It’s no secret that LSU baseball’s offense has slumped in the opening half of its season.
The Tigers rank in the bottom half among SEC teams in batting average, slugging percentage, OPS, strikeouts and double plays hit into. That lack of killer instinct at the plate has held LSU back: it has already lost nine games in the first half of the year, including three straight series losses.
It’s clear that a turnaround is desperately needed in the batter’s box for LSU. What’s been less evident is what can spark that change.
Head coach Jay Johnson may have found the answer.
Ahead of LSU’s game on Tuesday against Louisiana Tech, Johnson took an extra beat during warmups to huddle up with his position players for a meeting in right field. He said that the meeting was to validate the work that the team had been putting in ahead of the contest.
“I’m gonna help them at every turn,” Johnson said. “Sometimes it means don’t talk. But right now, it’s the opposite.”
While Johnson holds his strategy close to his chest, it was evident that what he said lit a spark.
LSU run-ruled its opponent, the first time it has forced a mercy rule since March 6, posting 15 runs. Those runs could be broken down neatly into two categories: 11 scored with two outs, and four were driven in by Zach Yorke’s home runs.
While both stats are encouraging, Yorke’s success exemplifies just how much impact this affirmation strategy could have.
After a white-hot start to open the season, the Tigers’ hitting-first first baseman had gone ice cold at the plate. Yorke struggled especially in SEC play, carrying a .125 batting average against teams in the league. Both of his hits were singles.
Those struggles began to fester in Yorke’s mental game, an aspect that the lefty has identified as an area of improvement.
“I’m pretty hard on myself,” Yorke said. “I wish I could get over some struggles better.”
A four-strikeout night on Friday against Oklahoma was the tipping point. Yorke had drawn significant ire from fans after striking out four times and sat for LSU’s rubber match loss the next day.
“Probably the worst night of my life,” Yorke said about that game.
Even with the benching, Johnson stayed committed to supporting Yorke, including a text that same night offering encouragement to his slumping slugger.
“[Johnson] was just like, ‘Stay positive. Teammates love you, I love you,’” Yorke said. “Then I had a good meeting with him the next morning.”
Those meetings continued for Yorke, who met with a mental conditioning and strength coach later that weekend. On Monday, he had lunch with Marc “Chief” Wanaka, LSU’s offensive development coach.
Yorke said that Johnson’s pregame message carried those themes of encouragement.
“It’s right here in front of us, and it’s on us to play our game,” Yorke said. “When we’re playing our brand of baseball, we’re going to be really tough to beat.”
That good energy manifested on the diamond on Tuesday. Yorke belted his first home run since Feb. 24 in the fifth inning, and then logged another home run in the eighth. Tuesday’s game was the first time Yorke had left the yard twice in a game since joining LSU.
“Little bit of a sigh of relief,” Yorke said about his homers.
“I’m happy for him,” Johnson said postgame. “I’m proud of him. For persevering and sticking through it with failure. He hasn’t stopped working.”
Yorke said that he is trying to remain grounded through the results, good or bad.
“I’m just going to take it day by day,” Yorke said. “At-bat by at-bat and keep it positive, trying to hit the ball.”
While Tuesday’s success could be a sign of the long-awaited offensive turnaround, it’s only one game. If offensive results continue as they did earlier this week into April, the larger sample size could validate that this glass-half-full approach could finally steer LSU in the right direction.
“They’re good hitters,” Johnson said. “They just need to commit to it.”
