As the spring semester starts and thousands of fresh faces grace the LSU campus, the Tiger baseball team welcomed its own newcomers as they began battling for starting roles in Saturday’s opening practice.
The 2001 recruiting class, which was the first of new head coach Ray “Smoke” Laval and LSU assistant coach/recruiting coordinator Turtle Thomas, ranked second nationally, according to Collegiate Baseball magazine.
One of the fiercest battles this fall has been between newcomer catchers Dustin Weaver, Jon Zeringue, and Drew Tuminello.
Weaver has a slight edge defensively over the other two who have been performing more consistently offensively, according to Thomas.
Zeringue, a standout baseball player at E.D. White High School, was a third round draft pick of the Chicago White Sox in this years’ Major League baseball draft, but instead opted to play at LSU. He also made a highlight in this fall’s intrasquad scrimmage when he blasted a two run homer in the last inning of the two-hour scrimmage.
At first base, junior college transfer Jason Columbus has been showing immense improvement both offensively and defensively.
“Jason Columbus is looking good,” Thomas said. “He is hitting very well and working hard.”
The 6-foot-5, 230-pounder from New Mexico Junior College led the junior college circuit in home runs last season and looks to add power to LSU’s lineup.
Along with Columbus, LSU is hoping freshman outfielder Dustin Hahn can add a spark. Hahn and Columbus were both drafted this year. Hahn was the 21st-round selection to Baltimore and Columbus a 49th-round pick to the Cleveland Indians.
“Dustin has been outstanding,” Thomas said. “His dad was in the majors for a number of years, and you can just see the talent there. He will definitely see some playing time in the outfield.”
Earning a good amount of playing time this season at pitcher, at least in Thomas’s eyes, is a right hander from Sacramento Community College, Jake Tompkins.
“Jake has three good throws,” Thomas said. “His fastball is in the upper 80s or lower 90s. He has a great curve and throws a good changeup. He should have a real good year.”
Of the 60-man roster, the average height and weight is 6-feet, 198 pounds. This stat is more impressive when you look at the number of the freshman, 21, which makes up more than 40 percent of the team.
Of the Tigers that were drafted this year, four decided to return to LSU. The most depth on the team is at pitcher, of which the Tigers have 23 making up more than a fourth of the team.
Thomas continues to enhance his reputation as one of the nation’s best recruiters. Thomas, who served as the recruiting coordinator at Miami from 1989-99, has produced seven classes ranked either No. 1 or No. 2. Thomas assembled No. 1 classes in 1989, 1992 and 1994, and No. 2 classes at Miami in 1991 and 1999. So far at LSU, he has compiled two classes that have both ranked No. 2 the past two years.
He said he is very impressed with the chemistry of this year’s LSU team.
“As far as geling, its hard to tell until practice Saturday,” Thomas said. “Chemistry is outstanding, though. Everyone is getting along and pulling for each other.”