LSU is experiencing its worst slump of the season as the Tigers have lost five of their last seven contests.
However, a bright spot for the team is the team has been freshman outfielder Zach Watson as their permanent starter in left field.
Since becoming the left-fielder for LSU, Watson obtained a .308 batting average, one home run and 10 RBIs for the season.
Watson has also started games in center field, but was recently switched to left field while sophomore outfielder Antoine Duplantis has taken over in center.
The freshman outfielder says things are going well on the field with the exception of one play against the Florida Gators a few weeks back.
“I misjudged one ball against Florida and didn’t get a good look at the ball,” Watson said. “Other than that I think it’s been really good, and there’s still a lot of stuff to work on.”
LSU coach Paul Mainieri said he likes the way Watson has played in the outfield and how he has come up big at the plate.
“I think Zach has done a really good job,” Mainieri said. “He started off like gangbusters when we first put him out there. He’s had some big hits for us and he’s only going to keep getting better.”
As a Ruston, Louisiana native, Watson was a four-year starter for West Ouachita High Schooland came to LSU ranked as the No. 1 Louisiana prospect by Perfect Game.
Maineri has seen some growing pains in the young player, but says it comes from inexperience.
“Zach had a couple of plays at Florida where he lost the ball off the bat,” Mainieri said. “That happens to everybody, but he didn’t let anybody know he didn’t see it. That’s just an inexperience thing.”
Duplantis has raved about Watson’s athleticism, and said he’s been fantastic for the Tigers.
“I think he’s done great,” Duplantis said. “He has really good speed and is a really good athlete. He’s hitting balls really hard and he’s kind of a gamer. The things he’s doing now compared to what he did in the fall, he’s starting to raise some eyebrows.”
Watson believes he’s swung the bat well, and his goal is to hit the ball right back up the middle.
“Really I’m just trying to hit the ball right back up the middle,” Watson said. “Just send it right back where it came from and swinging as hard as I can.”
Mainieri feels Watson is one of the Tigers’ nine best players and will only continue to grow.
“I feel Zach is one of our nine best players,” Mainieri said. “He’s had some good hits, has good speed on the bases. The more experience he gets [and] the older he gets, the more consistently he’ll play and the more great things will happen.”