UL sophomore Michael Strentz will undergo Tommy John surgery next week and is out for the season, Ragin’ Cajuns coach Tony Robichaux said Wednesday.

The Comeaux High product was UL’s starting catcher last season, but with senior Chris Sinclair handling daily duties behind the plate this season Strentz opened 2012 in left field.

After his arm started bothering him, Strentz was used only as a designated hitter.

But he did not play in UL’s win Tuesday night over Alcorn State, and now — after traveling with the team to a three-game tournament this weekend in San Antonio — will take a medical hardship and return in 2013 with three seasons of eligibility remaining.

Robichaux suggested Strentz perhaps could have finished the season, but he’d much rather have him fully healthy for next season

"It’s unfortunate, but it is what it is, and he’ll get repaired and back out next year earlier, quicker, than if he plays the whole season with it," Robichaux said.

"He could DH the whole season — but he’s not coming back next year as our DH or our outfielder. He’s coming back next year as a catcher. We want Mike to get as healthy as he can as fast as he can."

Strentz will the third UL player in less than a year to undergo Tommy John surgery, joining back-now infielder Tyler Frederick and also out-for-the-season pitcher Chase Traffica.

Tommy John surgery is a medical procedure common to baseball players in which the elbow’s ulnar collateral ligament is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body.

Strentz hit .185 in 27 at-bats and seven games this season.

Without him, Robichaux said usual third baseman Tyler Girouard — who did some catching at Teurlings Catholic High — will serve as Sinclair’s backup.

Sinclair, however, will handle most of the work.

"He (Girouard) will offset some of the load for (Sinclair) at practice "» but we’re just gonna have to stay healthy behind the plate now," Robichaux said.

Bourque still sore

Girouard has been starting at third in place of Jordan Bourque, who is out after undergoing mid-February surgery to repair a hook of the hamate hand-bone fracture.

Robichaux said Bourque is "getting closer" to returning, but he may not be back before UL’s March 16 start of Sun Belt Conference play.

"He’s getting better day-by-day," Robichaux said. "He’s in recovery right now, and soreness mode, and strengthening that wrist and that hand back up. But we’ll pick him back up, for sure."

Zimmerman out

Usual Friday starter Joe Zimmerman will not pitch for UL this weekend in San Antonio due to a groin injury that Robichaux said is probably related to a hamstring issue that limited him to 2.2 innings against Towson last Friday.

Zimmerman (0-0 in two starts) is expected to return March 9 vs. Southern Mississippi. The 5-3 Cajuns play games this weekend against Gonzaga, Kansas and host UT-San Antonio at the UTSA Classic

Lagniappe

With Zimmerman out, senior Jordan Nicholson (1-0) will start Friday vs. Gonzaga. "» Sinclair currently is away from the team, but according to Robichaux he plans to rejoin it in Texas after returning home to mourn the passing of a grandfather. "» An errant Chase Compton throw in UL’s win over Towson last Sunday struck Cajuns shortstop Ryan Leonards in the face and knocked him out of the game in the ninth inning, but Leonards was back in the lineup for Tuesday’s victory over Alcorn State.