Super Bowl Update

Sophomore first baseman Kyle Brown will soon have season-ending hip surgery and take a medical redshirt this year, Troy head coach Bobby Pierce said.

Brown has a genetic issue with both hips that has hindered his performance. The first plan was to try to play through it this year, but the pain has gotten to be too much.

"He's not able to practice or do the things he needs to do to improve," Pierce said. "He'll get his hips fixed and have time to rehab and start back playing in the summer."

Brown has to have both hips fixed, but Pierce said they could possibly do both at the same time. The rehab would be six weeks, but there would still have to be time to build the hips back up.

Brown was 0-for-1 with a strikeout in Troy's season-opening 3-game series over Central Michigan. The Beauregard, Ala., native hit .233 (7-for-30) with 5 RBIs in limited action last year.

Brown is the backup to starter Logan Pierce at first base. Bobby Pierce said that if Logan needs a break, either Blake Martz or Boone Shear will take over at the position.