USC junior Adam Landecker is likely done for the season after having surgery Tuesday. Landecker had a bone removed from his hand, according to head coach Frank Cruz.
Landecker was hit by a Matt Boyd pitch in the left hand in the sixth inning of USC’s 6-2 win over Oregon State Sunday afternoon and left the game an inning later.
The veteran infielder had been USC’s most consistent defender, playing second base, third base and having become the team’s everyday shortstop since April 6. Landecker also provided a versatile bat at the top of the lineup for Cruz. He was batting .329, second best on the team, and led the team with 31 runs scored.
James Roberts, who Landecker took over the shortstop duties from, looked solid in his return to middle infield during Tuesday’s game at Cal State Fullerton. Roberts spent eight games at second base before starting all four games last week at third base.
With Roberts at short, Kevin Swick will return to third base and the light-hitting spark plug Andres Rodriguez will play second base. The only other player that has played middle infield for USC this season is Dante Flores. Flores began the season in a battle with Landecker for the starting second base spot, but was moved to the outfield when he struggled making throws to first base.
The injury, not fully disclosed by the school, will keep Landecker out for the remainder of the regular season, but Cruz did concede there is a slim possibility Landecker could return if the team were to make the postseason.
Landecker had also been bothered by a left wrist injury earlier in the year. Though, he never missed any time, he wore a brace on the wrist while running the bases all season.
