Greg Deichmann almost didn’t have the fantastic junior season that vaulted him into the No. 43 overall pick in the 2017 MLB draft.
LSU’s right fielder and best power hitter was left with a fracture in his face after being hit with a pitch during a scrimmage a week before LSU’s opening game. Deichmann had surgery, and returned to the practice field two days later and in time for LSU’s first game.
“I was worrying about losing the first couple weeks of my season, and not being able to help this team start off on the right track,” Deichmann said. “Fortunately, I had a great surgeon, and he did a great job of getting me back.”
Deichmann came back to LSU for his junior season after being drafted by the Minnesota Twins in round 26 of the 2016 MLB draft. The decision was an easy one for him he said
“I was coming back here 100 percent,” Deichmann said. “Just trying to make a name for myself and have a good career.”
Deichmann did just that. Heading into Omaha, Deichmann has hit 19 home runs on the season and driven in 72 RBIs.
Those numbers pushed his draft stock all the way into the second round. Deichmann is set to make 1.6 million dollars plus signing bonus money that will be negotiated when he signs his contract with the Oakland Athletics.
“We were hoping he would go 33 to the A’s because I knew they had a really strong interest in him, but he ended up going 43,” coach Paul Mainieri said. “Still nothing to be ashamed of.”
“I told people last night Greg Deichmann bet on himself, he gambled on himself, and he won. He could’ve signed last year for a significant amount of money, but not as much as he will this year. He decided to come back because he felt he could improve, get to Omaha, get closer to graduation and also have a better investment made in him by some organization, and that’s what ended up happening.”
Deichmann said while he enjoyed the draft process and being able to experience it with his family, his primary focus is on Omaha.
Although Deichmann does have some experience in Omaha, this will be his first trip with the Tigers to Omaha due to an injury that caused him to miss out on the travel roster in 2015. As a sophomore he participated in the home run derby in Omaha, and notched eleven home runs in the first round.
The slugger said he has no worries about being able to get the ball out of TD Ameritrade Park, a place where only 50 home runs have been hit since the College World Series moved there in 2011.
“When I catch them, they go,” Deichmann said. “The minute you change your approach to the stadium is the minute stop having success.”
Deichmann will not only have to deal with the size of TD Ameritrade Park as a hitter, but also as an outfielder. However, Deichmann is embracing the challenge of the park and the world series.
“It’s Omaha,” Deichmann said, “Everything about that place is going to be big in a college atmosphere. We are playing for a national championship, we are going to have to execute and execute all week.”
