Feb. 27, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. –Vanderbilt junior third baseman Pedro Alvarez will be sidelined indefinitely with a hand injury.
The National Player of the Year candidate and two-time first-team All-American has a broken bone in his hand that will force him out of action for a minimum of six weeks.
“This is an unfortunate situation for Pedro,” said Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin. “Obviously we will miss having him in the lineup and in the field. He is a special player that can’t be replaced. This is the kind of injury you don’t rush back from and we hope to have him back at full strength later in the season.”
Alvarez suffered the injury in his first at-bat against Oregon State in the season opener and was held out of the following two games against Arizona State and Miami (Ohio).
The New York City native is considered the top junior professional prospect by Baseball America and is on the initial Golden Spikes and Brooks Wallace Award Watch Lists. He has led the USA Baseball National Team in hitting over the last two summers.
Alvarez entered the year with a career .359 batting average to go with 40 homers, 36 doubles and 132 RBI. His 40 homers is sixth all-time in school history and nine away from tying Scotti Madison’s mark of 49 set in four seasons from 1977-80.