If the injury bug strikes LSU junior catcher Ty Ross like it did last season, don’t fret — he’s already groomed his replacement.

Ross took freshman catcher Chris Chinea under his wing before the two had any inkling they’d be teammates in Baton Rouge as both Florida natives played in the All American Prospects organization in Miami. 

Ross immediately found a friend in Chinea as the two bonded into the family the organization cultivated. 

“He seemed like a good kid,” Ross said. “You could tell since day one he kind of looked up to me. It’s an honor to have someone kind of look up to you.”

Since their first meeting when he was about 14, Chinea said he’s always looked up to the elder Ross and would constantly ask him about his experience at LSU.

And when Chinea spurned the hometown Miami (FL) Hurricanes to sign with the Tigers, he found Ross again ready to teach him the intricacies of the Division I game. 

“He did an outstanding job of [selling LSU],” Chinea said. “He prepared me perfectly. Everything he told me that could happen has happened. It’s been awesome since I’ve been here.”

Now faced with the difficult adjustment from Gulliver Prep School in Miami to the Southeastern Conference, Chinea said he looks to Ross more than ever as the duo teams with fellow Florida native, freshman Michael Barash, to form the Tiger catching staff. 

It’s always a learning experience for the three catchers on the diamond, with Chinea crediting his Florida mates young and old for his transformation into a college player.

“I try to learn from them the most I can,” Chinea said. “Every day in practice I learn.”

Under the watchful eye of LSU hitting coach Javi Sanchez, the trio breaks down each practice with the phrase “unit,” signifying their solidarity.

“They ask a lot of questions and they want to learn,” Ross said. “I’m still a student of the game as well … we’re all just getting after it and making each other better. They help me just as much as I help them.”

Although he’s only started one game behind the plate, Chinea has seen 12 pinch-hit at-bats this season. He’s impressed the staff with his presence at the plate, lacing four hits for a .333 batting average. 

He didn’t impress his mentor, though, who had seen it all before.

“I knew the kid could swing it,” Ross said. “He’s been able to swing it ever since I’ve met him. He’s always been a big stick.”

And if the injury bug ever comes back, Ross said he’s overwhelmingly confident Chinea could fill in admirably.

But, for now, the backup will relish watching his mentor.

“He’s like a quarterback back there,” Chinea said. “He commands the game amazing, always has a good tempo. He’s a great player.”