Freshman Smith steps in for injured ace Rees

The University of Hawaii baseball team will be without its most effective starting pitcher for this week’s four-game series against Illinois State at Les Murakami Stadium.

Jackson Rees was scratched from tonight’s opener because of a recurring nail problem on the index finger of his right (pitching) hand. Freshman Cade Smith will make his first start after four relief appearances.

“It’s disappointing for (Rees),” UH coach Mike Trapasso said. “We’ve got to get that thing healthy. It’s been bothering him for the last couple weeks. It’s getting worse and worse.”

Trapasso said Rees’ ailment is rooted in a cracked nail. “That’s what’s creating the blister,” Trapasso said. “It’s a matter of letting the nail try to grow. Every time he goes out and throws, he re-breaks the nail, and that’s why the blister keeps getting irritated.”

Rees is 2-0 with a 1.42 earned-run average. Against Louisiana State the past Friday, Rees allowed two runs in six innings before leaving because of bleeding from the blister. It was the third outing in a row the blister forced an early exit. Rees has pursued several solutions, including using an acrylic artificial nail.

“It didn’t work,” Trapasso said. “It’s one of those crazy things. The arm feels great. He’s pitching great.”

Trapasso is hopeful Rees will miss only one start.

“That’s baseball,” Trapasso said. “That’s athletics. It’s an opportunity for other guys.”

In preseason training, Smith and Colin Ashworth had logged enough pitches and innings to be available as starting pitchers. Trapasso chose Smith, who pitched three scoreless innings against LSU the past Saturday.

“It’s a good time for him to get a start,” Trapasso said of Smith. “We think he’s going to be a weekend starter for us next year. We think he’s going to be pretty special. … It’s time to throw him out there against a very good offensive team and tell him we need him to have a quality start for us.”

The Minnesota Twins selected Smith in the 16th round of the 2017 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. After a family discussion, Smith turned down the offer and kept his pledge to enroll at UH in August.

“I feel it was a good decision,” Smith said. “I’m excited to be here.”

Smith has embraced the series-opening role. Trapasso said he wanted to keep Dominic DeMiero, Neil Uskali and Logan Pouelsen in their regular spots in the pitching rotation. On his new role, Smith said, “I’ll have a set time when I know I’m going to pitch. I’ll keep that in mind instead of playing it by ear. I’ll be more certain when I’m going in.”

Smith launches a 90-mph fastball with a four-seam or two-seam grip. Against LSU, he got two strikeouts on a quick-dropping curve. He also has improved on his change-up, a staple for any Trapasso-coached pitcher.