Winthrop has confirmed that ace righthander Alex Wilson will miss the 2008 season after having Tommy John surgery. Wilson, who went 6-4, 2.51 as a sophomore this spring after going 13-3, 3.78 as a freshman, figured to be a first-round pick next June thanks to a 90-94 mph fastball and a quality low-80s slider.

There is a good track record of pitchers coming back strong from Tommy John, of course, so Wilson could re-establish himself as a top draft candidate for 2009. But that’s little consolation in the short term for Winthrop, whose hopes to topple Coastal Carolina in the Big South have now taken a major blow.