Nebraska reliever Colby Gomes out for the season due to injury

The hurler began to feel a pulling in his shoulder after a few bullpen sessions this year and underwent surgery last month.

Tweeted Gomes in February: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change and the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.”

Nebraska’s bullpen — like most in college baseball this season — has more depth than usual following the pandemic-related eligibility freeze from 2020 along with the shortened MLB draft that kept more players in school.

Shortstop Spencer Schwellenbach is penciled in to double as the high-leverage closer, and Texas A&M transfer Cam Wynne impressed coaches in the fall with his velocity and command. Other key roles could fall to a variety of candidates, including returning right-handers Braxton Bragg, Max Schreiber, Trey Kissack and Quinn Mason as well as lefties Ethan Bradford and Tyler Martin.

Two players who held the closer role for part of 2020 won’t figure into the conversation. Junior righty Shay Schanaman moved into the starting rotation, and Paul Tillotson retired for health reasons.

Nebraska weekend starting pitcher Cade Povich said the team can only “stand by his side” as Gomes recovers this season.

“There’s not really anybody that can replace him,” Povich said. “But we have guys that are going to be able to step up to that opportunity. I think we’re in a lot better situation than we might have been last year as guys who have come back better or newcomers who are stepping up (fill in). I think we’re in a pretty good spot.”