April 3, 2009

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - - Santa Clara All-American catcher Tommy Medica will miss the rest of the 2009 season, head baseball coach Mark O'Brien announced Wednesday. Medica will undergo surgery to repair a separated shoulder. Medica suffered the injury during the third game of the series at Oregon on March 7. More information about his rehabilitation time will be released next week.

"We all feel for Tommy," said O'Brien. "It is an unfortunate situation but the good news is that he is going to be healthy and will make a full recovery. Tommy will come back from this strong and will help our team next year. He's going to have a very successful career."

"I am obviously disappointed," said Medica. "Yet, I am going to look into getting my year back and using this time to rehab. I'll be with my teammates every step of the way, and watch as our team develops and has a good year. I look forward to an even better year next year."

Early this season, Medica led the Broncos with a 4.29 batting average. He compiled nine runs in nine games with seven doubles, one home run and four RBIs. The junior from San Jose, Calif., earned three preseason All-America honors (Louisville Slugger, Recruiting Closer and College Baseball Insider) and was named to the Coleman Company Johnny Bench Award Watch List just prior to sustaining the injury.

In 2008, a unanimous All-WCC honoree, Medica led Santa Clara in on base percentage and tied for second in double (15) and ranked second in triples (2) and walks. He compiled a career and team-best 29 game hitting streak that began on April 5, 2008 against Portland and ended on Feb. 20, 2009 in the season opener against Xavier. The run included 25 runs, six doubles, two triples, four home runs and 26 RBIs. During the summer, Medica help the Harwich Mariners to the Cape Cod Baseball League Championship, their first title in 21 years. He went 2-for-4 in the championship game. As a freshman in 2007, he received three All-America honors and was a unanimous All-WCC selection.