FALLING SHORT

LSU pitcher Javen Coleman’s promising return overshadowed by loss

BY HENRY HUBER @HenryHuber_

Prior to Tuesday, it had been over a year since Javen Coleman took the mound in front a crowd at Alex Box Stadium. His last competitive appearance had been on Feb.1, 2022, a game where he posted two strikeouts in just over one inning against Southern.

After experiencing arm soreness 17 pitches into the outing, he’d exit the game. At the time, he had no idea his return to the same mound wouldn’t come for a long time.

“It was abrupt. I didn’t know what really happened,” Coleman said. “It definitely sucked for the time being, but I’m here now. Just taking it one step at a time from here.”

When asked about his time away from the action and what kept him mentally sharp throughout it, Coleman credited his teammates for keeping him positive and elevating his confidence.

“Everybody was always behind me, being positive,” Coleman said. “So just having those guys behind me, telling me ‘You’re going to be great’ and ‘You’re going to come back and do that’, I think that was a big contributing factor to that.”

Following the injury to righthanded reliever Garrett Edwards, Coleman’s name was brought up when discussing who could pos- sibly step up with the bullpen as depleted as it was. Soon after, head coach Jay Johnson expressed hope of a return in the near future and stated he was throwing again. In games two and three against Kentucky last weekend, he warmed up in the bullpen and had a chance at going in, something he was incredibly excited about.

“I wouldn’t say I was nervous, but I definitely had a little bit of butterflies,” Coleman said. “I definitely feel like nervousness and butterflies, there’s a fine line between those. But I was more just excited to be out there and do what I do and play with my team.”

Regarding his official return, it was only a matter of when. And on Tuesday morning, it was