The Oakland Athletics’ farm system is full of “live arms,” the slang term for hard-throwing pitchers, but it also has at least one dead leg.

That would be Landon Powell’s surgically reconstructed left leg, the knee of which now is supported by a ligament extracted from a donor.

Dr. Jerrald R. Goldman, Oakland’s team orthopedist, performed the surgery — called a “cadaver graft” — on the former USC All-America catcher on March 4, five weeks after he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in a January workout in Columbia.

It was one of three surgical options, Powell said, and the best one because of his considerable height (6-foot-3) and weight (240 pounds).

“It’s supposed to be less stressful,” he said. “But you have to find a good match, and you have to be real careful the first three months.”

Though the prognosis is good, and his rehabilitation efforts have been paying off, the recovery time is one year. Powell has stepped up his workouts to include throwing, catching and hitting, but running and game action will have to wait until spring training.

Powell’s goals for 2005 — placement in the high Class A California League with possible advancement to the Class AA Texas League — now shift to 2006. He has watched former Gamecock teammate Kevin Melillo, also in the Athletics’ organization, follow that career path this year.

“When you’ve been going to the baseball field every day since you’re 5, it’s a bit of a change,” he said. “It’s been tough not to be around the game this year. I’ve got a lot of friends that are off playing, and I’m proud of them and happy for them, but it’s bittersweet not being able to be out there too.”

Powell moved back to Columbia in April and has bought a house at Lake Carolina. He has been rehabbing at the Human Performance and Rehabilitation Center and working with Billy Anderson, USC’s assistant strength and conditioning coach. He also has been working out at two Columbia gyms and giving baseball lessons.

Noteworthy. Former Clemson catcher Steve Pyzik, who has played for three Braves affiliates this year, missed a chance at playing for a fourth during a recent temporary assignment at Class AAA Richmond. He was sent up from Class A Myrtle Beach on July 27 as part of a series of transactions set in motion when Atlanta catcher Johnny Estrada served a suspension. But while Pyzik was there, two of Richmond’s four scheduled games were rained out, and he did not see action in the other two. He returned to Myrtle Beach Monday. ... Since giving up a single at Indianapolis on July 21, former USC pitcher Lee Gronkiewicz has appeared in nine games for Class AAA Syracuse and surrendered neither a run nor a hit. Through Friday, the streak had reached 10ð scoreless, hitless innings. ... The Twins followed through on their promise to Steven Tolleson when they promoted the former USC shortstop to Class A Beloit last weekend. Tolleson batted .321 in 16 games for Elizabethton of the rookie Appalachian League after signing with the Twins. ... Former USC outfielder Marcus McBeth, now pitching in the Athletics’ organization, went on Class A Kane County’s disabled list July 29 with a right pinky finger contusion. He has not pitched since July 19. ... Jeff Hahn, used mainly as a reliever at Clemson, started and won for Class A Oneonta July 30. He scattered eight hits in six innings in an 11- 1 New York-Penn League victory over Tri-City. ... USC Aiken alum Chris Nowak, now playing first and third for Class A Southwest Michigan, is seventh in batting (.309) in the Midwest League.