The LSU baseball team lost three players before the season began, and active players continue to dwindle.
LSU coach Paul Mainieri said Wednesday that pitcher Tyler Jones, who was projected to start Sunday’s game against Wake Forest, is suspended for this weekend’s series because of a “disciplinary issue.”
“He won’t even be dressed out,” Mainieri said. “He won’t be in the dugout. He’ll be sitting in the stands watching the game, and he’ll be returning to the team on Monday.”
Mainieri said Jones is still a candidate to pitch in Tuesday’s game against New Orleans, and freshman pitchers Kurt McCune and Ryan Eades both have chances to fill in for Jones on Sunday.
“We’re going to have to see how the first two games go,” Mainieri said. “If I need to use one of them or both of them to win a game on Friday or Saturday, we’re going to do that.”
Mainieri said freshman outfielder Spencer Ware has hit the ball as hard as anyone during the past week and could find himself in the lineup after sophomore outfielder Mason Katz’s injury. He said sophomore designated hitter Raph Rhymes may also have an opportunity for playing time in the outfield.
Katz missed the last few days of practice after smashing into a wall, and Mainieri said he may not be available for Friday’s home opener.
“We’re hoping he’s going to be ready to go,” Mainieri said. “If he’s not, it could be sooner [rather] than later as far as Ware getting in there.”
Mainieri said the rest of the outfield will remain the same as it was in the fall with junior Mikie Mahtook in center field and junior Trey Watkins in left field.
He said sophomore Alex Edward will be at first base and junior Austin Nola will return to shortstop.
However, the second member of the double play combination most Tiger fans have grown accustomed to has changed
positions.
Mainieri said junior Tyler Hanover, who played second base last season, will switch to third base, while freshman JaCoby Jones will play second base.
“I wanted to solidify our third-base situation,” he said. “It’s no secret that last year that was kind of our Achilles’ heel.”
Mainieri also said he wants to take advantage of Jones’ speed at second base.
“The further away from a hitter a player is, his athleticism shows up a lot more,” he said.
Hanover said he played third base occassionally in the Cape Cod League during the summer, so he’s comfortable with Mainieri’s switch.
“He feels that’s the best way the team’s going to win, and I agree completely,” he said. “Third is definitely a hard position, and I think it will be easier for JaCoby since he did play in the middle in high school.”
 
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Contact Rowan Kavner at [email protected]