellis to miss action, but also to change up some things in his preparation process for games. He said he takes a different mentality when he’s starting compared to coming out of the bullpen.
After winning his first start of the season against TCU, Ellis was held out of action until a matchup with Texas A&M, more than 20 games later. So far in his shortened season, Ellis is 1-2 in eight appearances, two of which are starts, and holds a 6.43 ERA. Despite the bump in the road, pitching coach Carl Lafferty believes Ellis is still capable of being the guy the Rebels were anticipating at the beginning of the season.
“Chris is an extremely talented kid,” Lafferty said. “Any time you injure your core, it’s tough to go through pitching drills, keep a feel and all that kind of stuff. He’s a tremendously talented kid, so of course as soon as he gets back, we’re throwing him right there in the fire. He’s had to come into situations that are tough.
“Like we’ve said from the beginning, Chris is a super talented kid. I think he is a guy that has Friday night stuff, and he just continues to get better each time out.”
With Ellis ready, a potential return to the starting rotation isn’t out of the question, but constant change on the mound may prevent it.
“With any pitching staff, things can change from week to week,” Lafferty said. “Depending on how guys throw and who’s throwing better and who has the hot hand, so to speak. I think you could see anything happen with Chris. Is it out of the realm of possibility for him to start? Absolutely not, but I think you’ll just continue to see us get him out there in places he can get his feet wet and continue to pitch.”
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