DALLAS — Coach Paul Mainieri met with reporters for the Coaches Caravan on the eve of LSU’s matchup against the Miami Hurricanes and gave some insight on why this could be a special year for the baseball program.
Injury news
It’s mostly good news on the injury front for the Tigers with one hiccup for one of its outfielders.
Mainieri told reporters that center fielder Zach Watson broke his hand in an “accident” but is expected to return when the team begins scrimmage play on Sept. 23.
Other than Watson, Maineiri said the team is still being cautious with shortstop Josh Smith, who has been working his way towards a return from a back injury sustained at the beginning of last season.
Smith has been hitting every other day while fielding ground balls but Mainieri expects that workload to pick up in the next week or so.
The feel good story for the team has to be sophomore pitcher Eric Walker, who underwent Tommy John surgery at the end of the 2016 season, forcing him to miss the entire 2017 season. Maineiri said Walker recently pitched two bullpens and looked like his old self.
“If I hadn’t told you that Eric Walker had Tommy John surgery, you wouldn’t know he was hurt,” Mainieri said. “He might be better than he was two years ago.”
Catchers
For years, the LSU program has had a tradition of bringing in great catchers, until last season when inconsistent play and a lack of leadership led to a noticeable drop off. This season Mainieri believes the position is back on track with JUCO transfers Saul Garza and Brock Mathis.
Garza and Mathis have taken the majority of the work this fall as freshman catcher CJ Willis continues to work his way back from an injury sustained in high school.
Mainieri said leadership qualities are extremely important in catchers, and he has seen signs early on that Garza and Mathis are up for the challenge.
“Sean Ochinko and I are giving them tips on how to assert themselves as leaders,” Mainieri said. “It’s a learning process, and these kids aren’t showing up to college as finished products. The catcher’s interaction with the pitcher is very vital to the success on the mound.”
Overloaded pitching staff
The LSU pitching staff could potentially be the deepest rotation the team has seen in several years with Zack Hess, Eric Walker, Ma’Khail Hilliard and Todd Peterson all returning.
It’s not only the returners showing early promise to the coaching staff — it’s also the new freshmen in Baton Rouge, including Cole Henry, Landon Marceaux and Jaden Hill.
Mainieri said he was watching a recent Hill bullpen session and was left jaw-droppingly stunned at what he was witnessing.
“The kid was throwing in the low 90’s with total control of the ball,” Mainieri said. “You add that with Marceaux who’s going to be a great pitcher with this program for a long time, I think that sets us up for a potentially dominant rotation.”
Hess also drew praise from Mainieri after going 2-0 with nine scoreless innings for Team USA this summer. Mainieri said Hess was one of two pitchers that scouts unanimously stated looked the part of a future MLB player.
“He was terrific this summer,” Mainieri said. “I talked with several scouts and they told me the best pitching prospect was Zack.”
