Ryan Muno sidelined with broken hand

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — San Diego State sophomore first baseman Ryan Muno suffered a broken right hand in practice on Tuesday and initial concerns were that he could be sidelined up to two months.

Ryan Muno

Muno visited his doctor Wednesday morning and was encouraged afterward to report that the doctor said he could return in as soon as 3-4 weeks if everything goes well. There was some discussion of having surgery, but it was decided to allow the injury to heal on its own.

Muno said he had a displacement of the fifth metacarpal (the bone of the little finger). His doctor numbed the area around the injury and then "popped it back into place," said Muno. He was fitted with a specialized brace/cast that will keep the bone in place for proper healing.

"It's definitely not a good time to get hurt," said Muno, "but there's a lot of guys behind me who will pick me up. ... It's just a matter of getting better and getting back out there."

Muno batted .308 (4-for-13) with two RBI in SDSU's season-opening sweep of USD over the weekend. The sophomore from La Quinta was second on the team last season with four HR and had 19 RBI.

The Aztecs plan to use senior John Spirk and junior Mitch Bluman in a righty-lefty platoon at first base in Muno's absence. Spirk made 27 starts last season and batted .234 with four HR and 21 RBI. Bluman, a left-handed pitcher who made 18 appearances on the mound last season, was not used as a hitter last year. He has impressed coaches with the bat during fall and spring practices to earn a chance in the field and at the plate.

"We'll be fine," said SDSU associate head coach Mark Martinez. "We'll have some good players who will pick up where Ryan left off."

SDSU's home opener is Thursday at 6 p.m., when the Aztecs open a four-game series against Oregon State.