When Mikie Mahtook signed with the Tampa Bay Rays on Aug. 15 for a $1.15 million signing bonus, he left behind two families – one family at home in Lafayette and another family in the dugout at Alex Box Stadium.
Those left behind nearly kept Mahtook in Baton Rouge for his senior season. Whereas many thought Mahtook jumping to the big leagues was a foregone conclusion, Mahtook brought the decision to within five minutes of the signing deadline.
“Leaving all this behind is a little tough for me,” Mahtook said. “But when it came down to it, me and my mom talked tirelessly and had long hours throughout the entire summer about what we needed to do, and we decided this was the best decision for hard.”
Mahtook mentioned his relationship with LSU coach Paul Manieri as one of his fondest memories of LSU and made sure to notify him of his signing before everyone outside his immediate family. Mainieri said he always expected Mahtook to sign and gave him his support throughout the process.
“That is a wonderful young man – one of the greatest kids that I’ve had the privilege of coaching in my 20 years of college coaching,” Mainieri said. “He gave his heart and soul to LSU and to LSU baseball for three it.”
Even though Mahtook will no longer take the field for LSU, he will keep his LSU family in his heart.
“I will always and forever be a Tiger,” Mahtook said. “I will always consider myself a part of this