It’s only seven games into the season, but it’s not a bad time to look at how LSU’s baseball team has been doing behind the numbers.
 
Sure, a 7-0 record says a lot about the team. But the numbers are going to say a little more about the individual players, especially since the Tigers have had a cakewalk to open the season.
 
 
FRESHMAN SENSATIONS
 
This highly talked-about freshman class has exceeded expectations so far this season.
 
In particular, second baseman JaCoby Jones has been outstanding both defensively and offensively, leading normal starters with a .571 batting average from the nine hole with no errors.
 
“I’m doing whatever I can to turn it over to the top of the order,” Jones said.
It’s going to be important as the season goes along for Jones to continue that output to give the top of the order some protection.
 
On the mound, Kurt McCune has been doing work. McCune (2-0) leads the weekend starters with a 0.75 ERA to go along with 10 strikeouts and only two walks.
 
If he can keep that up, he’s going to not only keep his weekend starting role for the next three years, but he’s going to be the Friday night ace.
 
 
NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP
 
If there had been any disappointment among the position players so far this season, it was sophomore first baseman Alex Edward.
 
Edward was batting a mere 3-for-12 on the season (all singles) heading into Sunday’s game, and his two early season errors were second-worst on the team.
 
He turned it around in Sunday’s 15-4 victory against Holy Cross, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored.
 
He needs to keep up that production in the middle of the order to give protection to the rest of the lineup to keep his spot at first base (a position that has been weak for the Tigers this season).
 
He’s not the only sophomore playing well.
 
Mason Katz has had an outstanding start to the season, which is no easy feat.
 
The sophomore right fielder had a ton of pressure on him from game one. Any poor stretch of offensive or defensive play could have cost him a starting spot with the likes of Spencer Ware and Raph Rhymes behind him on the depth chart.
 
He’s responded brilliantly, batting 10-for-24 on the year with 11 RBIs and 11 runs scored.
 
“I try to keep as much pressure away from myself as possible and stay calm when I’m up to bat,” Katz said. “With the guys hitting the way they are around me, I really have no pressure.”
 
Meanwhile, Rhymes is hitting .429 on the season with 12 RBIs to co-lead the team.
 
On the mound, Kevin Berry and Chris Cotton have given up a combined zero earned runs in five innings’ worth of work.
 
 
UPPERCLASSMEN
 
Despite a relatively quiet weekend, junior centerfielder Mikie Mahtook has been tearing the cover off the ball with an outrageous 1.087 slugging percentage, five homers and 12 RBIs.
 
Fellow juniors Tyler Hanover and Austin Nola aren’t doing much worse, batting .429 and .409, respectively.
 
Senior Ben Alsup has had a solid couple of outings, getting into a little trouble here and there but has only given up one earned run in 11 innings of work.
 
Finally, Matty Ott looks like the Matty “Ice” of old with tons of movement on his fastball, logging two innings of scoreless ball, which is a good sign for the Tigers heading forward.
 
So while the 7-0 record does say a lot, some of the numbers individuals have put up so far are fairly impressive. But the true tests will lie ahead with Cal State Fullerton and Florida both looming in the not-so-distant future.
 
Andy Schwehm is a 21-year-old English and psychology senior from New Orleans. You can follow him on Twitter
@TDR_ASchwehm.
 
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Contact Andy Schwehm at
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