There’s not much LSU junior outfielder Mark Laird can’t do on the diamond.
Laird smacks base hits all over the field, effortlessly works the bases to set up runs and makes diving catches look routine.
It helps being able to focus on one sport.
“He didn’t play that much baseball growing up,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “He was more of a football player.”
After three years as a Tiger outfielder, the former high school football star has transformed into a true college baseball player.
Though Laird had to balance two sports at Ouachita Christian High School before coming to LSU, he showed he was up to speed as a freshman. Laird started 59 games in 2013 and batted .307 with 74 hits, seven doubles and 18 RBIs. He also scored 48 runs and stole six bases.
Laird’s numbers took a slight dip as a sophomore, but he improved his number of self-proclaimed “loud hits.” His batting average fell to .291, his runs scored dropped by 10 to 38, and he had nine fewer hits (65). But Laird belted 10 doubles in 2014, three more than his freshman season, and secured a career-best 27 RBIs.
Laird, however, has never been interested in numbers, and he said he doesn’t really look at his stats. But entering his junior season, Laird had one number on his mind — number of wins.
“I wanted to be the best team player this season and, any way I can, help my team win,” Laird said. “That’s what I’m basing this season on, just trying to get this team where we need to be.”
It’s taken some time for Laird to get acclimated to the wear of baseball year round, but the lefty has it down. This is Laird’s third season at LSU, and during that time, he’s played during the fall, spring and summers in Cape Cod, which has sped up his development.
“All that adds up,” Mainieri said.
Laird said it sure has.
“Playing all summer, all fall, year round, I feel like I’ve gotten a lot more experience and become a better baseball player,” Laird said. “Not only understanding all parts of the game, but on the bases, understanding different plays and being able to pick up on things that I would have had no shot of picking up in high school.”
Though Laird is no longer an All-American wideout, he’s become an all-around star for the No. 3 Tigers.
Entering Tuesday’s contest against UL-Lafayette, Laird has LSU’s third-highest batting average on the team at .378. Prior to Tuesday, he led the Tigers in hits (42), runs (29), on-base percentage (.448) and is second in walks (11) and steals (10). He is on pace to set career highs in batting, runs, hits and has already matched his personal best in stolen bases.
Mainieri said he always believed his young outfielder was capable of such numbers. He just wanted to see it from Laird every game.
“He’s just much more consistent now,” Mainieri said. “I always thought he was capable of hitting .370, .400. He hit .310 and .290 just because he wasn’t as consistent as he needed to be. Now with experience and knowledge, he’s just doing everything more on a consistent basis.”
The Tigers will need that consistency when they hit the diamond against Southeastern Conference rival Alabama in an early weekend series beginning Thursday. Though the Crimson Tide started 14-12 before playing UAB on Tuesday night, it split a shortened series against LSU last season, 1-1.
But if Laird reaches base, Alabama will have to keep an eye out for No. 9.
“When I get on base, whether it be a walk, a hit or an error, I’m just thinking about how can I get to the next base,” Laird said. “Whichever way — dirt ball, passed ball, stealing bases, tagging up. Just how can I get closer to scoring. It’s hard to get runs in these games, so any run will count.”
You can reach David Gray on Twitter @dgray_TDR.