OTF Premium Jim Schlossnagle on Adrian Rodriguez's latest hand procedure and the new-look Texas infield

[Jeff Howe]

Texas shortstop Adrian Rodriguez’s hand procedure was successful, Jim Schlossnagle said after Tuesday’s 10-8 win over Texas State at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.

Rodriguez, who underwent offseason hand surgery, had a staple removed that was used in the initial procedure. According to Schlossnagle, it was discovered that Rodriguez was allergic to cobalt and nickel, which were the materials used to manufacture the staple.

The negative reaction caused the inflammation, pain and discomfort Rodriguez has experienced throughout the season.

Performed by Dr. Steven Shin, the surgeon for Rodriguez’s initial surgery, who also operated on Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer’s broken thumb during football season, Rodriguez’s latest procedure lasted roughly 20 minutes.

“According to Dr. Shin, it went absolutely as well as it possibly could,” Schlossnagle said.

Now, the wait begins for when Rodriguez can return to the diamond.

Once Rodriguez is 10 days removed from the procedure, Schlossnagle said, he’ll get his stitches removed. Schlossnagle didn’t want to say when he expects Rodriguez back in the lineup, but it sounds like the initial timeframe of a 2-3 week absence is likely how long Texas (24-4, 7-2 SEC) will be without one of its most significant players.

On Tuesday, Schlossnagle moved Temo Becerra from third base to shortstop to fill the void. The corresponding moves were Casey Borba going across the diamond to third base and Josh Livingston filling in for Borba at first base.

“More than likely, that’s what it’ll be to start the game,” Schlossnagle said of the interim lineup. “Then, we’ll figure it out as we go."

The new-look lineup is subject to change based on the Longhorns’ opponents. Additionally, Schlossnagle wants to see how the infield moves hold up when the playing surface switches from artificial turf to grass and dirt over the next two weekends.

Texas begins a three-game road series against South Carolina (14-16, 1-8) on Thursday and will travel to Texas A&M (23-5, 5-4) next Friday for a three-game series in College Station. Founders Stadium and Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park both feature natural playing surfaces.

Schlossnagle, who once again praised the Round Rock Express for allowing the Longhorns to practice on the grass and dirt at Dell Diamond before Texas played three games at Houston’s Daikin Park earlier this season, said there wasn’t enough time for the Texas infielders to get to Round Rock before the team flew out on Wednesday.

Nevertheless, Schlossnagle is confident the Longhorns “will be ready to go” against the Gamecocks on Thursday (6 p.m., SEC Network) after Wednesday’s onsite practice in Columbia.

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[Jeff Howe]

With the new-look infield and without Rodriguez, this was the first series of in-game changes Schloss made:

— He had Maddox Monsour pinch-hit for Livingston in the sixth inning. Monsour flew out to left field, but Schloss liked his approach.

— For the top of the seventh, Monsour went to right field, Jayden Duplantier went to second base, Casey Borba went back to first base, Ethan Mendoza went to shortstop and Temo Becerra went back to third base.

— Duplantier's seventh-inning double brought Monsour up again. Schloss let him hit, with Monsour striking out after a 7-pitch at-bat. For the eighth inning, however, Schloss lifted Monsour and put Dariyan Pendergrass in right field as a defensive replacement. Pedergrass' spot in the order (No. 9) didn't come up in the bottom of the eighth. Regardless, Schloss likes having Pendergrass available for the late innings since, as he put it, the team's outfield defense "is still, yet, a work in progress."

[utx2]

Great info thanks 

[Rocky P]

can we make these Tuesday night games less interesting?  They seem to be a bigger issue for us than the weekend series