The LSU baseball team’s 2018 season opener is right around the corner. Coach Paul Mainieri met with the media for the first time this baseball season on Friday and provided an update at nearly every position after losing seven starters from last season. 

Pitching Rotation
The Tigers lost their entire starting lineup when Alex Lange and Jared Poche left for the draft and sophomore Eric Walker had Tommy John surgery.
Mainieri sees junior Caleb Gilbert as the Friday starter with sophomores Zack Hess and Todd Peterson as the opening weekend starters.
Many Tiger fans will remember Hess, who showed MLB level talent as a closer in Omaha, but he’s been working with pitching coach Alan Dunn in an effort to last longer in a nine inning game.
“You have to save your big bullets for when you really need them,” Hess said. “The rest of the time you’re cruising at 80 to 90 percent.”
Infield/ Outfield Projections
The Tigers lost the heart of their infield in Cole Freeman and Kramer Robertson. Mainieri plans to move last year’s third baseman Josh Smith to shortstop while starting JUCO transfer Brandt Broussard at the second base slot.
As a result of Smith’s move to shortstop, sophomore Jake Slaughter will make the jump from first to third.  Slaughter played third base in high school so moving back is a familiar feeling where he can get some more opportunities at plays.
“It’s been a lot of fun being able to play third again,” Slaughter said. “I asked Josh what were the hardest plays at third and tips of getting those tough balls and making those throws.”
With the loss of Greg Deichmann in the outfield, the Tigers will move junior Antoine Duplantis to right field while incoming freshman Daniel Cabrera will start in left field.
LSU will also have to replace what Mainieri described as “the rock” of the team a year ago in catcher Michael Papierski. JUCO transfer Hunter Fedducia turned heads during fall ball and will more than likely be the everyday starter behind the plate.
Batting Order
Mainieri disclosed what his projections are for the batting order to start the season with Smith being the lead off man.
Following Smith will be sophomore Zach Watson, junior Antoine Duplantis, Fedducia, junior Bryce Jordan, Cabrera, Slaughter, Beau Jordan and Broussard.  Mainieri said on some days he may choose to make Cabrera a DH, allowing him the ability to pitch in a rotational role.
In that scenario, Beau Jordan, who played some in left field last year, would take Cabrera’s spot in left.