Mitch Sewald is the only LSU baseball player that hasn’t seen an inning of play this season.
For now, the freshman right-handed pitcher’s words are stronger than his pitch — he has the prominent role of delivering postgame speeches to the Tigers.
After most weekend series, the Tigers gather at Mellow Mushroom for a team meal, and the players call on one of their own for an inspiring speech to prepare them for the next week of games. Junior pitcher Will LaMarche gave one, but “apparently they didn’t like it,” Sewald laughed. Sewald’s first speech wasn’t planned, and he fumbled a bit. But after LSU’s series against Washington, he was prepared with a speech.
It was his best one yet, fellow freshman Alex Bregman said. The team coined the Twitter hashtag #SpeechbyMeech to celebrate the weekly dialogue. After LSU’s 2-0 victory against Nicholls on March 3, Twitter was abuzz with shout-outs to Sewald. Bregman tweeted, “Big Meech was incredible today. Purely #Inspirational.”
But content of the speech — like the rules of Fight Club — cannot be spoken of.
It’s for team ears only. Sewald disclosed that he sometimes discusses the team’s upcoming matchups, but that’s all he’ll say.
Until he gets his debut on the mound, he’ll continue to help No. 7 LSU’s (22-2, 5-1 SEC) winning record in any way he can.
“If that’s giving pump-up speeches, then I’m gonna do it,” Sewald said.
Sewald, who attended Archbishop Rummel High School in Metairie, is one of LSU’s five freshman pitchers, but the other four have all seen time on the mound under the lights of Alex Box Stadium.
Even as he watches all of his teammates play, Sewald maintains a wide grin. He’s keeping patient with the training process as he comes back from injuries in his foot and shoulder.
“In the spring, I was locating the ball pretty well,” Sewald said. “After I came back from my injury, it just wasn’t as sharp. My curveball wasn’t nearly as good, so I had to develop that again.”
LSU pitching coach Alan Dunn said Sewald isn’t having problems, he just needs more time on the mound.
“He kind of got behind from a health standpoint,” Dunn said. “So we’re trying to play catch-up a little bit and get him as many opportunities on the mound as we can so that he’s feeling his release point and feeling comfortable with locating his stuff.”
Dunn, like the other coaches, was unaware of Sewald’s unique role in giving the postgame speeches, but said it takes every player on the team contributing to make everything work. Whether it’s keeping a chart, observing the other team or building up a teammate, it’s all important.
“You know, if you’re not pitching or having been in the heat of the battle, there’s something you can do over here in the dugout,” Dunn said. “There’s a lot of things that you can do that’s going to benefit this team.”
“He’s going to get his opportunity,” Dunn said. “Obviously patience and timing are the key.”
LSU coach Paul Mainieri and Dunn will evaluate Sewald’s progress in the bullpen and play him at the appropriate time. Until then, fans won’t find Sewald shining on the mound but instead inspiring his the teammates to throw the strikeouts and hit the home runs.
“There’s a lot of things that you can do that’s gonna benefit this team.”
