Auburn catcher Jenkins to have hand surgery

AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn catcher Ryan Jenkins will undergo surgery today to insert a pin in his fractured right hand and is expected to miss at least a month.

The senior suffered the injury during a scrimmage on Saturday.

“Ryan had a great fall and had carried that over into the preseason,” first-year Tigers coach John Pawlowski said. “We will miss his leadership on the field, but that gives others the opportunity to step up.”

A strong defensive player, Jenkins batted .319 his sophomore year but hit just .233 last season with 18 RBIs in 38 games.

Ryan Caldwell and Caleb Brown are expected to take his place.

Caldwell, a sophomore, batted .270 with nine doubles and 10 RBIs in 29 games last year. Brown is a freshman out of Saks High in Anniston, Ala.

Auburn opens its season Friday against Elon at Plainsmen Park. Game time is 4 p.m.

This story was originally published February 17, 2009 at 12:20 AM with the headline "Auburn catcher Jenkins to have hand surgery."