With expectations at an all-time-high, LSU baseball looks to take its No. 1 preseason ranking and top-ranked recruiting class all the way to Omaha.
Understanding the pressures and expectations, coach Paul Mainieri said this was the last day of the year the team is allowed to talk about reaching Omaha. From here on out, the players need to take every week one game at a time.
Convincing a young team to understand that is not always easy, but Mainieri has senior Antoine Duplantis, and juniors Zach Watson and Zack Hess, returning to fill the leadership role similarly to the way Jared Poché, Alex Lange, Kramer Robertson and Cole Freeman did in the 2017 season.
One of the biggest differences in this team compared to last year is the depth of the roster, especially in the bullpen. The Tigers welcome back sophomore right-hander Eric Walker, add potential Landon Marceaux and Detroit Tigers draft pick Cole Henry as potential Saturday starters.
After an up-and-down sophomore season for Hess, he said he feels he’s in a ”good spot” for his junior year.
Mainieri is completely disregarding the idea of Hess returning to the bullpen, where he broke out as a star during his freshman year and embraced the role Rick Vaughn or “Wild Thing” from the movie “Major League.”
“Zack Hess will be our Friday night starter all season,” Mainieri said. “There’s not consideration to moving him to the bullpen.”
In an attempt to replace the back-end phenom, Mainieri projects strong bullpen arm, junior Todd Peterson, to close out games for the Tigers.
Mainieri said that everyone remembers Peterson’s double in the SEC tournament elimination game against South Carolina, but he went in that game and threw five strong innings out of the bullpen to give the team a chance to win.
With the closer ready, the rotation is set for Friday and Sunday, Hess and Walker. The remaining gap, Saturday is not yet filled.
Mainieri said that position will likely be filled by Marceaux as he is the “most polished” of the incoming freshman class.
With the rotation mostly set, the lineup is the next question for the Tigers. After having a season of inconsistencies due to injury, the team looks to put those issues to bed.
Junior shortstop Josh Smith will return to the starting lineup after battling a back injury in 2018.
“I’ve been working pretty hard to get back, and I’m ready to get after it,” Smith said. “I haven’t felt it since last year at Ole Miss.”
Joining Smith up the middle will be Brandt Broussard in his second year at LSU. Coming from Delgado Community College, Broussard gained valuable SEC experience in the batter’s box and up the middle.
Mainieri said LSU legend and five-time national championship coach Skip Bertman always told him that junior college players always play better their second year.
With Smith missing the majority of the 2018 season, freshman Hal Hughes stepped in at shortstop, so Smith missed an important period for chemistry building with Broussard at arguably two of the most important defensive positions.
“It’s a little different because I haven’t played with Brandt up the middle, but we’ve been working pretty hard in practice turning double plays, kind of getting that connection with Hal at third,” Smith said.
Now a sophomore, Hughes will play third base for the Tigers, similar to LSU great Alex Bregman, who had to move from shortstop to third upon joining the Houston Astros.
The transition should be smooth like Bregman’s as both are rock solid defensively. Mainieri said he wanted to open the season with the best defense and Hughes is the best option.
Behind the plate for the Tigers is a position the team strengthened after needing more productivity last season. The fall position battle was set with sophomores Brock Mathis and Saul Garza. During the battle, Garza sustained a knee injury, setting him back and giving Mathis the starting role to begin the season.
Garza began hitting Dec. 27, and he was cleared Thursday, allowing him to start running again.
“I was in a routine that I was comfortable with, and I lost that groove,” Garza said. “Getting out of the groove was rough, but once I got back in it now I’m feeling pretty confident about myself.”
Rounding out the infield there is a four-way battle for first base. All four are freshman — Cade Beloso, CJ Willis, Drew Bianco and Gavin Dugas.
Watson reassured the battle will benefit the Tigers, regardless of who lands the starting spot.
“Cade Beloso and Drew Bianco, I’ve seen them hit a mile” Watson said.
The outfield, as expected, is returning with some of the team’s stars. Sophomore Daniel Cabrera in left field, junior Zach Watson in center field and senior Antoine Duplantis in right field.
Each outfielder has had moments during their time that could define collegiate careers.
Mainieri said Duplantis isn’t talked about enough even though he is sneaking up on all time hits in the SEC history. Mainieri said Zach Watson could go 0-50 and still play because of his defense, and also said Daniel Cabrera is capable of being one of the greats.
Mainieri said Watson’s backup, freshman Giovanni DiGiacomo, could potentially be just as good and will receive some playing time this season.
With so many weapons in the lineup, in the rotation, on the bench, and in the bullpen, the Tigers are set up for success. The expectations remain constant in Baton Rouge, and this season is measured by whether or not there will be an NCAA championship flag hanging on the Intimidator next season.
“I’m proud of our 2009 national championship, but quite frankly, I’m ready for another one,” Mainieri said.
