When the 2005 LSU baseball team’s season ended in the NCAA regionals, more than half of the Tigers’ 557 innings pitched that season left with household names Greg Smith, Lane Mestepey and Jason Determann.
To fill the leadership and experience void on this season’s pitching staff, the Tigers turned to junior left-hander Clay Dirks who has an 18-6 career record in 175.2 innings pitched.
“There’s a big gap for us to fill this year,” said LSU pitching coach Brady Wiederhold. “The best word I can use for the pitching staff this year, at this point, is untested.”
Dirks, who sat out his first year after elbow surgery, said he is comfortable with his role and admitted he has come a long way since his freshman year to be the leader and the ace of the Tigers’ pitching staff.
On Sept. 6, 2003, the Baton Rouge Police Department arrested Dirks on DWI charges.
Dirks said the incident is behind him and his job is to now be a leader on and off the field.
“The guys look up to me because I’ve been a starter here the past two years,” Dirks said. “I have grown up personally and [am] just trying to lead the guys the right way on and off the field. I’m definitely comfortable [being a leader].”
LSU coach Smoke Laval said the arrest was never a team problem, and Dirks has earned the respect of his teammates.
“You don’t take [a] leadership role until you’ve earned that from your teammates, and he’s earned that and taken great responsibility in it,” Laval said. “Getting in trouble off the field is just college. It wasn’t like he held up a store. [Dirks] has grown up on and off the field.”
Wiederhold said he has seen improvements in Dirks’ pitching skills as well as his personal life.
“It’s really the things off the field that Clay has really matured,” Wiederhold said. “I think that’s carried over to his pitching over the last couple of years.”
Dirks admitted he has made some mistakes but said he is ready for his inevitable role as the Tigers’ ace.
“It’s something I knew as time went on here at LSU that I would have to grow and accept,” Dirks said. “I was kind of nervous coming into this year because I knew it was going to happen.”
Dirks said his main reason for coming to LSU was to be in the position he is in today.
Even before regular season play, Dirks has already made an impact on the younger pitchers.
Freshman right-hander Louis Coleman said Dirks always keeps an eye out for the young players and helps whenever someone is struggling.
“Clay works real hard and has a good attitude about everything,” Coleman said. “He’s not a senior officially, but he acts like it. If he sees something, he’ll help you out.”
But Laval cautions that Dirks is not perfect and said he has a few areas where he would like his top hurler to improve.
“He’s dropped off in velocity somehow without having an injury,” Laval said. “If he can pick up 3-to-4 mph where he used to be, he could become that more dominant guy and pitch more off of his fastball.”
 
Contact Kyle Whitfield at [email protected]