A freshman can often become overwhelmed by the pressure and electric atmosphere brought along by playing under the lights of Alex Box Stadium.
But not Doug Norman. Not anymore.
The Fort Mill, South Carolina freshman right-hander appeared to be down the path of destruction early in 2015 after his first three midweek starts.
“I don’t know if I would say I was overwhelmed as much as I just wasn’t as aggressive, as convicting when I was pitching out there,” Norman said. “I was babying the ball a little bit just trying to hit my spots a little too much.”
Norman’s first start of his LSU career was on Feb. 18 in an eventual 6-3 loss to Nicholls State. Norman earned the loss, tossing 4 ⅔ innings allowing nine hits, five runs (four earned) on 70 pitches.
It was a nightmarish outing for both Norman and the Tigers, handing them their first loss of the season four games in against an in-state opponent.
The freshman’s next start wasn’t any better. Norman earned a no-decision going 4 ⅓ innings allowing six hits, five runs (one earned) on 95 pitches in a 9-8 win against Southeastern on Feb. 26. Norman was yanked in the fifth inning after pitching himself into a bases loaded situation.
Two starts into his career and Norman already possessed a 5.00 ERA in only nine innings pitched. Norman did better in his final start against Grambling on March 4, earning the win while allowing only one run on five hits.
Norman’s successful third outing brought his ERA down to 4.15, but it was already too late. Norman was allowing just under seven hits per game as a starter, giving coach Paul Mainieri enough doubt to send Norman to the bullpen in favor of another midweek starter.
“He has always been a real confident kid and composed,” Mainieri said. “What the deal was he was trying to pace himself too much as a starting pitcher, whereas when we put him in the bullpen we told him ‘Look, just go out there and air it out. Let it rip.’ His velocity has picked up quite a bit. It was what we saw in the fall. When he was starting, he was like mid-80s.”
While some may view the move to the bullpen as a demotion, Norman had different ideas.
Norman has flourished since making the move to the bullpen, obtaining a 1.50 ERA in his 10 appearances with the bullpen. Norman’s only runs allowed were in an outing against Northwestern State, in which he went ⅔ innings allowing two runs on two hits.
The right-hander even picked up a win in a relief effort against Alabama on April 2. Norman pitched three innings of shutout ball to help the Tigers defeat the Crimson Tide, 8-5, in 16 innings.
“He has transitioned to the bullpen and has been outstanding since,” said junior right fielder Mark Laird. “Every time he comes into the game he continues to surprise me and he’s surprising everyone else. He’s a guy who works hard out here and in the weight room. He has got his confidence built back up and he has been ready to go ever since.”
Norman’s success has helped him drop his ERA significantly since discontinuing his role as a starter. It now stands at 2.88, which is fourth best on the team for relievers who have made more than two appearances.
Norman said he has adopted a new mindset in his relief role, which has helped him raise his game.
“I basically just changed my mentality. I’m throwing one inning or less than that, or two innings, so it’s going to be everything I got,” Norman said. “I pretty much know that I’m throwing anywhere from one pitch to two or three innings, which means I can really let it fly and just give it all I got every single pitch.”
The starter turned reliever has begun to show why Mainieri had such high hopes from him coming out of the fall. And while the bullpen role is unfamiliar, Norman said he’s continuing to work hard and elevate his game to do whatever he can to contribute.
“I haven’t given up on being a starter whatsoever,” Norman said. “This is the first time in my life I’ve ever been a relief pitcher. I’ve adapted to it pretty well. It hasn’t been that big of a deal at all. I’ve actually kind of liked it. But my whole life I’ve always really thrived on being the starter, so if I can get back to that and somehow find a way to be a starter then that’s what I’m going to do. If not, then I’ll keep doing what I’m doing in the pen.”