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The injury-plagued career of Texas Longhorns outfielder Austin Todd suffered another, perhaps final setback on Thursday when the school announced that the fifth-year senior will miss the rest of the season following surgery on the torn labrum in his right shoulder.
Todd suffered the injury last week against Sam Houston State sliding back into second base on a pickoff attempt. Todd left the game and did not return, but it wasn’t immediately clear whether the injury would require surgery.
Although taking a medical redshirt and returning for a sixth season is a possibility for Todd, head coach David Pierce said Todd has not yet made a decision about whether he wants to pursue a chance at professional baseball or come back for another year on the Forty Acres.
David Pierce on Austin Todd: "We'll see what his future holds as far as next year."
— Joe Cook (@josephcook89) March 18, 2021
Mentions sixth year and professional baseball as possibilities, but emphasizes it's more about making sure Todd is good.
A right fielder who started six games this season while recovering from an oblique injury that cost him several games, Todd was hitting .292 after opting to return to Texas for a fifth season after the 2020 campaign was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic.
Todd is a career .275 hitter who got off to a hot start last season, hitting .375 with 15 RBI before the season ended prematurely.
Second-year freshman Douglas Hodo III has stepped in capably for Todd in right field this year, moving into the leadoff spot in the order and leading the team with a .348 batting average and two stolen bases.
Expect true freshman Dalton Porter to serve as the team’s fourth outfielder. The left-hander hit the first home run of his Longhorns career on Tuesday against the Vaqueros and is hitting .273 in 11 at bats.
Texas starts Big 12 play against Baylor on Friday in Waco.