University of Tennessee Athletics
Baseball Vols Lose Rivera to Season Ending Surgery
April 28, 2003 | Baseball
April 28, 2003
Tenenssee head coach Rod Delmonico announced that freshman right fielder Michael Rivera will undergo season-ending surgery to his left thumb Tuesday. The Miami, Fla., native suffered the injury in the fifth inning of Saturday's game at LSU when he ran into the wall in right field attempting to make a catch on a deep fly ball hit by the Tigers' Quinn Stewart.
"This is a huge loss for our ball club, especially as we head down the stretch," said Delmonico. "Michael has played such a key role for us all season as both an outfielder and infielder. He will be missed."
Rivera had started all 43 games he played, making 33 starts in right, five at third, four at first and one at shortstop. He was tied for second on the team with 14 multi-hit games to go along with a .283 batting average, two home runs and 26 RBI.
Sophomore Chad LeGate is expected to take over for Rivera. LeGate started in right when Rivera played other positions and is batting .301 with two home runs and 16 RBI.
Tennessee takes on the UNC Asheville Bulldogs Tuesday in Asheville, N.C., at 7 p.m. ET, before facing the Tennessee Smokies in an exhibition Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. The Volunteers then open a seven-game home stand with the No. 22 Alabama Crimson Tide this weekend, May 2-4.
