Carlos Sosa to Miss 2003 Season with Torn ACL
2/4/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- University of Alabama senior third baseman Carlos Sosa will undergo surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee and will miss the entire 2003 season, according to head baseball coach Jim Wells.
Sosa was injured in an intrasquad game this weekend at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Sosa was hobbled with an Achilles injury during much of his junior season (2002) at Alabama. The torn ACL is on the same leg.
According to Alabama Athletic Trainer Ginger Gilmore, Sosa will undergo surgery on Wednesday at DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa. Dr. Les Fowler will perform the surgery.
“This is certainly a blow to our team, losing a starter and middle of the lineup hitter,” Wells said. “We now have to shuffle the cards and find someone to replace him at third base.”
Through two weeks of preseason practice, Sosa had become the Crimson Tide’s starting third baseman. He had also made strides at the plate and was one of the team’s top hitters this fall and in early preseason drills.
Last year as a junior, Sosa batted .269 (28-for-104) in 38 games for the Crimson Tide. He made 29 starts for the Crimson Tide, but was hampered most of the season by an Achilles injury suffered during the 2001 season at Pensacola Junior College.
Sophomore Allen Rice (Pelham) or freshman Evan Bush (Gadsden) are the likely replacements for Sosa at third base. Rice played third base last season and hit .247 (41-for-166) with 18 RBI in 56 games. Bush is a true freshman from Southside High School.
