Why Texas SS Adrian Rodriguez needed another hand surgery

AUSTIN, TX - FEBRUARY 22: Infielder Adrian Rodriguez #24 of the Texas Longhorns readies to step up to the plate during the college baseball game between Texas Longhorns and Michigan State Spartans on February 22, 2026, at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, TX. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images After the No. 2 Texas Longhorns ended a four-game home losing streak against the Texas State Bobcats with a 10-8 victory at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Tuesday, head coach Jim Schlossnagle provided an update on the status of sophomore shortstop Adrian Rodriguez, who underwent a procedure on his injured hand earlier this week.

Rodriguez was wearing a hard cast on the hand following a second attempt to address the injury he sustained last year when he was hit by a pitch against Missouri. “According to Dr. Shin, it with absolutely as well as it possibly could, so he feels pretty good about it right now,” Schlossnagle said.

Considered the world’s leading hand surgeon, Shin performed a 20-minute surgery on Rodriguez to remove the staple that was placed in his hand during the initial procedure last fall to determine whether the Texas shortstop was allergic to the nickel and cobalt used in the staple. “He’s apparently allergic to that, which caused inflammation, which caused potentially extra pain, extra discomfort,” Schlossnagle said. Rodriguez was visibly impacted by his hand issues this season, seeing his slugging percentage, bolstered last year when fully healthy, drop from .

516 to . 383. Rodriguez hit five of his seven home runs last year before the injury and hasn’t hit one this season, with head coach Jim Schlossnagle speculating last week that Rodriguez would have six to eight home runs in 2026 if he was at full health.