Jayhawk Pitcher Marciel to Miss Remainder of the Season

April 15, 2008

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Kansas head baseball coach Ritch Price announced Tuesday that sophomore left-handed pitcher Wally Marciel will miss the remainder of the 2008 season due to a torn ligament in his pitching elbow. Marciel, a 6-foot lefty from Kailua, Hawaii, will have Tommy John surgery next week.

<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

“I’m confident that the surgery will be a complete success and that Wally will make a 100 percent recovery,” Price said. “He’s going to receive the best medical care in the country.”

Marciel ends he sophomore year with a 3-4 record with 22 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings pitched this season. The 6-foot sophomore earned victories in two of his first three starts.

Marciel is the second starting pitcher that Kansas has had to shut down this season. During the team’s week in Florida, it was determined that junior Andy Marks would not be full recovered from a shoulder injury until later in the spring. Marks, who did not pitch this year, will receive a red-shirt for the 2008 season.

“I have incredible respect for both young men, who have worked incredibly hard for us,” Price said. “The most important thing is that we do what is in the best interest of both players.”

Marks went 5-6 last season with a 5.52 ERA and a career high 91 strikeouts in 89 2/3 innings last season.