The Tigers opened up fall camp Sunday with coach Paul Mainieri and players available to talk about the 2019 season.  LSU is expected to be a contender this season with a nice mix of returning veterans and a loaded recruiting class.
Injury Updates
Shortstop Josh Smith and center fielder Zach Watson are full go for fall camp after suffering mid season and postseason injuries.
Smith was fighting back from a back ailment that forced him to miss all but six games in the 2018 season. He said it feels good to be back to 100 percent, feeling no pain in his back for months.
“It’s fun to get back out here with the guys,” Smith said. “I’ve been feeling really good and it feels nice to not have to worry about this anymore.”
Watson broke his hand about a month ago, but Mainieri previously said it wouldn’t hinder his availability in any way.
LSU will be without pitchers Ma’Khail Hilliard and Nick Storz for the foreseeable future. Storz is recovering from a torn lat muscle, while Hilliard is still trying to figure out the issue of his injury.
Storz was progressing well up until a few days ago and had a set back in his rehab according to Mainieri.
“We’re a little befuddled because we’ve done every x-ray, scan you can do and we just can’t find out what’s wrong,” Mainieri said. “We just need to get him healthy.”
Catcher/third base position battles
The two biggest competitions coming into fall camp are at catcher and third base, two positions the Tigers struggled with last season. Mainieri said he’s been using freshmen Drew Bianco and Gavin Dugas at third.
Mainieri also noted that Smith or sophomore Hal Hughes could play third if the freshmen don’t work out the way he wants.
At catcher, Mainieri has said since the season ended that he wanted a vocal leader behind the plate. Incoming JUCO catchers Saul Garza and Brock Mathis have performed well at that spot. 
Mainieri joked that Mathis needs no instruction on being vocal, and at times has to calm him down, while Garza is a bit more reserved but still makes his impact felt.
“We’ve got too physical guys at that position,” Mainieri said. “Defensively, the talent is there that they can receive well, block well but there’s certainly room for improvement.”
Fall Scrimmage vs UNO
To close fall camp, LSU will play two scrimmages against UNO to see how the team performs facing an opposing team. 
The NCAA allowed teams two scrimmages in the fall and the Tigers will take on the Privateers twice, one at home and one away.
Maineiri said he’s preparing to use the games as a warmup for some of the new players who haven’t seen Division I college play, but will use every healthy player available at some point.
“Truthfully, the fall practice begins to drag when you have the same pitchers facing the same hitters,” Mainieri said. “You want something to bring that little extra competitive juice and I think a team with a different color jersey will do that.”