Mason Katz admitted it – his position at first base gets rather mundane.
And for a player who struggles to remember how many different positions he’s played in an LSU uniform, it isn’t at all surprising.
“It’s just standing there and catching balls all day,” Katz complained. “I like to move around a little — that’s why I go out and take balls at second.”
As he was being recruited by LSU coach Paul Mainieri, the senior clean-up hitter was only assured of one thing – he’d have a bat in his hand four or five times a contest.
Beyond that, the Jesuit High School product who spent his days as a Blue Jay either roaming the outfield or squatting in catcher’s gear wasn’t given much insight as to what he would contribute in the field once arriving in Baton Rouge.
“When Coach [Mainieri] recruited me, he told me, ‘We have no idea where we’re going to put you,’” Katz said. “’You’ll get catcher’s gear, you’ll get a third baseman’s glove, a first baseman’s mitt, an outfield glove, a second baseman’s glove. And I was like, ‘All right, I don’t really care.’”
Starting his baseball career as what he said was a skinnier, speedier player, Katz began as a center fielder as he made his way up the little league ranks.
As other players began to improve at other positions and Katz bulked up with the help of his father, he switched to catcher before moving to Jesuit.
While at Jesuit, Katz played left field, catcher, first base and third base for the Blue Jays, winning one state title in his sophomore season.
Katz said he played almost every position during his senior season, even toeing the rubber as a pitcher, a position he’s asked Mainieri to reprise in Alex Box Stadium.
His pleas fell on deaf ears, much like during Tuesday’s game against McNeese, when Katz suggested he replace freshman Alex Bregman at shortstop late in the game. It’s the only position Katz can’t remember ever playing.
“Everybody has their limit,” Mainieri said. “And that’s my limit.”
Mainieri hailed Katz’s versatility as an asset for the current team. He’s placed his senior at second base this season while also watching him battle fellow teammate Christian Ibarra for the third base job in the fall.
“You don’t become a good defensive player by accident,” Mainieri said. “You have to have a lot of pride in it and work at it, and [Katz] has.”
Katz said while his everyday position might bore him once in a while, he embraces any position he plays and can’t necessarily pick a favorite.
His true favorite, however, can’t be found with a mitt.
“I like hitting,” Katz said. “As long as I’m in the batter’s box, I don’t care where I am defensively.”
LSU senior first-baseman Mason Katz (8) catches the ball as South Carolina junior Graham Saiko (26) slides into first base April 28, 2013 during LSU's 4-0 lost to South Carolina in Alex Box Stadium.
