Grayson Greiner is on the active roster for the NCAA Columbia Super Regional, but will likely be relegated to pinch-hitting or action as a designated hitter.
Coach Ray Tanner had to turn in his postseason roster by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, and said at the afternoon's press conference that he hadn't made a decision about Greiner's availability. A source close to the team confirmed that Greiner's name was among the final 27 names when Tanner turned it in.
Greiner attended practice on Friday, wearing a restrictive knee brace and a pair of shorts with embedded kneepads under his regular shorts. He took some swings in the batting cage and practiced running around the bases - his mobility looked good and while he wasn't running full-speed, he seemed to have no problems moving around.
Greiner tore his left lateral meniscus during practice on May 30 and had surgery on May 31. He was walking on the knee on June 1, before USC began its NCAA Regional, but did not play.
He was ready to go on Friday, despite it being just over a week since his surgery. While he is highly unlikely to catch, he could play, and Tanner added him to the roster in case the chance comes.
"Saw him moving around a little bit, running, getting around the bases, taking some swings," Tanner said. "He may be limited to getting in a catching position.
"I can't say no chance (of catching), but he's not going to start. It would be a situation that if in fact, we have to make some moves during a game and they tell me he might can handle an inning or two or something, never say never. More than anything else, the incision may be opening up because of that kind of flexibility that he needs to catch. I think it's unlikely that you'll see him back there."
Greiner is batting .236 with six home runs and 31 RBIs this year and has started 48 of his 55 games. Backup catcher Dante Rosenberg started all three games of the NCAA Regional and did well. He is expected to resume the position for all games this weekend.
Coach Ray Tanner had to turn in his postseason roster by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, and said at the afternoon's press conference that he hadn't made a decision about Greiner's availability. A source close to the team confirmed that Greiner's name was among the final 27 names when Tanner turned it in.
Greiner attended practice on Friday, wearing a restrictive knee brace and a pair of shorts with embedded kneepads under his regular shorts. He took some swings in the batting cage and practiced running around the bases - his mobility looked good and while he wasn't running full-speed, he seemed to have no problems moving around.
Greiner tore his left lateral meniscus during practice on May 30 and had surgery on May 31. He was walking on the knee on June 1, before USC began its NCAA Regional, but did not play.
He was ready to go on Friday, despite it being just over a week since his surgery. While he is highly unlikely to catch, he could play, and Tanner added him to the roster in case the chance comes.
"Saw him moving around a little bit, running, getting around the bases, taking some swings," Tanner said. "He may be limited to getting in a catching position.
"I can't say no chance (of catching), but he's not going to start. It would be a situation that if in fact, we have to make some moves during a game and they tell me he might can handle an inning or two or something, never say never. More than anything else, the incision may be opening up because of that kind of flexibility that he needs to catch. I think it's unlikely that you'll see him back there."
Greiner is batting .236 with six home runs and 31 RBIs this year and has started 48 of his 55 games. Backup catcher Dante Rosenberg started all three games of the NCAA Regional and did well. He is expected to resume the position for all games this weekend.
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