How Caden ‘Doc’ Aoki has emerged as Georgia’s most reliable remedy

After starter Dylan Vigue went down with a forearm cramp on April 18 against Arkansas, the Bulldogs needed someone to step up in his absence. which is where Aoki — who has earned the nickname “Doc” — came in.

After a rough relief outing in the series opener at Ole Miss on April 25, where he allowed four runs — including three home runs — in 1.2 innings, the graduate transfer had his defining moment the next day.

Doc was called upon to start the Sunday rubber match. He had a standout six innings, where he recorded seven strikeouts and allowed just four hits, one run and two walks.

“When you look up ‘warrior,’ it’s him,” Georgia coach Wes Johnson said during a postgame radio interview on April 26. “He loves this game, loves to compete, loves to be out there. And the team wants him out there.”

Since then, Aoki has started in five of his last six appearances, including two this postseason. In those starts, the former USC pitcher has allowed just five earned runs in 11.2 innings and struck out 20 batters. Just over a week ago in the regional final against Liberty, Aoki fanned a career-high 11 in six innings of work.

On Sunday, the meticulous right-hander provided a calming presence to a worn-thin UGA pitching staff by neutralizing Mississippi State’s potent offense to eight hits, four runs and struck out nine across 121 pitches.

His outing could be overshadowed by the bullpen implosion and Daniel Jackson saving UGA’s season with a 10th-inning home run, but Aoki had MSU on the ropes early on.

“I thought Caden Aoki was outstanding,” Johnson said after the game. “ ... That guy, there’s a reason we call him ‘Doc.’”

MSU coach Brian O’Connor also commended Aoki’s efforts at keeping his team’s bats down for as long as he did.

“Aoki (was) so good today,” he said. “He’s really unpredictable, right? And you know, you look at his stuff and it’s not overpowering, but he overpowers you with his execution and unpredictability.”