Michigan junior outfielder Ryan LaMarre, a third-team preseason All-American, will miss four to five weeks with a broken thumb, Wolverines coach Rich Maloney told Baseball America this afternoon. LaMarre suffered the injury Saturday, when he dove for a ball in the outfield and landed funny. Maloney said it was a clean fracture, so LaMarre should not be affected long-term.

"It's a tough blow for everybody," Maloney said. "It's not fun having your star player out when you're playing the toughest schedule you've ever played—you can't replace what he brings. It is what it is; we'll go back in and claw and battle and fight, and he'll be back for Big Ten play."

Maloney said freshman Patrick Biondi will shift from left field to center to replace LaMarre, and the Wolverines will use a committee approach in left. Biondi and heralded freshman shortstop Derek Dennis will have to help carry the offensive load even more with LaMarre sidelined.

"The more Dennis and Biondi play, they're going to be stars and it's not going to take them too long," Maloney said. "So the team at some point is going to be pretty good."