At the baseball season opener, fans at Alex Box Stadium should bring a roster to figure out the infield, which is almost entirely new.
The two returning players in the infield are Blake Gill and All-American Aaron Hill. Last year Gill moved around the infield and is expected to do the same this year. Currently, he is the projected starter at first base.
“Blake Gill is one of those guys that can play anywhere,” said LSU head coach Smoke Laval.
Laval also named Gill as a possible outfielder who even has had experience catching.
“He has a catcher’s mitt, first baseman’s mitt, infielder’s mitt and outfielder’s mitt,” Laval said. “Maybe one time we can get him to play all nine positions in a ball game.”
Last season, Gill played in 52 games and started 39. He finished the season with 49 hits, 26 RBIs and a .292 batting average, but Gill feels he can improve on those numbers.
“I felt like I had a bad year last year,” Gill said.
This summer he focused on improving his hitting. He changed his stance a little and hit .407 in the summer league. Gill said he hit better during fall practice.
“[Laval] wants me to hit and put numbers on the board,” he said.
Also helping the Tigers at first base will be Will Harris, younger brother of Clay Harris.
“Will’s a little bit bigger, hits [the ball] a little bit farther, throws it a little bit harder, but he’s gotta concentrate on just hitting it,” said Laval, comparing the brothers.
Laval plans to place left-handed hitter Ivan Naccarata at second base. Naccarata, from Longueuil, Quebec, transferred from Chipola Junior College where he notched a career batting average of .400.
“He’s a very good three, four,[or] five hitter,” said Laval, referring to Naccarata’s place in the lineup.
Hill shifts to third base, the position formally held by the late Wally Pontiff. Hill said he is not trying to fill Pontiff’s shoes.
“He would want me to go out there and play my best just like he did everyday, and that’s all I’m gonna do,” Hill said. “He was a great friend of mine, but I just gotta go out there and play my best.”
Laval said Hill has to work on anticipating the ball at third, but he expects him to do well because of his agility. This summer Hill played third base in the Cape Cod league. Hill said it is not much of a transition from shortstop to third and feels he has a lot of experience at the position.
Another new face in the infield this season is freshman shortstop Matt Horwath. Laval calls him “a great find.” He entered his senior year in high school batting .411 and striking out only 19 times in 275 at-bats. He sat out his senior year to undergo “Tommy John” arm surgery.
“He’s doing great,” Hill said of the new shortstop. “He’s gotta get over the nervousness, but other than that he’s gonna be a great ball player. He’s got the ability.”