▁in ▁a ▁single ▁season ▁with ▁ 2 8 . ▁▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 8 , ▁La R oc ca ▁he ▁compla ined ▁of ▁right ▁el bow ▁pain , ▁and ▁did ▁not ▁play ▁after ▁May ▁ 5 . ▁On ▁May ▁ 2 8 , ▁the ▁team ▁announced ▁that ▁La R oc ca ▁had ▁under g one ▁re construct ive ▁surg ery ▁of ▁his ▁right ▁U ln ar ▁Coll ater al ▁Lig ament , ▁also ▁known ▁as ▁Tommy ▁John ▁surg ery . ▁ ▁This ▁surg ery ▁caused ▁his ▁season ▁to ▁come ▁to ▁an ▁end , ▁and ▁the ▁Buff alo es ▁considered ▁re le asing ▁La R oc ca . ▁▁ 2 0 0 9 ▁▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 9 , ▁La R oc ca ▁ren eg oti ated ▁his ▁contract ▁and ▁took ▁a ▁substantial ▁sal ary ▁reduction ▁and ▁agreed ▁to ▁a ▁contract ▁on ▁January ▁ 2 8 . ▁The ▁Buff alo es ▁acquired ▁Jose ▁Fern ande z ▁to ▁play ▁third ▁base , ▁so ▁La R oc ca ▁played ▁first ▁base . ▁On ▁opening ▁day ▁against ▁the ▁L otte , ▁three ▁consecutive ▁home ▁runs ▁were ▁recorded ▁for ▁the ▁first ▁time ▁in ▁three ▁years ▁by ▁himself ▁and ▁two ▁other ▁team m ates . ▁With ▁Alex ▁Cab rera ▁and ▁T uff y ▁Rh odes ▁injured , ▁La R oc ca ▁filled ▁the ▁hole ▁of ▁Fernández ▁who ▁was ▁also ▁injured . ▁He ▁was ▁b ump ed ▁to ▁batt ing ▁ 4 th , ▁and ▁hit ▁ 1 2 ▁home ▁runs