The LSU baseball team took another blow on Monday to their already-shaky starting infield.
Sophomore first baseman and power-hitter Jordan Mayer broke his thumb at practice Friday after sliding in a rundown.
The Tigers’ infield is already thin without Blake Gill and Clay Harris, who both graduated and Chris Jackson, who is out for the season after undergoing season-ending elbow surgery.
LSU Coach Smoke Laval said Mayer will have surgery today and will be out 6-to-8 weeks.
Although Mayer should be back for the Southeastern Conference opener, Laval said he will lack vital live-pitching practice.
“[He] will be over-matched for a while,” Laval said. “He can’t see real good live pitching because we have to save all of our pitchers for the game at that time.”
Laval said the team will surely feel the loss of Mayer’s bat. Mayer hit .313 in 42 games last season with four home runs and 26 RBI.
“[The team] will miss a tremendous amount of power,” Laval said. “Mayer has the most power that I have coached in a while.”
Laval said junior Steven Waguespack will likely replace Mayer. Waguespack, who can play right and left fields and first base, is a transfer from Delgado Community College in New Orleans.
“We gain more speed, we gain better defense [with Waguespack],” Laval said. “[Waguespack] is definitely one of my top 10 or 11 players.”
Laval said that it was better that Mayer’s injury happened early in the season rather than later, allowing another player to prove himself as a suitable replacement.
“It’s OK when it happens early because other people get…more of a chance,” Laval said.
 
 
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