1) Gavin Dugas So. 5’10 198lbs (6)
2) Cade Doughty Fr. 6’1 201lbs (4)
3) Collier Cranford Fr. 6’0 186lbs (16)

Mainieri has made it clear this is a two man race and it's going to be one of the positions to keep a closer eye on over the next two weeks. Gavin Dugas is getting every opportunity to start with highly touted freshman Cade Doughty right behind him. Both have the ability to be everyday starters in this lineup so it may be one of those whoever doesn’t end up at 2B may see alot of time at DH at least early in the year.

If you remember Gavin Dugas was sidelined for a majority of 2019 after tearing a ligament in his left thumb during a non-conference game in late February. He would only play in 19 games…starting 10 so when he was healthy the coaching staff trusted in him as a true freshman. Gavin’s one of the stronger players on the entire team, slightly stocky build, explosive lower body strength. As a converted SS from high school he's starting to look more and more comfortable at 2B and in the long run I think he'll stick there. He's been producing some rather nice exit velocities over the fall and thus far in spring however I still look at him as a line drive hitter which will be his bread and butter to stick in the lineup. He’s got a quick first step out of the box and plus plus speed, also one of those aggressive players who can and will try to stretch some routine singles and doubles into doubles and triples respectively. Right now I can only label him as an average hitter at the college level but he’s got a pretty nice ceiling and looks to be a potential 4 year guy at the college level. Glove is about average but he has the quickness to get to most balls…arm is good and won't be a problem from the right side of the infield. I'd like to see Gavin show some patience in the box and draw some walks, him raising his OBP % will do great things for the lineup. Speed is a true plus plus tool and he plays faster on the base paths thanks to his natural instincts.

Cade Doughty out of Denham Springs is one of the more impressive looking freshmen in this class and has the ability one day to be a five tool player at the collegiate level. The coaches have been waiting on him for quite some time and were ecstatic the in news he delivered just before the draft last June stating his desire to attend college. Cade’s strength right now is bat awareness. When I say this what I mean is he’s played up in competition for some years now, attended many showcases, he’s seen quality pitching for much of his youth and has continued to excel. He’s an advanced hitter that can go to all sides of the field with power and will hit for a high average over the long run. Right now his defense hasn’t been playing to the level where coaches can trust him as an everyday 2B or 3B. In time that will improve as he gets more and more reps. Because of this Doughty is a strong candidate to start the season at DH with the potential to slide to 2B if Dugas is struggling at the plate and they need another bat.

Collier Cranford out of Zachary missed a majority of his senior season because of Tommy John Surgery and because of this slid under the radar a bit. He’s another defensive first infielder who’s an extremely good athlete with plus speed and a plus arm on the infield. He's going to be backing up multiple infield positions at this time.

My take: Two different type of players with little to no experience fighting for the same position. Because of this I can only give an average grade which is generous. Doughty has the higher ceiling over the long run but he'll need to improve his glove if he wants to be a serious contender here. I do expect Dugas to start at 2B opening night, this may turn into a scenario where both will change out week to week before they start to set positions for the Shriner’s classic. Even if Doughty doesn't start opening night I still think he'll get significant playing time early on as they try and get him more comfortable playing everyday. With Dugas starting I like him as a potential 1 or 2 hitter where he can play to his strengths and give this lineup some more speed at the top. Right now defense is going to control this position...that may change later on if the coaches feel more fire power is needed in the batting order.

Gavin Dugas

Power------50
Hitting------50
Speed------70
Fielding----55
Arm---------60

POSITION ADDITIONS
Cade Doughty

POSITION LOSSES
Brant Broussard

POSITION OVERALL GRADE: 50

This post was edited on 2/4/20 at 7:16 am

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Posted by Adam4848

Member since Apr 2006

19007 posts

Posted on 2/1/20 at 7:25 am to Adam4848

SHORTSTOP

1) Hal Hughes Jr. 5’11 178lbs (3)
2) Zach Arnold Fr. 6’2 197lbs (2)
3) Collier Cranford Fr. 6’0 186lbs (16)

Hal Hughes by all accounts will begin the season as LSU’s starting shortstop. Hal may only be remembered for one thing during his career but he has a big opportunity on a big stage to right the ship so to speak. Zach Arnold who is dealing with a lingering rib injury won’t be available until right before conference play, he figures to be the main competition along with Collier Cranford. Zach Mathis would be an emergency fill in but would require major shuffling of the infield.

Hal Hughes was brought to LSU as a defense first infielder. In all honesty he did a serviceable job as a freshman in a position he had no business being apart of. The hope was that would springboard into his sophomore year…which didn’t pan out. Hughes by trade is a singles only hitter where he’ll run a couple in the gap on occasion. I’ve seen Eddie Smith working with him one on one and he appears to be focusing on driving the ball up the middle of the infield with each at bat. This approach lends the best possible outcome as Hughes has above average speed to beat some driven balls in the ground from time to time. The walks, HBP, singles, essentially anything need to start improving because an average of 0.200 and OBP % sub 0.300 are going to get the coaches scrambling to look at different infield lineups. Hal’s glove is steadily becoming a plus plus tool and his arm has always been great from the left side of the infield. Hal has played every position on the infield except first base and has the ability to shift at any time depending on the situation. I’ve always been really high on his defense and it’s the reason he’s starting right now.

Zach Arnold is a kid that kind of flew under the radar for a bunch of collegiate and MLB teams. An injury took him out for the entirety of his sophomore season in high school and because of this didn’t get invited to as many showcases. He’s got a very nice frame for a middle infielder and is still growing so he may be a real power threat later in his career. Speed is slightly above average. He makes hard contact and on occasion will run some out although he’s more of a live drive hitter right now. He’s shown soft hands and the ability to field both SS and 3B in the short time he’s been healthy. Zach’s had a bit of bad luck thus far and injuries have taken him out basically the entirety of fall and thus far in spring. To be blunt he’s really behind because of this and it’s going to take some time knocking off the rust when he gets back in a month. Depending on how well the rest of the infield is doing along with Hal Hughes will determine how fast or how slow they can ease him in. Not many kids redshirt at big time programs especially with the MLB draft and for that reason I don’t think Arnold will...a lot depends on how fast he’s able to adjust to the college game with little to no practice. He’s a definite late bloomer but was a tremendous sign late in the process after Christian Cairo decided to go pro with the Indians. He may be one of the steals of this signing class we look back on in 2-3 years.

Collier Cranford who I highlighted on with other positions is a guy that has taken some reps here and adds depth. Has a great arm and may become a defensive replacement later this year.

My take: There are holes offensively with this group and it remains to be seen how well LSU can mask this in the short term. With that being said Hughes is a very advanced defender and at a position where it is essential during SEC play. As crazy as it sounds there’s the possibility that Hal will blossom and follow the path Kramer Robertson did in 2016…while not as explosive. LSU doesn’t need Hughes to hit 0.300 but his at bats must be more productive at the bottom of the order. He's got one of the better gloves in the SEC but I can’t give the position anything over an average grade for now with Hughes inconsistency’s at the plate and Arnold in all likely not being able to play live ball till conference play. Collier Cranford in all likelihood could see some starts early during non conference play to give the coaches a new look if they see fit.

Hal Hughes

Power------40
Hitting------40
Speed------55
Fielding----70
Arm---------70

POSITION ADDITIONS:
Zach Arnold
Collier Cranford

POSITION LOSSES:
Josh Smith

POSITION OVERALL GRADE: 50

This post was edited on 2/4/20 at 9:38 pm

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Posted by deaux