Antoine Duplantis will be sporting a new jersey number for the 2018 season.
Coach Paul Mainieri announced on Monday that the junior outfielder will be wearing the No. 8 jersey, which is “given each season to the upperclassman who exemplifies the spirit of LSU Baseball through his leadership and dedication to the program.”
“Antoine Duplantis embodies all of the characteristics that we value in our program,” Mainieri said in a press release. “He’s an outstanding ballplayer, an excellent student, and a young man who cares deeply about LSU and the impact our program can make upon the lives of others. It’s an honor he has worked very hard to earn, and we’re thrilled that our 2018 team has Antoine in a significant position of leadership.”
The Lafayette, Louisiana native batted .316 in his second season with the Tigers and recorded 14 doubles, 61 RBIs, 50 runs and 19 steals to help lead the team to a second place finish in the 2017 College World Series.
He was named National Player of the Week and SEC Player of the Week on March 20 after the team’s three game sweep of Georgia. He set the LSU single-game record for hits when he went 6-for-6 on March 17 against the Bulldogs.
Duplantis was also named to the 2017 SEC All-Tournament team after going 9-for-16 at the plate during the Tigers run in the SEC tournament.
The tradition of the No. 8 jersey was started in 2009 by former Tiger outfielder Mikie Mahtook. The jersey has since been worn by first baseman Mason Kats (2012-13), shortstop Alex Bregman (2014-15), outfielder Jake Fraley (2016) and second baseman Cole Freeman (2017).
“It will be an absolute honor to continue the tradition of the No. 8 jersey,” Duplantis said in a press release. “The previous players that have worn this number epitomize what it means to be an LSU baseball player. I will do everything I can to represent the number and the university in the same way that they have.”
LSU sophomore outfielder Antonie Duplantis (20) runs back to the LSU dugout from second base after Florida gets a third out during the Tigers' 4-3 loss against the Gators on Monday June 26, 2017, at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska.
