Worcestershire Academy player, Reeve Evitts, has followed Olly Davidson in signing a short-term professional rookie contract.
The 17-year-old all-rounder is now available to play, if required, for the remainder of the Royal London Cup campaign.
Evitts has put pen to paper after Ed Barnard suffered a hand injury after being struck by a pull shot from Yorkshire century-maker George Hill while fielding during yesterday’s RLC encounter at Scarborough.
Barnard returned to the field after having some strapping on his right hand and ran out Matthew Waite but did not complete his allocation of overs.
Lichfield-born Evitts has been part of the Academy intake for the past two years and has become a regular member of the Seconds squad.
This season he picked up seven wickets in the Second Eleven Championship win over Gloucestershire at Kidderminster and hit 62 not out in the drawn game with Glamorgan at Newport.
Evitts was also selected for the Midlands in the 2022 ‘Super Fours’ at Loughborough last month and plays for Kenilworth Wardens in the Birmingham and District Premier League.
Worcestershire Assistant Coach, Alan Richardson, who is overseeing the Royal London Cup campaign with Kadeer Ali, said: “We signed Olly Davidson on a short-term contract after Josh Baker was injured, and now it is a similar scenario with Reeve Evitts after Ed Barnard got injured yesterday.
“Reeve has progressed through the ranks at Worcestershire and has earned a spot in the Second Eleven and now will have a chance to gain experience as part of our Royal London Cup squad.
“Like Olly, he may or may not play a game in the competition, but it is all part of his learning curve.
“But we also need to boost our numbers and, after thinking we would have a near full-strength squad at one stage, the late addition of players signing for The Hundred and several injuries has changed that situation.”
Keeper-batter, Henry Cullen, who recently signed a rookie contract until the end of next season, made his debut against Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl after illness to Ben Cox.
