Clemson starter to miss significant time with injury

David Hood by Senior Writer -

CLEMSON - Clemson head coach Monte Lee announced Tuesday that starting catcher, Chris Williams will miss four to six weeks with a hand injury.

"He has, unfortunately, a hand injury," Clemson head coach Monte Lee said. "He hurt it on our intrasquad (game) on Sunday. He has a hand injury that is probably going to keep him out from what we think is about 4 to 6 weeks. That is a tough blow. Chris Williams is the first kid I signed at Clemson so he is a special, special kid to us."

Williams was expected to be the starting catcher and a middle of the order hitter for the Tigers.

He hit .245 last season with 34 runs, five doubles, one triple, eight homers, 38 RBIs, a .342 on-base percentage, 18 walks, 12 hit-by-pitches and two steals in 57 games (52 starts, including 39 at first base and 13 at third base). He was also a target for opposing pitchers - he tied for seventh in Tiger history in hit-by-pitches. He had 15 multiple-hit games and 11 multiple-RBI games and hit .322 with four homers and 13 RBIs after the sixth inning. Wiliams had five homers and 19 RBIs in the last 15 games.