The LSU baseball team finished with the No. 1 recruiting class in the country for the second time in four years.
Collegiate Baseball released its annual evaluation of NCAA Division I baseball classes Tuesday, awarding LSU the top spot for the first time since 2007.
“It’s a phenomenal class,” LSU coach Paul Mainieri said in a news release. “All the credit in the world goes to [LSU associate head coach] David Grewe, who coordinated the class and worked endless hours. He did everything that was necessary to evaluate the players and bring them into our program. David was capably assisted by [LSU assistant coach] Javi Sanchez, who did a tremendous job and has become a veteran recruiter with David’s guidance.”
The Tigers signed 19 players overall, with 11 freshmen, six junior college transfers and two four-year transfers making up the class.
Eight members of the class were drafted during this past summer’s MLB draft but chose to enroll in school.
Freshman pitcher Kevin Gausman was drafted in the sixth round. Freshman infield and pitching prospects JaCoby Jones and Ryan Eades were drafted in the 19th round by the Astros and Rockies, respectively.
“The coming season marks a transition to a new era in our program,” Mainieri said. “We only have two players remaining from our original signing class that arrived in the fall of 2007. That class was rated  No. 1 in the country and was instrumental in us winning the national championship in 2009.”
Several members of the Tigers’ class were taken in the later rounds of the draft, with JUCO transfers Mitch Hopkins and Jimmy Dykstra, as well as freshman catcher Tyler Ross going in the 42nd, 50th and 46th rounds, respectively.
“Hopefully, this new class will have the same significant impact on our program that the original class had. I think there is a really good chance for that to happen,” Mainieri said.
The 2011 season opens Feb. 18 in Alex Box Stadium against Wake Forest.
—-
Contact The Daily Reveille’s sports staff at [email protected]