The LSU baseball team finds itself in unfamiliar territory this week. While teams are vying for the final places in the College World Series, the Tigers are looking to regroup for next year after missing the postseason for the second time during Head Coach Paul Mainieri’s regime.
The team’s roller coaster season resulted in neither an appearance in the SEC Tournament nor an at-large berth in an NCAA Regional. After bursting out of the gates en route to winning 16 out of 17 games, the team sputtered through the bulk of SEC play, beginning with a home sweep at Florida’s hands.
Though the team finished the year strong by sweeping both Kentucky and Tennessee, poor road play and inexperience sealed the young club’s fate. Five underclassmen were featured in the starting lineup, which helped contribute to a 4-11 SEC road record.
But the young talent also displayed promise for 2012.
Freshmen starting pitchers Kevin Gausman and Kurt McCune flashed ace potential, each finishing with mid-3 ERA, Gausman punching out nearly a batter per 9 innings.
Junior Joey Bourgeois, sophomore Jordan Rittiner and freshman Forrest Garrett, pitchers who succumbed to elbow injuries, should return next season, forming what looks to be a formidable staff.
Second baseman JaCoby Jones, named last week to the Freshmen All-American team, helped spur the team with his offense along with designated hitter Raph Rhymes and
outfielder Mason Katz, all of whom hit for high average.
While these players will almost certainly be critical cogs in the 2012 team, there will also be visible changes. Last week head coach Paul Mainieri made a personnel adjustment, introducing former Baltimore Orioles pitching coordinator Alan Dunn as the team’s new pitching coach.
Dunn has 22 years of experience logged as a pitching coach and will join the team after former pitching coach and recruiting coordinator David Grewe resigned last month.
Junior center fielder Mikie Mahtook, a high choice in this year’s MLB Draft, has a decision to make regarding his status next year.
Chosen 31st overall by the Tampa Bay Rays, the loss of the star outfielder would put a hole in the lineup, as his bat was the driving force behind the offense this season. Mahtook’s exit, coupled with the dismissal of Trey Watkins, leaves glaring holes to be filled in the outfield.
Beyond the uncertainty regarding Mahtook, the recent draft will play a large role in determining the 2012 lineup.
The draft also saw the selections of junior pitchers Tyler Jones and Matty Ott in rounds 11 and 13, junior shortstop Austin Nola in round 31, and both Rhymes and junior third baseman Tyler Hanover in round 40.
While players taken in later rounds are less likely to sign, nothing is certain until the signing deadline August 16th.
The draft also affected LSU’s recruiting class for 2012. Three touted recruits were selected within the first six rounds, with talented shortstop Trevor Story being plucked 45th overall.
Baseball recruiting has been a recent topic of interest as Mainieri asserted that he needs to be more “involved” in recruiting.
Before, Mainieri had assigned the management of the recruiting process to assistant coaches and coordinators but has now elected to take a more active role on the recruiting trail.
 
 
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Contact Michael Harb at [email protected]