Louisville OF Zion Rose to Miss Season Opening Series

Preseason All-American outfielder sidelined with ankle injury

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Louisville baseball's preseason All-American outfielder Zion Rose will miss the team's season-opening series against Michigan State due to an ankle injury, head coach Dan McDonnell announced. Rose is coming off a standout sophomore season in 2025 where he hit .310 with 13 home runs and 67 RBIs, helping the Cardinals reach the College World Series.

Why it matters

Rose is one of the best players in Division I college baseball and his absence will be a significant loss for Louisville as they look to build on their successful 2025 campaign. The Cardinals were picked to finish fourth in the ACC preseason poll and ranked as high as No. 8 nationally, so Rose's injury could impact their early-season performance and chances of returning to the College World Series.

The details

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound left fielder is recovering from an ankle injury sustained during the offseason. Rose burst onto the scene as a true freshman in 2024, hitting .380 with five home runs and 32 RBIs. He followed that up with an even better sophomore year, earning First-Team All-ACC honors after batting .310 with 13 home runs and a team-best 67 RBIs.

  • Rose is set to miss Louisville's season-opening series against Michigan State, which begins on Friday, February 13, 2026.

The players

Zion Rose

A preseason All-American outfielder for the Louisville baseball team, Rose is coming off a standout sophomore season in 2025 where he hit .310 with 13 home runs and 67 RBIs.

Dan McDonnell

The head coach of the Louisville baseball team, McDonnell announced that Rose will miss the season-opening series against Michigan State due to an ankle injury.

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What’s next

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The takeaway

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