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Baseball Preview: 2021 Season (Feb 10th - Pro Prospects & SEC Predictions)
Posted on 2/1/21 at 6:50 am
Posted on 2/1/21 at 6:50 am
February. Is. Here.
-As always everything in this preview is "my" opinion and analysis, I want to welcome everyone’s opinions, thoughts, and criticism, as this is a message board and it's what makes this place great...but please keep it baseball related. In year 14 now this preview is for those friends, family, and alumni who follow the sport however may not be able to see the team early in spring and want to get a better feel for who’s – who.
-The lineup I predict is not only based on what I have seen thus far but how I see the respective positions shaping up throughout the entire regular season.
-The MLB uses a 20-80 grading scale to evaluate each draft eligible player based on their skillset of 1) Power 2) Hitting 3) Speed 4) Fielding 5) Arm. Now because 60-70% of all MLB draft eligible prospects fall into the below-average to average skill set it’s not much to look at when previewing a standard collegiate team. To give viewers a better representation of how they stack up on the collegiate level what I’ve done the past few years is grade each player based on their current tools as they compare to other players at the collegiate level. What this does is expand the bell curve a bit and give a better representation of their respective strengths and weaknesses now rather than a projection for a MLB position.
-At the end of each position is a final overall grade based on the entire unit as a whole. It's essentially a combination of the talent/depth/intangibles etc...compared to other similar collegiate baseball positions.
Feb 1 - C - Alex Milazzo So.
Feb 2 - 1B - Tre Morgan Fr.
Feb 3 - 2B - Cade Doughty So.
Feb 4 - SS - Collier Cranford So.
Feb 5 - 3B - Zach Arnold So.
Feb 6 - OF - Cade Beloso Jr. Giovanni DiGiacomo Jr. Dylan Crews Fr.
Feb 7 - DH - Gavin Dugas Jr.
Feb 8 - SP - Jaden Hill Jr. Landon Marceaux Jr. AJ Labas RS-Jr.
Feb 9 - RP - Matthew Beck GR-Sr. Jacob Hasty So. Ty Floyd Fr. Devin Fontenot Sr.
Feb 10 - Pro Prospects and Projected SEC standings
Grade Breakdown for Starter
80 Top of the Scale (Think Kris Bryant, USD – 2013 “power” or Zach Watson, LSU - 2018 "speed")
70 Well Above Average
60 Above Average
50 Average
40 Below Average
30 Well Below Average
20 Bottom of the Scale (Think Matt Gaudet, LSU - 2010 “speed”)
Grade Breakdown for Overall Position Group
80 Top of the Scale (Think Rice Starting Pitching - 2003)
70 Well Above Average
60 Above Average
50 Average
40 Below Average
30 Well Below Average
20 Bottom of the Scale
-As always everything in this preview is "my" opinion and analysis, I want to welcome everyone’s opinions, thoughts, and criticism, as this is a message board and it's what makes this place great...but please keep it baseball related. In year 14 now this preview is for those friends, family, and alumni who follow the sport however may not be able to see the team early in spring and want to get a better feel for who’s – who.
-The lineup I predict is not only based on what I have seen thus far but how I see the respective positions shaping up throughout the entire regular season.
-The MLB uses a 20-80 grading scale to evaluate each draft eligible player based on their skillset of 1) Power 2) Hitting 3) Speed 4) Fielding 5) Arm. Now because 60-70% of all MLB draft eligible prospects fall into the below-average to average skill set it’s not much to look at when previewing a standard collegiate team. To give viewers a better representation of how they stack up on the collegiate level what I’ve done the past few years is grade each player based on their current tools as they compare to other players at the collegiate level. What this does is expand the bell curve a bit and give a better representation of their respective strengths and weaknesses now rather than a projection for a MLB position.
-At the end of each position is a final overall grade based on the entire unit as a whole. It's essentially a combination of the talent/depth/intangibles etc...compared to other similar collegiate baseball positions.
Feb 1 - C - Alex Milazzo So.
Feb 2 - 1B - Tre Morgan Fr.
Feb 3 - 2B - Cade Doughty So.
Feb 4 - SS - Collier Cranford So.
Feb 5 - 3B - Zach Arnold So.
Feb 6 - OF - Cade Beloso Jr. Giovanni DiGiacomo Jr. Dylan Crews Fr.
Feb 7 - DH - Gavin Dugas Jr.
Feb 8 - SP - Jaden Hill Jr. Landon Marceaux Jr. AJ Labas RS-Jr.
Feb 9 - RP - Matthew Beck GR-Sr. Jacob Hasty So. Ty Floyd Fr. Devin Fontenot Sr.
Feb 10 - Pro Prospects and Projected SEC standings
Grade Breakdown for Starter
80 Top of the Scale (Think Kris Bryant, USD – 2013 “power” or Zach Watson, LSU - 2018 "speed")
70 Well Above Average
60 Above Average
50 Average
40 Below Average
30 Well Below Average
20 Bottom of the Scale (Think Matt Gaudet, LSU - 2010 “speed”)
Grade Breakdown for Overall Position Group
80 Top of the Scale (Think Rice Starting Pitching - 2003)
70 Well Above Average
60 Above Average
50 Average
40 Below Average
30 Well Below Average
20 Bottom of the Scale
This post was edited on 2/10/21 at 7:52 am
13
Posted on 2/1/21 at 6:50 am to Adam4848
CATCHER
1) Alex Milazzo So. 5’10 196lbs (20)
2) Jake Wyeth Jr. 6’2 222lbs (27)
3) Hayden Travinksi So. 6’3 228lbs (25)
4) Braden Doughty Sr. 6’1 186lbs (45)
LSU will return a starting catcher for the first time in 4 years as crazy as that sounds and it’ll be Alex Milazzo opening night. After the signing of incoming recruit Drew Romo and the departure of Saul Garza the LSU staff was able to grab one of the more talented JUCO catchers in Jake Wyeth who I think is a very capable backup catcher. Hayden Travinksi and Braden Doughty will add depth at the position.
Alex Milazzo is one of the more polished defensive catchers I’ve seen in some time at LSU. Milazzo plays loose behind the plate with a supreme glove and incredible pop time at the collegiate level. It’s nearly impossible to make use of last year’s stats however the 5 of 10 runners thrown out as a true freshman was extremely impressive and where he managed to eliminate what was a glaring weakness the two years prior. The arm is a plus plus tool and I'm really excited how he can expand upon those numbers of the course of a full season. An underrated intangible of great SEC baseball teams is the continuity between pitchers and catchers from season to season which is something LSU has lacked in years recent which has lead to sloppy plays in key situations. The glove is only getting better and that’s going to be a weapon for LSU defensively who doesn’t have a left handed starting pitcher in the weekend rotation. With all of these praises Alex still needs to hit for a higher average & slugging percentage and it’s the only tool right now holding him back so to speak. Because of his build he’s not ever going to be a power hitting catcher at the next level, with that said he still may run out 4-6 this year. His numbers from a year ago look worse than the way he was making contact so I’m not worried on that end, Alex is extremely level headed at the plate and works can work counts, he doesn’t need to be LSU's firepower so to speak. Also is a really good athlete for the position who will steal a base from time to time and is not a liability on the base paths at all. Because the 2021 MLB draft was moved back to mid-July that will make Alex a draft eligible sophomore this year, it’s entirely too early to make a prediction if he will become a draft causality but it’s something to keep an eye on.
Jake Wyeth was a tremendous sign last summer given that Nolan Cain and Eddie Smith had to go out and grab someone last second. Wyeth is coming into his fourth year of college and was able to sit behind and develop with Shea Langeliers at Baylor before transferring to Cisco College in Texas during the 2019 and shortened 2020 season. Everything I’ve seen with Jake is that he’s also a very solid defender, big frame, great pop time, positions the ball well. I really like his arm, it’s comparable to Alex’s, not as accurate on repetition but well ahead of what LSU has seen in recent years. There's power in his swing although it hasn’t transitioned on paper, still he was poised to have a breakout year in 2020 so it's something to watch. He is a swing and miss threat when he gets off balanced in the batter’s box which he has the tendency to be streaky. I look at Wyeth an an experienced backup with power from the right side of the plate which LSU lacked a year ago. Speed is below average, all things put together I think he’s distanced himself from the others on the depth chart and is someone that will give Milazzo a breather occasionally before SEC play begins.
Hayden Travinski is a guy I’d really like to see breakout this year. Hayden without a doubt has the most raw power on the team with that violent swing that’s been boom or bust. At times I’d like to see him use more finesse and try to drive the ball up the middle but that’s not his style of play. Travinski is going to be jumping back and forth between C and DH and will probably see more playing time at designated hitter. Until he can hit for average I don’t see how he can stay in the everyday lineup. The good news is there’s a ton of upside and he's one of those guys that when it clicks and he finds consistency there’s no way you can keep him on the bench.
Braden Doughty back for his senior season will be LSU’s primary bullpen catcher and a pinch runner. He’s shown the ability to play multiple positions when asked so don’t be surprised to see him in the infield during mop up duty.
My take: Simply put Alex Milazzo is one of the better defensive catchers in the country this year who is going to limit the running game of opposing teams. He’ll hit anywhere from 7 to 9 in the order and I would take him hitting 0.275 towards the bottom of the lineup given everything else he does to affect the game. A silver lining to Alex being a draft eligible sophomore is if he becomes a serious draft risk it will mean he had an exceptional season as MLB teams are going to need to see him hit consistently at the college level to risk a high pick, if not he’ll be back for his junior season. The position as a whole still lacks proven experience but there’s talent and constant competition all throughout this group that at least one will hit and play well consistently.
Alex Milazzo
Power------50
Hitting------50
Speed------50
Fielding----70
Arm---------75
POSITION ADDITIONS:
Jake Wyeth
POSITION LOSSES:
Saul Garza
POSITION OVERALL GRADE: 60
1) Alex Milazzo So. 5’10 196lbs (20)
2) Jake Wyeth Jr. 6’2 222lbs (27)
3) Hayden Travinksi So. 6’3 228lbs (25)
4) Braden Doughty Sr. 6’1 186lbs (45)
LSU will return a starting catcher for the first time in 4 years as crazy as that sounds and it’ll be Alex Milazzo opening night. After the signing of incoming recruit Drew Romo and the departure of Saul Garza the LSU staff was able to grab one of the more talented JUCO catchers in Jake Wyeth who I think is a very capable backup catcher. Hayden Travinksi and Braden Doughty will add depth at the position.
Alex Milazzo is one of the more polished defensive catchers I’ve seen in some time at LSU. Milazzo plays loose behind the plate with a supreme glove and incredible pop time at the collegiate level. It’s nearly impossible to make use of last year’s stats however the 5 of 10 runners thrown out as a true freshman was extremely impressive and where he managed to eliminate what was a glaring weakness the two years prior. The arm is a plus plus tool and I'm really excited how he can expand upon those numbers of the course of a full season. An underrated intangible of great SEC baseball teams is the continuity between pitchers and catchers from season to season which is something LSU has lacked in years recent which has lead to sloppy plays in key situations. The glove is only getting better and that’s going to be a weapon for LSU defensively who doesn’t have a left handed starting pitcher in the weekend rotation. With all of these praises Alex still needs to hit for a higher average & slugging percentage and it’s the only tool right now holding him back so to speak. Because of his build he’s not ever going to be a power hitting catcher at the next level, with that said he still may run out 4-6 this year. His numbers from a year ago look worse than the way he was making contact so I’m not worried on that end, Alex is extremely level headed at the plate and works can work counts, he doesn’t need to be LSU's firepower so to speak. Also is a really good athlete for the position who will steal a base from time to time and is not a liability on the base paths at all. Because the 2021 MLB draft was moved back to mid-July that will make Alex a draft eligible sophomore this year, it’s entirely too early to make a prediction if he will become a draft causality but it’s something to keep an eye on.
Jake Wyeth was a tremendous sign last summer given that Nolan Cain and Eddie Smith had to go out and grab someone last second. Wyeth is coming into his fourth year of college and was able to sit behind and develop with Shea Langeliers at Baylor before transferring to Cisco College in Texas during the 2019 and shortened 2020 season. Everything I’ve seen with Jake is that he’s also a very solid defender, big frame, great pop time, positions the ball well. I really like his arm, it’s comparable to Alex’s, not as accurate on repetition but well ahead of what LSU has seen in recent years. There's power in his swing although it hasn’t transitioned on paper, still he was poised to have a breakout year in 2020 so it's something to watch. He is a swing and miss threat when he gets off balanced in the batter’s box which he has the tendency to be streaky. I look at Wyeth an an experienced backup with power from the right side of the plate which LSU lacked a year ago. Speed is below average, all things put together I think he’s distanced himself from the others on the depth chart and is someone that will give Milazzo a breather occasionally before SEC play begins.
Hayden Travinski is a guy I’d really like to see breakout this year. Hayden without a doubt has the most raw power on the team with that violent swing that’s been boom or bust. At times I’d like to see him use more finesse and try to drive the ball up the middle but that’s not his style of play. Travinski is going to be jumping back and forth between C and DH and will probably see more playing time at designated hitter. Until he can hit for average I don’t see how he can stay in the everyday lineup. The good news is there’s a ton of upside and he's one of those guys that when it clicks and he finds consistency there’s no way you can keep him on the bench.
Braden Doughty back for his senior season will be LSU’s primary bullpen catcher and a pinch runner. He’s shown the ability to play multiple positions when asked so don’t be surprised to see him in the infield during mop up duty.
My take: Simply put Alex Milazzo is one of the better defensive catchers in the country this year who is going to limit the running game of opposing teams. He’ll hit anywhere from 7 to 9 in the order and I would take him hitting 0.275 towards the bottom of the lineup given everything else he does to affect the game. A silver lining to Alex being a draft eligible sophomore is if he becomes a serious draft risk it will mean he had an exceptional season as MLB teams are going to need to see him hit consistently at the college level to risk a high pick, if not he’ll be back for his junior season. The position as a whole still lacks proven experience but there’s talent and constant competition all throughout this group that at least one will hit and play well consistently.
Alex Milazzo
Power------50
Hitting------50
Speed------50
Fielding----70
Arm---------75
POSITION ADDITIONS:
Jake Wyeth
POSITION LOSSES:
Saul Garza
POSITION OVERALL GRADE: 60
This post was edited on 2/1/21 at 7:09 am
Posted on 2/1/21 at 6:50 am to Adam4848
FIRST BASE
1) Tre Morgan Fr. 6’1 190lbs (18)
2) Cade Beloso Jr. 6’0 222lbs (24)
3) Will Hellmers Fr. 6’4 195lbs (48)
4) Hayden Travinksi So. 6’3 228lbs (25)
Cade Beloso who started every game at first base in 2020 will shift to LF so long as Tre Morgan can maintain his early flashes since stepping onto campus which has made it impossible to keep him off the field. Will Hellmers a two way prospect has worked here extensively when not on the mound. Drew Bianco is a corner infielder given his stature and he could be a late game substation at the position if needed. Hayden Travinski although not the most athletic guy here has taken reps in the past and could slide over if needed. There’s depth here, some names I’m not mentioning, different skillsets…there’s a lot to work with however Morgan and Beloso will be the two guys.
Tre Morgan is someone that certainly can and will make an immediate impact on this team with both the bat and glove; it’s the reason why Mainieri couldn’t afford to slowly work him in the lineup given the glaring holes in the offense during shortened 2020 season with pressure to get back to Omaha. His defense alone is what forced Mainieri to take a look and find another spot to place Cade Beloso and honestly Cade has really done a serviceable job during his first two seasons. Morgan will give you more range and a wider wingspan so it makes sense given the youth on the left side of the infield. At the plate Morgan uses a slightly open stance and with a loaded leg kick yet maintains good balance at the plate where he can turn his wrists in quicker than most and get in front of the ball. He’s been more of a pull hitter who’s starting to use the whole field which will in turn help him field a higher average as he matures. There’s still room to put on weight and if he sticks to 1B which I think he will then I’d like to see him bulk up to a 200-205lb range and become that much more of a power threat from the left side of the plate. Speed is about average maybe slightly above and he’s a guy who I’ve seen hustle every grounder and won’t take plays off which I love to see. Glove is fantastic for the position…he’s not a shortstop and LSU doesn’t need him to be, he can field the position and pick throws from the left side of the infield effortlessly. It’s been a long time since LSU has been able to stick a big body over at 1B and let him do his thing and Morgan has the potential to be a multi-year starter at the position, he certainly looks the part. Morgan’s ranking out of high school was lower than it should have been due to a combination of injury his senior season/covid/shortened draft where MLB teams focused on college talent. LSU appears to have an gotten an outstanding prospect who wouldn’t make it to campus during a normal draft year.
Cade Beloso who I’ll touch up on more at another position is a very experienced and quality asset to move here if needed. Beloso although not as rangy of a defender has a higher floor as a hitter that has become one of LSU’s more consistent bats the past two seasons and is another power threat from the left side of the plate.
Will Hellmers just continues to impress everywhere they put him. He’s going to pitch this year but has shown he could potentially become a two way player the way he played in the fall. Mainieri doesn’t normally roll with two way guys so it depends on how many innings he see’s on the mound which is going to be his quickest path to playing time right now.
Drew Bianco is another gopher for LSU, he’ll play LF, 3B, 1B, or DH if need be he’s someone that could slide here late in a game or midweek matchup.
Hayden Travinski much of the same, I don’t think he see’s much time here but he’s someone that could slide in if needed.
My take: There are a lot of people around the program excited to see Tre Morgan in action, he’s a similar prospect to CJ Willis coming out of high school in stature, granted Willis didn’t pan out so maybe LSU will hit on the second go around. Morgan is someone who’s a prototypical 3-5 bat from the left side of the plate and I could see him shuffling anywhere in that range as LSU experiments with different lineups as well as others at the top of the order. I’d like to see Tre lead LSU in doubles and go the opposite way not trying to pull everything. The ceiling is very high here.
Tre Morgan
Power------60
Hitting------60
Speed------60
Fielding----70
Arm---------55
POSITION ADDITIONS:
Tre Morgan
Will Hellmers
POSITION LOSSES:
NONE
POSITION OVERALL GRADE: 65
1) Tre Morgan Fr. 6’1 190lbs (18)
2) Cade Beloso Jr. 6’0 222lbs (24)
3) Will Hellmers Fr. 6’4 195lbs (48)
4) Hayden Travinksi So. 6’3 228lbs (25)
Cade Beloso who started every game at first base in 2020 will shift to LF so long as Tre Morgan can maintain his early flashes since stepping onto campus which has made it impossible to keep him off the field. Will Hellmers a two way prospect has worked here extensively when not on the mound. Drew Bianco is a corner infielder given his stature and he could be a late game substation at the position if needed. Hayden Travinski although not the most athletic guy here has taken reps in the past and could slide over if needed. There’s depth here, some names I’m not mentioning, different skillsets…there’s a lot to work with however Morgan and Beloso will be the two guys.
Tre Morgan is someone that certainly can and will make an immediate impact on this team with both the bat and glove; it’s the reason why Mainieri couldn’t afford to slowly work him in the lineup given the glaring holes in the offense during shortened 2020 season with pressure to get back to Omaha. His defense alone is what forced Mainieri to take a look and find another spot to place Cade Beloso and honestly Cade has really done a serviceable job during his first two seasons. Morgan will give you more range and a wider wingspan so it makes sense given the youth on the left side of the infield. At the plate Morgan uses a slightly open stance and with a loaded leg kick yet maintains good balance at the plate where he can turn his wrists in quicker than most and get in front of the ball. He’s been more of a pull hitter who’s starting to use the whole field which will in turn help him field a higher average as he matures. There’s still room to put on weight and if he sticks to 1B which I think he will then I’d like to see him bulk up to a 200-205lb range and become that much more of a power threat from the left side of the plate. Speed is about average maybe slightly above and he’s a guy who I’ve seen hustle every grounder and won’t take plays off which I love to see. Glove is fantastic for the position…he’s not a shortstop and LSU doesn’t need him to be, he can field the position and pick throws from the left side of the infield effortlessly. It’s been a long time since LSU has been able to stick a big body over at 1B and let him do his thing and Morgan has the potential to be a multi-year starter at the position, he certainly looks the part. Morgan’s ranking out of high school was lower than it should have been due to a combination of injury his senior season/covid/shortened draft where MLB teams focused on college talent. LSU appears to have an gotten an outstanding prospect who wouldn’t make it to campus during a normal draft year.
Cade Beloso who I’ll touch up on more at another position is a very experienced and quality asset to move here if needed. Beloso although not as rangy of a defender has a higher floor as a hitter that has become one of LSU’s more consistent bats the past two seasons and is another power threat from the left side of the plate.
Will Hellmers just continues to impress everywhere they put him. He’s going to pitch this year but has shown he could potentially become a two way player the way he played in the fall. Mainieri doesn’t normally roll with two way guys so it depends on how many innings he see’s on the mound which is going to be his quickest path to playing time right now.
Drew Bianco is another gopher for LSU, he’ll play LF, 3B, 1B, or DH if need be he’s someone that could slide here late in a game or midweek matchup.
Hayden Travinski much of the same, I don’t think he see’s much time here but he’s someone that could slide in if needed.
My take: There are a lot of people around the program excited to see Tre Morgan in action, he’s a similar prospect to CJ Willis coming out of high school in stature, granted Willis didn’t pan out so maybe LSU will hit on the second go around. Morgan is someone who’s a prototypical 3-5 bat from the left side of the plate and I could see him shuffling anywhere in that range as LSU experiments with different lineups as well as others at the top of the order. I’d like to see Tre lead LSU in doubles and go the opposite way not trying to pull everything. The ceiling is very high here.
Tre Morgan
Power------60
Hitting------60
Speed------60
Fielding----70
Arm---------55
POSITION ADDITIONS:
Tre Morgan
Will Hellmers
POSITION LOSSES:
NONE
POSITION OVERALL GRADE: 65
This post was edited on 2/1/22 at 1:45 pm
Posted on 2/1/21 at 6:50 am to Adam4848
SECOND BASE
1) Cade Doughty So. 6’1 201lbs (4)
2) Gavin Dugas Jr. 5’10 198lbs (6)
3) Will Safford Fr. 5’8 165lbs (17)
Cade Doughty is the clear cut favorite to start at second base with more upside than anyone at this position. Gavin Dugas who has seen time here will rotate between 2B and LF although he’s a much stronger candidate to start at DH to get his bat in the lineup. Will Safford a local infielder who had a promising fall has the athleticism to play here along with anywhere on the infield.
Cade Doughty was one of my favorite players to watch over the course of the shortened 2020 season. When his defense starts to play he’ll become a true five tool player and he was just starting to get in a rhythm when the season was stopped. Doughty carried that momentum into the South Florida Collegiate Summer League where he hit 0.429 AVG with a 0.626 SLG ranking him third in the entire league in batting average. He’s a true volume hitter and with his aggressive nature will spray the ball all over the yard and work his way on base anyway he can. Great upper and lower body strength that will push well hit balls out of the yard. He’s a great runner and Doughty likes to be active on the base paths, I think 10-15 SB a year type of guy. The glove was a problem area at times last year and it’s the only real knock against him and why he settled in at 2B. He put in a ton of time during the extended summer to improve his defensive footwork and is starting to settle in on the right side of the infield.
Gavin Dugas is finally ready to break out. Gavin has incredible power for his size and is constantly one of the top players in exit velocities, don’t sleep on him getting time at 2B where he has experience although I think he’s going to see time quicker at another spot so I’ll highlight on him more there.
Will Safford is a very refined athlete from U-High who’s going to sneak up on some people in how much playing time he gets during the non-conference play. Safford is currently competing for a spot at SS/3B who could shift to 2B defensively with ease. He’s a tough out at the plate who’s very selective, can also bunt effectively, and wreaks havoc on the base paths. Again, it’s the little things that make big differences in tight ball games and Mainieri has stated numerous times he’s a freshman who he trusts at the plate.
My take: My bold prediction is Cade Doughty will lead LSU in hits this year. He’s played some leadoff but I see him as a true two hole hitter. The swing will generate singles, doubles, and HR’s in bunches and the hits are going to start finding holes. If he can become a better every day defensive player at 2B he’ll be a top 2-3 round draft pick in 2022.
Cade Doughty
Power------60
Hitting------65
Speed------60
Fielding----50
Arm---------55
POSITION ADDITIONS:
Will Safford
POSITION LOSSES:
NONE
POSITION OVERALL GRADE: 60
1) Cade Doughty So. 6’1 201lbs (4)
2) Gavin Dugas Jr. 5’10 198lbs (6)
3) Will Safford Fr. 5’8 165lbs (17)
Cade Doughty is the clear cut favorite to start at second base with more upside than anyone at this position. Gavin Dugas who has seen time here will rotate between 2B and LF although he’s a much stronger candidate to start at DH to get his bat in the lineup. Will Safford a local infielder who had a promising fall has the athleticism to play here along with anywhere on the infield.
Cade Doughty was one of my favorite players to watch over the course of the shortened 2020 season. When his defense starts to play he’ll become a true five tool player and he was just starting to get in a rhythm when the season was stopped. Doughty carried that momentum into the South Florida Collegiate Summer League where he hit 0.429 AVG with a 0.626 SLG ranking him third in the entire league in batting average. He’s a true volume hitter and with his aggressive nature will spray the ball all over the yard and work his way on base anyway he can. Great upper and lower body strength that will push well hit balls out of the yard. He’s a great runner and Doughty likes to be active on the base paths, I think 10-15 SB a year type of guy. The glove was a problem area at times last year and it’s the only real knock against him and why he settled in at 2B. He put in a ton of time during the extended summer to improve his defensive footwork and is starting to settle in on the right side of the infield.
Gavin Dugas is finally ready to break out. Gavin has incredible power for his size and is constantly one of the top players in exit velocities, don’t sleep on him getting time at 2B where he has experience although I think he’s going to see time quicker at another spot so I’ll highlight on him more there.
Will Safford is a very refined athlete from U-High who’s going to sneak up on some people in how much playing time he gets during the non-conference play. Safford is currently competing for a spot at SS/3B who could shift to 2B defensively with ease. He’s a tough out at the plate who’s very selective, can also bunt effectively, and wreaks havoc on the base paths. Again, it’s the little things that make big differences in tight ball games and Mainieri has stated numerous times he’s a freshman who he trusts at the plate.
My take: My bold prediction is Cade Doughty will lead LSU in hits this year. He’s played some leadoff but I see him as a true two hole hitter. The swing will generate singles, doubles, and HR’s in bunches and the hits are going to start finding holes. If he can become a better every day defensive player at 2B he’ll be a top 2-3 round draft pick in 2022.
Cade Doughty
Power------60
Hitting------65
Speed------60
Fielding----50
Arm---------55
POSITION ADDITIONS:
Will Safford
POSITION LOSSES:
NONE
POSITION OVERALL GRADE: 60
This post was edited on 2/3/21 at 7:40 am
Posted on 2/1/21 at 6:50 am to Adam4848
SHORTSTOP
1) Collier Cranford So. 6’0 186lbs (16)
2) Zach Arnold So. 6’2 197lbs (2)
3) Jordan Thompson Fr. 6’1 185lbs (13)
Shortstop and Third Base are relatively complete unknowns right now. Zach Arnold and Collier Cranford have been taking a majority of the reps here and I think both have distanced themselves from the pack in terms of that third starter. Collier Cranford is the safe pick with the higher floor while Zach Arnold has the most upside with a louder bat so long that he can be field his position with some sort of consistency. Jordan Thompson right now is raw but is an incredibly talented freshman who can backup shortstop as well as a number of other infield spots.
Collier Cranford was an unexpected bright spot at SS after being inserted into the lineup essentially two weeks into the year when it was apparent Hal Hughes wasn’t the long term solution. Cranford, another in state prospect, not highly ranked coming out of high school, this kid should have been a 2020 high school graduate so he’s still growing. Nothing really jumps off the page but he’s an extremely hard worker that does the little things consistently well. I’d rather Cranford start at SS to open the season because I think he’s the most consistent middle infielder LSU has right now and he’s not one to make mental lapses that would blow a young kids confidence both in the field and at the plate. Collier did not have a single error in 40 chances a year ago…defense was flawless on paper. He has an outstanding glove with a plus arm and can make throws from anywhere on the infield. Still lanky and growing into his frame, most of his hits this year will be singles with his line drive approach up the middle. Something noteworthy was 5 sacrifice bunts in 11 games last year which would have tied for the lead in all of 2019. There’s a chance LSU relies more on hit and runs and straight stealing this year but it’s good to have someone at the bottom of the order who can bunt. Not a power treat and never really will be in my opinion. Cranford has above average speed and will be active on the base paths when he wants to. A solid all around program guy who become a backbone type of player to this team the next 3 years.
Zach Arnold I’ll go more in depth tomorrow, he could very well start here but I’m assuming he sticks at 3B for now.
Jordan Thompson is such a fascinating prospect. A top 50 overall prospect coming out of high school Jordan was a major threat to sign professional before the draft was reduced to 5 rounds. A late bloomer physically who is just now filling into his frame. Thompson will either settle in at SS or 3B with a plus plus arm and fluid glove. Another two way player who has thrown a ton in showcases and circuits throughout high school so maybe there’s a chance of developing into a setup type role if needed. Jordan’s another line drive hitter and when he get his hands around can produce some pretty impressive exit velocities… still he’s not going to be a major power threat until another year or two. Speed is above average and is very aggressive runner when he gets on base. May have one of those roles that comes in if upperclassmen are struggling and never gives up a spot.
My take: Collier Cranford gives you stability but Zach Arnold is still a threat to overtake this position depending on how Mainieri wants to tinker with the lineup. Cranford is your prototypical 9 hole hitter with speed to turn the lineup over. He doesn’t need to hit for a high average but LSU would take anything over 0.280 here in a heartbeat given the inconsistencies towards the latter half of the order following the 2017 championship run. Look for multiple guys to be given a chance here as the coaches figure out the best option for SEC play.
Collier Cranford
Power------35
Hitting------50
Speed------60
Fielding----65
Arm---------60
POSITION ADDITIONS:
Jordan Thompson
POSITION LOSSES:
NONE
POSITION OVERALL GRADE: 50
1) Collier Cranford So. 6’0 186lbs (16)
2) Zach Arnold So. 6’2 197lbs (2)
3) Jordan Thompson Fr. 6’1 185lbs (13)
Shortstop and Third Base are relatively complete unknowns right now. Zach Arnold and Collier Cranford have been taking a majority of the reps here and I think both have distanced themselves from the pack in terms of that third starter. Collier Cranford is the safe pick with the higher floor while Zach Arnold has the most upside with a louder bat so long that he can be field his position with some sort of consistency. Jordan Thompson right now is raw but is an incredibly talented freshman who can backup shortstop as well as a number of other infield spots.
Collier Cranford was an unexpected bright spot at SS after being inserted into the lineup essentially two weeks into the year when it was apparent Hal Hughes wasn’t the long term solution. Cranford, another in state prospect, not highly ranked coming out of high school, this kid should have been a 2020 high school graduate so he’s still growing. Nothing really jumps off the page but he’s an extremely hard worker that does the little things consistently well. I’d rather Cranford start at SS to open the season because I think he’s the most consistent middle infielder LSU has right now and he’s not one to make mental lapses that would blow a young kids confidence both in the field and at the plate. Collier did not have a single error in 40 chances a year ago…defense was flawless on paper. He has an outstanding glove with a plus arm and can make throws from anywhere on the infield. Still lanky and growing into his frame, most of his hits this year will be singles with his line drive approach up the middle. Something noteworthy was 5 sacrifice bunts in 11 games last year which would have tied for the lead in all of 2019. There’s a chance LSU relies more on hit and runs and straight stealing this year but it’s good to have someone at the bottom of the order who can bunt. Not a power treat and never really will be in my opinion. Cranford has above average speed and will be active on the base paths when he wants to. A solid all around program guy who become a backbone type of player to this team the next 3 years.
Zach Arnold I’ll go more in depth tomorrow, he could very well start here but I’m assuming he sticks at 3B for now.
Jordan Thompson is such a fascinating prospect. A top 50 overall prospect coming out of high school Jordan was a major threat to sign professional before the draft was reduced to 5 rounds. A late bloomer physically who is just now filling into his frame. Thompson will either settle in at SS or 3B with a plus plus arm and fluid glove. Another two way player who has thrown a ton in showcases and circuits throughout high school so maybe there’s a chance of developing into a setup type role if needed. Jordan’s another line drive hitter and when he get his hands around can produce some pretty impressive exit velocities… still he’s not going to be a major power threat until another year or two. Speed is above average and is very aggressive runner when he gets on base. May have one of those roles that comes in if upperclassmen are struggling and never gives up a spot.
My take: Collier Cranford gives you stability but Zach Arnold is still a threat to overtake this position depending on how Mainieri wants to tinker with the lineup. Cranford is your prototypical 9 hole hitter with speed to turn the lineup over. He doesn’t need to hit for a high average but LSU would take anything over 0.280 here in a heartbeat given the inconsistencies towards the latter half of the order following the 2017 championship run. Look for multiple guys to be given a chance here as the coaches figure out the best option for SEC play.
Collier Cranford
Power------35
Hitting------50
Speed------60
Fielding----65
Arm---------60
POSITION ADDITIONS:
Jordan Thompson
POSITION LOSSES:
NONE
POSITION OVERALL GRADE: 50
This post was edited on 2/4/21 at 9:05 am
Posted on 2/1/21 at 6:50 am to Adam4848
THIRD BASE
1) Zach Arnold So. 6’2 197lbs (2)
2) Collier Cranford So. 6’0 186lbs (16)
3) Will Safford Fr. 5’8 165lbs (17)
Third base will be dependent on who settles in at short stop as it's a slightly less demanding position. For that reason I have Zach Arnold starting here because I know the coaches are trying to get his bat in the lineup wherever they can. Collier Cranford could easily slide here. Will Safford has taken some reps here and Dylan Crews has also been working here lately which would mean both Cranford and Arnold are not working in the infield.
Zach Arnold was that late sign during the 2019 off-season after Christian Cairo ended up signing a contract to go play professionally with the Cleveland Indians. Multiple injuries over both fall and spring practice hampered any kind of momentum to jump into the lineup and because of that he had 2 at bats a season ago. It's almost nothing to go off of at the D-1 level but his measurables are impressive and like I said he has the most upside here. Zach was a late bloomer in high school who didn’t attend many showcases so he’s still relatively unknown on the national level. Still Arnold was drafted out of high school because he possess a great frame for a shortstop and has a quick first step defensively with an above average arm. He may have some struggles here or there defensively, but this is a long term play because of the bat. In the South Florida summer league Arnold hit 0.294 in 68 at bats, he’s constantly been in competition with Crews for the best exit velocities and I welcome some new pop to the lineup. The hope is that power will come naturally as he fills out because he’s certainly making good contact right now and the law of averages says some of those will leave the yard. Speed is slightly above average, he’s not a burner and will mostly play station to station. The key with Arnold is getting defensive reps and at bats, there are flashes of great potential and he’s a very scrappy ball player. Hopefully LSU has the ability to let him work through any ups and downs early on in the year where he could turn into a very good piece in the middle of the lineup.
Collier Cranford would be the backup here if he’s not starting at shortstop.
Will Safford who I highlighted on at 2B will probably see playing time here quicker than any other position as surprising as that may sound. He’s going to push Arnold/Cranford and be given opportunities.
My take: Zach Arnold is either going to be a boom or bust for this lineup. Either he starts opening night and struggles both defensively and at the plate and second guessing himself or he’s going to become a very dangerous hitter with some power towards the bottom of LSU’s lineup. I could see him as a 6 or 7 hole hitter where he’s more comfortable and have a chance to drive in the heart of the order. The group itself is very inexperienced hence the average grade.
Zach Arnold
Power------65
Hitting------55
Speed------55
Fielding----50
Arm---------60
POSITION ADDITIONS:
Will Safford
POSITION LOSSES:
Zack Mathis
POSITION OVERALL GRADE: 50
1) Zach Arnold So. 6’2 197lbs (2)
2) Collier Cranford So. 6’0 186lbs (16)
3) Will Safford Fr. 5’8 165lbs (17)
Third base will be dependent on who settles in at short stop as it's a slightly less demanding position. For that reason I have Zach Arnold starting here because I know the coaches are trying to get his bat in the lineup wherever they can. Collier Cranford could easily slide here. Will Safford has taken some reps here and Dylan Crews has also been working here lately which would mean both Cranford and Arnold are not working in the infield.
Zach Arnold was that late sign during the 2019 off-season after Christian Cairo ended up signing a contract to go play professionally with the Cleveland Indians. Multiple injuries over both fall and spring practice hampered any kind of momentum to jump into the lineup and because of that he had 2 at bats a season ago. It's almost nothing to go off of at the D-1 level but his measurables are impressive and like I said he has the most upside here. Zach was a late bloomer in high school who didn’t attend many showcases so he’s still relatively unknown on the national level. Still Arnold was drafted out of high school because he possess a great frame for a shortstop and has a quick first step defensively with an above average arm. He may have some struggles here or there defensively, but this is a long term play because of the bat. In the South Florida summer league Arnold hit 0.294 in 68 at bats, he’s constantly been in competition with Crews for the best exit velocities and I welcome some new pop to the lineup. The hope is that power will come naturally as he fills out because he’s certainly making good contact right now and the law of averages says some of those will leave the yard. Speed is slightly above average, he’s not a burner and will mostly play station to station. The key with Arnold is getting defensive reps and at bats, there are flashes of great potential and he’s a very scrappy ball player. Hopefully LSU has the ability to let him work through any ups and downs early on in the year where he could turn into a very good piece in the middle of the lineup.
Collier Cranford would be the backup here if he’s not starting at shortstop.
Will Safford who I highlighted on at 2B will probably see playing time here quicker than any other position as surprising as that may sound. He’s going to push Arnold/Cranford and be given opportunities.
My take: Zach Arnold is either going to be a boom or bust for this lineup. Either he starts opening night and struggles both defensively and at the plate and second guessing himself or he’s going to become a very dangerous hitter with some power towards the bottom of LSU’s lineup. I could see him as a 6 or 7 hole hitter where he’s more comfortable and have a chance to drive in the heart of the order. The group itself is very inexperienced hence the average grade.
Zach Arnold
Power------65
Hitting------55
Speed------55
Fielding----50
Arm---------60
POSITION ADDITIONS:
Will Safford
POSITION LOSSES:
Zack Mathis
POSITION OVERALL GRADE: 50
This post was edited on 2/5/21 at 7:35 am
Posted on 2/1/21 at 6:50 am to Adam4848
OUTFIELD
LF - Cade Beloso Jr. 6’0 216lbs (24)
CF - Giovanni DiGiacomo Jr. 6’1 187lbs (7)
RF - Dylan Crews Fr. 6’0 203lbs (3)
Maurice Hampton So. 6’0 217lbs (14)
Brody Drost Fr. 6’2 205lbs (10)
Will Safford 5’8 163lbs (17)
Mitchell Sanford So. 6’2 192lbs (22)
Outfield should look like Cade Beloso, Giovanni DiGiacomo, and Dylan Crews in that order going left to start the season. The starting three looks quite good on paper with plenty of depth and some young stars pushing for playing time. Former top 100 overall high school prospects Maurice Hampton and Brody Drost don’t even crack the initial starting lineup so the there will be a great deal of competition here. Gavin Dugas is going to hit in her lineup somewhere so if he’s not starting at DH look for him at one of the corner outfield spots. Mitchell Sanford rounds out what I think are the top seven in terms of playing time.
Cade Beloso put in the effort to trim down during the 10 month offseason and he’s going to be given a chance to stick in LF. He’s become one of LSU’s more consistent hitters the past two seasons and will be a major part of if LSU can get to the offense juggernaut fans are so accustomed to seeing. Cade is one of those pure hitters who uses the whole field and is exceptional at going with the pitch and because of that he’s one of the more slump proof hitters in this lineup. I thought his HR’s numbers would explode last year but it took him till the last game before launching a moon shot, still he’ll get his. Below average speed on the base paths nothing new there but with his slimmed down build will help in that department. Glove in outfield is slightly below average and he has a slightly above average arm for the position.
Giovanni DiGiacomo is most likely the long term centerfield option. Gio is a top of the order guy who can hit for average and has above average pop in his bat. I look for him to mature this year and become a potential top 10 round draft pick. Gio has the best straight line speed on the team and is an asset to the hit and run game. Great range in center field and can track down anything in his area. Arm is slightly above average but nothing spectacular. LSU really lacked a guy like him in 2020 to be a table setter at the top of the order.
Dylan Crews is the most exciting prospect I’ve seen since Alex Bregman. A true 5-tool prospect Dylan is currently ranked as the top incoming freshman position player in college baseball by multiple sources. At the plate Dylan has an advanced bat and will hit for high average. Excellent frame, strong, and mature for his age he’s consistently leading LSU in exit velocities throughout the fall and spring. Outstanding ability to show power to the opposite field, is going to be a doubles machine. He has above average speed and will be a 10-12 steals a year type guy. His natural position is right field and I think that’s where he needs to stick long term. Arm is plus plus right now and might be be the best I’ve seen since Jared Foster. In a nutshell let him do his thing and he’ll succeed, there will be pressure on him to produce but he’s extremely level natured for his age. Will be a top 10 overall pick in time. Players like this rarely make it to campus.
Maurice Hampton has had battled injuries recently has some catching up to do before he becomes a realistic starter. We’ve all highlighted on this before, it’s extremely difficult to excel in two sports at this level, if it were up to me I’d have him stick to baseball but he won’t. With all this being said Hampton is an distinguished athlete with excellent bat speed and a true plus plus runner. He can slide anywhere in the outfield and cover ground as good as anyone has on the roster. Is a very very nice piece to have on the bench and will be used a number of times as a pinch runner if and when he’s not starting. He needs at bats to become comfortable at the SEC level ala Jared Mitchell.
Brody Drost who I’ll highlight on more tomorrow is a huge get and will become a three year centerpiece of this lineup at either LF or RF in time. Bat is advanced and shows power. I think he’ll backup RF for now.
Will Safford who’s basically playing every position these days is starting to get reps in CF and is most likely the starter there is DiGioacomo isn’t in the lineup.
Mitchell Sanford is an interesting piece here, great left handed bat that got some spot starts in the outfield a year ago. I hope he doesn’t get caught up in the numbers game, he’s a reliable backup in left for now.
Gavin Dugas can and will slide here if needed.
My take: Outfield is extremely deep if we’re counting Beloso here as a normal starter. Veterans and youth mixed in with plenty of speed. Beloso should hit somewhere around 4-5 in the order, DiGiacomo is a lead off candidate, Crews will hit somewhere in the heart of the order. In other years Hampton and Drost would be potential starters so there’s numbers to work with as the season goes on. Safford is a dark horse to start. Very excited to see what this group can do.
Cade Beloso
Power------70
Hitting------65
Speed------45
Fielding----55
Arm---------55
Giovanni DiGiacomo
Power------45
Hitting------55
Speed------80
Fielding----65
Arm---------50
Dylan Crews
Power------70
Hitting------65
Speed------60
Fielding----65
Arm---------70
POSITION ADDITIONS:
Dylan Crews
Brody Drost
Will Safford
POSITION LOSSES:
Daniel Cabrera
POSITION OVERALL GRADE: 70
LF - Cade Beloso Jr. 6’0 216lbs (24)
CF - Giovanni DiGiacomo Jr. 6’1 187lbs (7)
RF - Dylan Crews Fr. 6’0 203lbs (3)
Maurice Hampton So. 6’0 217lbs (14)
Brody Drost Fr. 6’2 205lbs (10)
Will Safford 5’8 163lbs (17)
Mitchell Sanford So. 6’2 192lbs (22)
Outfield should look like Cade Beloso, Giovanni DiGiacomo, and Dylan Crews in that order going left to start the season. The starting three looks quite good on paper with plenty of depth and some young stars pushing for playing time. Former top 100 overall high school prospects Maurice Hampton and Brody Drost don’t even crack the initial starting lineup so the there will be a great deal of competition here. Gavin Dugas is going to hit in her lineup somewhere so if he’s not starting at DH look for him at one of the corner outfield spots. Mitchell Sanford rounds out what I think are the top seven in terms of playing time.
Cade Beloso put in the effort to trim down during the 10 month offseason and he’s going to be given a chance to stick in LF. He’s become one of LSU’s more consistent hitters the past two seasons and will be a major part of if LSU can get to the offense juggernaut fans are so accustomed to seeing. Cade is one of those pure hitters who uses the whole field and is exceptional at going with the pitch and because of that he’s one of the more slump proof hitters in this lineup. I thought his HR’s numbers would explode last year but it took him till the last game before launching a moon shot, still he’ll get his. Below average speed on the base paths nothing new there but with his slimmed down build will help in that department. Glove in outfield is slightly below average and he has a slightly above average arm for the position.
Giovanni DiGiacomo is most likely the long term centerfield option. Gio is a top of the order guy who can hit for average and has above average pop in his bat. I look for him to mature this year and become a potential top 10 round draft pick. Gio has the best straight line speed on the team and is an asset to the hit and run game. Great range in center field and can track down anything in his area. Arm is slightly above average but nothing spectacular. LSU really lacked a guy like him in 2020 to be a table setter at the top of the order.
Dylan Crews is the most exciting prospect I’ve seen since Alex Bregman. A true 5-tool prospect Dylan is currently ranked as the top incoming freshman position player in college baseball by multiple sources. At the plate Dylan has an advanced bat and will hit for high average. Excellent frame, strong, and mature for his age he’s consistently leading LSU in exit velocities throughout the fall and spring. Outstanding ability to show power to the opposite field, is going to be a doubles machine. He has above average speed and will be a 10-12 steals a year type guy. His natural position is right field and I think that’s where he needs to stick long term. Arm is plus plus right now and might be be the best I’ve seen since Jared Foster. In a nutshell let him do his thing and he’ll succeed, there will be pressure on him to produce but he’s extremely level natured for his age. Will be a top 10 overall pick in time. Players like this rarely make it to campus.
Maurice Hampton has had battled injuries recently has some catching up to do before he becomes a realistic starter. We’ve all highlighted on this before, it’s extremely difficult to excel in two sports at this level, if it were up to me I’d have him stick to baseball but he won’t. With all this being said Hampton is an distinguished athlete with excellent bat speed and a true plus plus runner. He can slide anywhere in the outfield and cover ground as good as anyone has on the roster. Is a very very nice piece to have on the bench and will be used a number of times as a pinch runner if and when he’s not starting. He needs at bats to become comfortable at the SEC level ala Jared Mitchell.
Brody Drost who I’ll highlight on more tomorrow is a huge get and will become a three year centerpiece of this lineup at either LF or RF in time. Bat is advanced and shows power. I think he’ll backup RF for now.
Will Safford who’s basically playing every position these days is starting to get reps in CF and is most likely the starter there is DiGioacomo isn’t in the lineup.
Mitchell Sanford is an interesting piece here, great left handed bat that got some spot starts in the outfield a year ago. I hope he doesn’t get caught up in the numbers game, he’s a reliable backup in left for now.
Gavin Dugas can and will slide here if needed.
My take: Outfield is extremely deep if we’re counting Beloso here as a normal starter. Veterans and youth mixed in with plenty of speed. Beloso should hit somewhere around 4-5 in the order, DiGiacomo is a lead off candidate, Crews will hit somewhere in the heart of the order. In other years Hampton and Drost would be potential starters so there’s numbers to work with as the season goes on. Safford is a dark horse to start. Very excited to see what this group can do.
Cade Beloso
Power------70
Hitting------65
Speed------45
Fielding----55
Arm---------55
Giovanni DiGiacomo
Power------45
Hitting------55
Speed------80
Fielding----65
Arm---------50
Dylan Crews
Power------70
Hitting------65
Speed------60
Fielding----65
Arm---------70
POSITION ADDITIONS:
Dylan Crews
Brody Drost
Will Safford
POSITION LOSSES:
Daniel Cabrera
POSITION OVERALL GRADE: 70
This post was edited on 2/6/21 at 12:07 pm
Posted on 2/1/21 at 6:50 am to Adam4848
DESIGNATED HITTER
1) Gavin Dugas Jr. 5’10 204lbs (6)
2) Hayden Travinksi So. 6’3 218lbs (25)
3) Drew Bianco Jr. 6’0 203lbs (5)
4) Brody Drost Fr. 6’2 205lbs (10)
Designated hitter is always a tough position to predict but assuming the rest of the lineup stays intact I think Gavin Dugas will have a commanding lead to get a majority of the at bats here. You have Hayden Travinksi and Drew Bianco next who are both boom or bust power guys and then Brody Drost a super talented freshman who will actually slide higher on this depth chart over the long run because he’s a left handed bat.
Gavin Dugas played in 19 games in 2019 and 13 games in 2020 so here’s to hoping he plays in 70 this year. Gavin’s is one of the strongest players on the entire team, reminds me a bit of the Jordan’s at the plate in terms of stature. He hasn’t shown the ability to consistently hit for a high average but there’s a ton of pop in his bat, he lead LSU in HR’s and slugging % while only taking 28 official at bats a season ago. Gavin has been producing some rather nice exit velocities over the fall and thus far in spring. At the same time his approach needs to gap to gap which will be his bread and butter to stick in the lineup. He’s got plus plus speed and extremely aggressive on the base paths which would be an added bonus as DH’s don’t typical add speed.
Hayden Travinksi coming off a knee injury is supposedly 100% healthy. He’s a lower half of the lineup if he does play that will be a doubles and HR machine. Needs to bring the average up if he’s to play everyday.
Drew Bianco slides into the spot along with backing up OF. Drew much the same as Hayden has great lower body strength that translates to some powerful exit velocities. Bianco had 23 strikeouts in 68 at bats during the 2019 season and 10 strikeouts in 27 at bats during the 2020 season…he has got to cut down on those especially seeing that his bat is the quickest way to playing time. I will say that he’s one of the most competitive people in that locker room and still has something to prove so I’m hoping the work he’s put in with Eddie Smith surprises us.
Brody Drost an uber talented outfielder from Barbe HS is going to be a star. The roster numbers this season might cut down on his at bats but he’s a starter next year in my mind and could surprise me and do the same mid season if other positions open up. I hope I don’t get blasted for saying because their body types are completely different, his swing reminds me of Ryan Schimpf. Very balanced stance at the plate, loose hips, quick hands, squares up balls well. He’s an all around hitter who will get at bats during non conference play as LSU looks for another left handed hitter at the bottom of the lineup.
My take: The position has speed, power, veteran leaders, youth, options from both side of the plate. Dugas has hit all over the lineup during his career so he could end up anywhere and that may depend on how they want to spread out the left and right handed bats. Expect to see a combination of guys play here especially if Dugas or Drost need to shift to a corner outfield spot.
Gavin Dugas
Power------65
Hitting------50
Speed------70
Fielding----55
Arm---------55
POSITION ADDITIONS
Brody Drost
POSITION LOSSES
Saul Garza
POSITION OVERALL GRADE: 60
1) Gavin Dugas Jr. 5’10 204lbs (6)
2) Hayden Travinksi So. 6’3 218lbs (25)
3) Drew Bianco Jr. 6’0 203lbs (5)
4) Brody Drost Fr. 6’2 205lbs (10)
Designated hitter is always a tough position to predict but assuming the rest of the lineup stays intact I think Gavin Dugas will have a commanding lead to get a majority of the at bats here. You have Hayden Travinksi and Drew Bianco next who are both boom or bust power guys and then Brody Drost a super talented freshman who will actually slide higher on this depth chart over the long run because he’s a left handed bat.
Gavin Dugas played in 19 games in 2019 and 13 games in 2020 so here’s to hoping he plays in 70 this year. Gavin’s is one of the strongest players on the entire team, reminds me a bit of the Jordan’s at the plate in terms of stature. He hasn’t shown the ability to consistently hit for a high average but there’s a ton of pop in his bat, he lead LSU in HR’s and slugging % while only taking 28 official at bats a season ago. Gavin has been producing some rather nice exit velocities over the fall and thus far in spring. At the same time his approach needs to gap to gap which will be his bread and butter to stick in the lineup. He’s got plus plus speed and extremely aggressive on the base paths which would be an added bonus as DH’s don’t typical add speed.
Hayden Travinksi coming off a knee injury is supposedly 100% healthy. He’s a lower half of the lineup if he does play that will be a doubles and HR machine. Needs to bring the average up if he’s to play everyday.
Drew Bianco slides into the spot along with backing up OF. Drew much the same as Hayden has great lower body strength that translates to some powerful exit velocities. Bianco had 23 strikeouts in 68 at bats during the 2019 season and 10 strikeouts in 27 at bats during the 2020 season…he has got to cut down on those especially seeing that his bat is the quickest way to playing time. I will say that he’s one of the most competitive people in that locker room and still has something to prove so I’m hoping the work he’s put in with Eddie Smith surprises us.
Brody Drost an uber talented outfielder from Barbe HS is going to be a star. The roster numbers this season might cut down on his at bats but he’s a starter next year in my mind and could surprise me and do the same mid season if other positions open up. I hope I don’t get blasted for saying because their body types are completely different, his swing reminds me of Ryan Schimpf. Very balanced stance at the plate, loose hips, quick hands, squares up balls well. He’s an all around hitter who will get at bats during non conference play as LSU looks for another left handed hitter at the bottom of the lineup.
My take: The position has speed, power, veteran leaders, youth, options from both side of the plate. Dugas has hit all over the lineup during his career so he could end up anywhere and that may depend on how they want to spread out the left and right handed bats. Expect to see a combination of guys play here especially if Dugas or Drost need to shift to a corner outfield spot.
Gavin Dugas
Power------65
Hitting------50
Speed------70
Fielding----55
Arm---------55
POSITION ADDITIONS
Brody Drost
POSITION LOSSES
Saul Garza
POSITION OVERALL GRADE: 60
This post was edited on 2/7/21 at 7:46 am
Posted on 2/1/21 at 6:50 am to Adam4848
STARTING PITCHING
Starting pitching will be incredibly talented and is the reason I think that LSU has a chance to go far in Omaha if they get there. Jaden Hill, Landon Marceaux, and AJ Labas will be the starting rotation. There's no telling if Mainieri wants Hill or Marceaux to opening night. Freshmen arms such as Garrett Edwards and Blake Money will have the inside track to start midweek games where they'll be groomed into future starters.
Friday - Jaden Hill Jr. 6'4 234lbs (0) RHP
Jaden Hill heads into his junior season where it will almost assuredly be his last at LSU. A projected top 5 pick in mock drafts Hill posses an electric arm that Alan Dunn to will try and mature into a Friday night ace to compete against other quality arms in the ever so deep SEC. The key to stretching Hill into a starter will be building him up slowly. As Mainieri mentioned this is going to be a marathon and they will not under any circumstances prolong his outings early in the year no matter how good the game is going. Fastball is 94-98mph and has natural run on it. His change up coming out of high school was actually an out pitch and something he has refined. Slider has developed into a swing and miss pitch and devastated hitters at a high level in 2020. As a fourth pitch which wasn’t used too much but had great success was a cutter that he could drop in on 2 strike counts at 90 mph, he was able to throw this in what looked like would hit a right handed hitter and drop into the zone during the last 5-6 feet. With all this being said Hill has extremely limited appearances in two seasons (21.2 innings), maybe this will benefit LSU from other teams having such limited tape on him. The 0.028 batting average against him a year ago was incredible. Hill is an outstanding athlete and I know he can handle the endurance of throwing 6-7 innings a week. The potential here is off the charts and the hope is he is able to make a smooth transition from bullpen to starting pitching.
Jaden Hill
Arm Strength---------75
Movement-------------70
Stamina----------------60
Control-----------------65
Saturday - Landon Marceaux Jr. 6'0 179lbs (11) RHP
Landon Marecaux going to have great success on Saturday’s if they keep him in this slot. A strike throwing Marceaux is successful when he’s pounding the zone with the fastball at 89-93mph and changeup to get ahead of the count quickly. He's a smart pitcher that can work backwards and get a couple of foul balls to get ahead of the count. His slider has become a true out pitch that he can consistently repeat out of the same arm angle that drops off the table. Landon will be successful working fast and pounding the zone at the knees to induce ground balls and is a true workhorse who will eat innings and get to the bullpen. Marceaux is a guy who will be a draft risk if he has the stellar season I think he’s capable of and would be a #1 starter on a few SEC teams.
Landon Marceaux
Arm Strength---------65
Movement-------------70
Stamina----------------65
Control-----------------60
Sunday - AJ Labas RS-Jr. 6'3-223lbs (26) RHP
AJ Labas has been a very steady piece at the back end of the rotation. With his big frame AJ has control of three pitches at any time of the count and works like a finesse pitcher that can sneak in the fastball late in counts. Fastball normally sits 88-92mph with a plus change up he can use at any time and is my favorite pitch. Curve ball has continued to develop and he's starting to get swings and misses at this level. AJ is an extremely fast worker that has excellent control which is vital for a sunday starter when you may be trying to to save a tired bullpen.
AJ Labas
Arm Strength---------65
Movement-------------65
Stamina----------------60
Control-----------------70
Midweek - Garrett Edwards Fr. 6'5 195lbs (43) RHP
Garrett Edwards has been one of those freshmen that flew under the radar a bit but has continued to impress the coaches every single appearance he makes. Edwards does have a very long and lanky frame from which he's going to have the ability to add weight and in velocity over the next couple of years. Fastball sits 88-90mph and has late life to it. Curve ball is 11-5 and Edwards has control of this more times than not. Change up is good but will be better in time where he can mix it in on occasion. Right now the coaches are most likely going to start Garrett in a midweek here or there as they like to do with freshmen against in state talent to see how they do in multi innings.
Garrett Edwards
Arm Strength---------55
Movement-------------60
Stamina----------------60
Control-----------------65
Midweek - Blake Money Fr. 6'7 261lbs (44) RHP
Blake Money was a heavily recruited pitcher out of Tennessee who would have been a draft threat in normal years. Blake has a very physically imposing presence on the mound where he has a simple delivery and is able to hide the ball well out of this hand. Because of this his 90-93mph fastball is able to sneak up a bit on hitters when he has control of his changeup. Money is going to be a guy in 2 years that could become the Friday starter. Reminds me a bit of Anthony Ranaudo who came into LSU with two good pitches and developed a plus plus curve ball. Look for Blake to get a couple of midweek starts as well and depending on how well he's throwing could be called up for an inning or two on the weekends. With Money as long as he can control both sides of the plate he'll have success.
Blake Money
Arm Strength---------65
Movement-------------60
Stamina----------------65
Control-----------------55
My take: I'm really excited to see this group come together and this was the backbone of the #1 recruiting class in 2018. There's nothing really that needs tweaking per say other than bringing Jaden Hill along slowly the first 4 weekends. You know what you have in Marceaux and Labas, both are workhorses. Hill has the potential to duel with Kumar Rocker to be the top draft pick in 2021. The starting pitching is going to carry the load early on as the young lineup comes together but I like that every game LSU will have a chance and in theory be in close games. Edwards and Money are more than capable midweek starters who have enough talent to get through a couple innings as LSU has a deeper bullpen this season. You can win championships with elite pitching as young hitters tend to warm up as the season wears on. The key is to keep these arms healthy the entire season, lets all knock on wood.
POSITION ADDITIONS:
Garrett Edwards
Blake Money
POSITION LOSSES:
Cole Henry
OVERALL POSITION GRADE: 70
Starting pitching will be incredibly talented and is the reason I think that LSU has a chance to go far in Omaha if they get there. Jaden Hill, Landon Marceaux, and AJ Labas will be the starting rotation. There's no telling if Mainieri wants Hill or Marceaux to opening night. Freshmen arms such as Garrett Edwards and Blake Money will have the inside track to start midweek games where they'll be groomed into future starters.
Friday - Jaden Hill Jr. 6'4 234lbs (0) RHP
Jaden Hill heads into his junior season where it will almost assuredly be his last at LSU. A projected top 5 pick in mock drafts Hill posses an electric arm that Alan Dunn to will try and mature into a Friday night ace to compete against other quality arms in the ever so deep SEC. The key to stretching Hill into a starter will be building him up slowly. As Mainieri mentioned this is going to be a marathon and they will not under any circumstances prolong his outings early in the year no matter how good the game is going. Fastball is 94-98mph and has natural run on it. His change up coming out of high school was actually an out pitch and something he has refined. Slider has developed into a swing and miss pitch and devastated hitters at a high level in 2020. As a fourth pitch which wasn’t used too much but had great success was a cutter that he could drop in on 2 strike counts at 90 mph, he was able to throw this in what looked like would hit a right handed hitter and drop into the zone during the last 5-6 feet. With all this being said Hill has extremely limited appearances in two seasons (21.2 innings), maybe this will benefit LSU from other teams having such limited tape on him. The 0.028 batting average against him a year ago was incredible. Hill is an outstanding athlete and I know he can handle the endurance of throwing 6-7 innings a week. The potential here is off the charts and the hope is he is able to make a smooth transition from bullpen to starting pitching.
Jaden Hill
Arm Strength---------75
Movement-------------70
Stamina----------------60
Control-----------------65
Saturday - Landon Marceaux Jr. 6'0 179lbs (11) RHP
Landon Marecaux going to have great success on Saturday’s if they keep him in this slot. A strike throwing Marceaux is successful when he’s pounding the zone with the fastball at 89-93mph and changeup to get ahead of the count quickly. He's a smart pitcher that can work backwards and get a couple of foul balls to get ahead of the count. His slider has become a true out pitch that he can consistently repeat out of the same arm angle that drops off the table. Landon will be successful working fast and pounding the zone at the knees to induce ground balls and is a true workhorse who will eat innings and get to the bullpen. Marceaux is a guy who will be a draft risk if he has the stellar season I think he’s capable of and would be a #1 starter on a few SEC teams.
Landon Marceaux
Arm Strength---------65
Movement-------------70
Stamina----------------65
Control-----------------60
Sunday - AJ Labas RS-Jr. 6'3-223lbs (26) RHP
AJ Labas has been a very steady piece at the back end of the rotation. With his big frame AJ has control of three pitches at any time of the count and works like a finesse pitcher that can sneak in the fastball late in counts. Fastball normally sits 88-92mph with a plus change up he can use at any time and is my favorite pitch. Curve ball has continued to develop and he's starting to get swings and misses at this level. AJ is an extremely fast worker that has excellent control which is vital for a sunday starter when you may be trying to to save a tired bullpen.
AJ Labas
Arm Strength---------65
Movement-------------65
Stamina----------------60
Control-----------------70
Midweek - Garrett Edwards Fr. 6'5 195lbs (43) RHP
Garrett Edwards has been one of those freshmen that flew under the radar a bit but has continued to impress the coaches every single appearance he makes. Edwards does have a very long and lanky frame from which he's going to have the ability to add weight and in velocity over the next couple of years. Fastball sits 88-90mph and has late life to it. Curve ball is 11-5 and Edwards has control of this more times than not. Change up is good but will be better in time where he can mix it in on occasion. Right now the coaches are most likely going to start Garrett in a midweek here or there as they like to do with freshmen against in state talent to see how they do in multi innings.
Garrett Edwards
Arm Strength---------55
Movement-------------60
Stamina----------------60
Control-----------------65
Midweek - Blake Money Fr. 6'7 261lbs (44) RHP
Blake Money was a heavily recruited pitcher out of Tennessee who would have been a draft threat in normal years. Blake has a very physically imposing presence on the mound where he has a simple delivery and is able to hide the ball well out of this hand. Because of this his 90-93mph fastball is able to sneak up a bit on hitters when he has control of his changeup. Money is going to be a guy in 2 years that could become the Friday starter. Reminds me a bit of Anthony Ranaudo who came into LSU with two good pitches and developed a plus plus curve ball. Look for Blake to get a couple of midweek starts as well and depending on how well he's throwing could be called up for an inning or two on the weekends. With Money as long as he can control both sides of the plate he'll have success.
Blake Money
Arm Strength---------65
Movement-------------60
Stamina----------------65
Control-----------------55
My take: I'm really excited to see this group come together and this was the backbone of the #1 recruiting class in 2018. There's nothing really that needs tweaking per say other than bringing Jaden Hill along slowly the first 4 weekends. You know what you have in Marceaux and Labas, both are workhorses. Hill has the potential to duel with Kumar Rocker to be the top draft pick in 2021. The starting pitching is going to carry the load early on as the young lineup comes together but I like that every game LSU will have a chance and in theory be in close games. Edwards and Money are more than capable midweek starters who have enough talent to get through a couple innings as LSU has a deeper bullpen this season. You can win championships with elite pitching as young hitters tend to warm up as the season wears on. The key is to keep these arms healthy the entire season, lets all knock on wood.
POSITION ADDITIONS:
Garrett Edwards
Blake Money
POSITION LOSSES:
Cole Henry
OVERALL POSITION GRADE: 70
This post was edited on 2/8/21 at 3:25 pm
Posted on 2/1/21 at 6:50 am to Adam4848
RELIEF PITCHING
Another very deep position for the Tigers as LSU was able to hold onto some seniors who served big time roles in the bullpen as well as their top closer...coupled with a very deep freshmen class. The top guys who I'll preview and will have the biggest roles will be Matthew Beck, Jacob Hasty, Ty Floyd, and Devin Fontenot.
Matthew Beck GR-Sr. 6'7 263lbs (8) RHP
Matthew Beck it feels like has been at LSU for 10 years, the lone remaining player from the 2017 team. Beck has primarily been a one inning specialist to stop damage late in ball games. He's got average power on his fastball where he has a devastating curve ball that has turned into a true plus pitch. You know what you get with Beck, he's not going to overpower anyone he's a guy who's seen it all and is battle tested. Will be an important piece to come out of the bullpen typically to relieve a starter in danger.
Matthew Beck
Arm Strength---------50
Movement-------------70
Stamina----------------40
Control-----------------45
Jacob Hasty So. 6'2 219lbs (47) LHP
Jacob Hasty is a very interesting piece to this puzzle. A stocky lefty with average to above average power he posses one of the best curve balls on the team that he make a hitter look absolutely foolish. This year I think he's a multi inning guy who could see 1-2 appearances on weekends where they try and stretch his arm out. He's a totally different arm angle than LSU's starters so at worst he's good to go one time through the order, must control the walks or he's going to be in and out with a quickness.
Jacob Hasty
Arm Strength---------55
Movement-------------70
Stamina----------------55
Control-----------------40
Ty Floyd Fr. 6'2 194lbs (9) RHP
Ty Floyd is the arm I'm most excited about in this freshmen class. A top 50 high school prospect overall and another arm that wouldn't normally make it to campus. Floyd has above average arm strength and a deceptive delivery that hides the ball well, balls get to hitters faster than they expect. A good curve ball now that he can get over with a changeup he's been working on since last fall. I see him as a setup guy this year for Devin Fontenot where he'll either turn into the main closer or become a weekend starter in 2021. Huge upside here.
Ty Floyd
Arm Strength---------60
Movement-------------65
Stamina----------------60
Control-----------------60
Devin Fontenot Sr. 6'1 181lbs (28) RHP
Devin Fontenot is a dawg at the back of the bullpen. If you get to him you feel ok, I was glad to see him come back because he wanted to and to be honest Devin is that type of arm that can put a team over the top in Omaha. Strike thrower with a hard fastball who attacks hitters with mostly fastball and slider out of his 3/4 arm release. Has the arm strength to run balls up in the zone and blow it by people. Will be LSU's closer until something changes.
Trent Vietmeier Sr. 6'3 207lbs (30) RHP
Trent is one of the team leaders and highly competitive. Fastball is average to slightly below average but he does a nice job of mixing and matching his changeup and attacking hitters. As long as he can stay away from giving up the big hit he's going to be a 1-2 batter a type guy in the sixth or seventh inning.
Ma'Khail Hillard Sr. 6'0 150lbs (52) RHP
Ma'Khail has had incredible highs and lows during his career but he's still a very nice piece to have in the bullpen where he doesn't need to go through the order multiple times. He's been slowed down by some injuries and you almost wonder if his small frame is catching up to him in terms of fatigue...still the curve ball is a true plus plus pitch and is a guy that can go 1-2 innings as long as his curve ball is getting over for a strike...if it's not get him out for the next appearance.
Another very deep position for the Tigers as LSU was able to hold onto some seniors who served big time roles in the bullpen as well as their top closer...coupled with a very deep freshmen class. The top guys who I'll preview and will have the biggest roles will be Matthew Beck, Jacob Hasty, Ty Floyd, and Devin Fontenot.
Matthew Beck GR-Sr. 6'7 263lbs (8) RHP
Matthew Beck it feels like has been at LSU for 10 years, the lone remaining player from the 2017 team. Beck has primarily been a one inning specialist to stop damage late in ball games. He's got average power on his fastball where he has a devastating curve ball that has turned into a true plus pitch. You know what you get with Beck, he's not going to overpower anyone he's a guy who's seen it all and is battle tested. Will be an important piece to come out of the bullpen typically to relieve a starter in danger.
Matthew Beck
Arm Strength---------50
Movement-------------70
Stamina----------------40
Control-----------------45
Jacob Hasty So. 6'2 219lbs (47) LHP
Jacob Hasty is a very interesting piece to this puzzle. A stocky lefty with average to above average power he posses one of the best curve balls on the team that he make a hitter look absolutely foolish. This year I think he's a multi inning guy who could see 1-2 appearances on weekends where they try and stretch his arm out. He's a totally different arm angle than LSU's starters so at worst he's good to go one time through the order, must control the walks or he's going to be in and out with a quickness.
Jacob Hasty
Arm Strength---------55
Movement-------------70
Stamina----------------55
Control-----------------40
Ty Floyd Fr. 6'2 194lbs (9) RHP
Ty Floyd is the arm I'm most excited about in this freshmen class. A top 50 high school prospect overall and another arm that wouldn't normally make it to campus. Floyd has above average arm strength and a deceptive delivery that hides the ball well, balls get to hitters faster than they expect. A good curve ball now that he can get over with a changeup he's been working on since last fall. I see him as a setup guy this year for Devin Fontenot where he'll either turn into the main closer or become a weekend starter in 2021. Huge upside here.
Ty Floyd
Arm Strength---------60
Movement-------------65
Stamina----------------60
Control-----------------60
Devin Fontenot Sr. 6'1 181lbs (28) RHP
Devin Fontenot is a dawg at the back of the bullpen. If you get to him you feel ok, I was glad to see him come back because he wanted to and to be honest Devin is that type of arm that can put a team over the top in Omaha. Strike thrower with a hard fastball who attacks hitters with mostly fastball and slider out of his 3/4 arm release. Has the arm strength to run balls up in the zone and blow it by people. Will be LSU's closer until something changes.
Trent Vietmeier Sr. 6'3 207lbs (30) RHP
Trent is one of the team leaders and highly competitive. Fastball is average to slightly below average but he does a nice job of mixing and matching his changeup and attacking hitters. As long as he can stay away from giving up the big hit he's going to be a 1-2 batter a type guy in the sixth or seventh inning.
Ma'Khail Hillard Sr. 6'0 150lbs (52) RHP
Ma'Khail has had incredible highs and lows during his career but he's still a very nice piece to have in the bullpen where he doesn't need to go through the order multiple times. He's been slowed down by some injuries and you almost wonder if his small frame is catching up to him in terms of fatigue...still the curve ball is a true plus plus pitch and is a guy that can go 1-2 innings as long as his curve ball is getting over for a strike...if it's not get him out for the next appearance.
This post was edited on 2/9/21 at 8:03 am
Posted on 2/1/21 at 6:50 am to Adam4848
Javen Coleman Fr. 6'2 173lbs (49) LHP
I'm extremely excited to see Javen in another year or two where I think he can work himself into a starter role. Has three pitches he can get over right now and because of this I think he might see a weekday start here or there to see what they have in him. The fastball from the left side of the plate can sneak up on hitters, he's someone that works quick and pounds the zone as well.
Aaron George GR-Sr. 6'5 226lbs (32) RHP
George is another big bodied arm for LSU with veteran experience. I see him in a similar role as Beck where he comes in during a jam because he can get swings and misses with his slider. Won't normally go more than 1-2 innings unless it's needed.
Brandon Kaminer Sr. 6'2 205lbs (37) LHP
A veteran lefty it's almost a given that Kaminer is going to be used in situational pieces if Hasty is not available. At the same time Brandon has been groomed to work multiple innings and could become a long inning reliever. He's too premium of an arm to keep in the midweek as long as the freshmen are handling things there.
Theo Millas Fr. 6'4 201lbs (29) RHP
Millas was a heavily recruited pitcher from Canada who has a ton of room to fill out and get stronger. Smooth delivery with fastball that runs down on hitters, will need to continue to develop his off speed pitches before he works into a weekend role.
Will Hellmers Fr. 6'4 203lbs (48) RHP
This kid has been impressive he's hitting and pitching at a high level for his maturity. In the limited time split on the mound he's not walking many people and challenging hitters with a bit of success. Fastball is average to slightly above where his curve ball will get outs. I could see him having a prominent role during mid week action and getting called up per say when the time comes.
Alex Brady So. 5'9 212lbs (46) LHP
Brady is a JUCO lefty who they brought in to give another option in relief. Alex is going to be someone I think needs to prove himself in the midweek. As long as he has his control he'll see platying time early on.
Michael Fowler Fr. 6'3 185lbs (33) RHP
I'm very excited to see what Fowler can do in a couple of years. Has above arm strength with a very hard and nasty slider. He's competing with a number of other freshmen arms this year but he has the chance to become a long term pitcher in this program.
Zachary Murray Fr. 6'0 173lbs (38) RHP
Murray for his body type has a bit more life and strength on his fastball right now than the other freshmen and because of this I could see him getting more changes in the bullepn. Has played some great competition in his youth so he's one of those arms that may be "more ready" in heat of the moment per say. Will be an electric arm as a reliever in a couple of seasons.
Brooks Rice Fr. 6'3 197lbs (41) RHP
Comparable to Fowler in alot of ways. Great frame that will fill out and get stronger, as long as he can refine his mechanics and consistently throw strikes he'll be a nice arm at the back end of the bullpen.
My take: Bullpen was able to hang on to a couple of guys at the top I thought were surely go pro much like some other teams in the SEC. The competition is going to be incredible this season but you can only control what you can control per say. Having Ty Floyd in this bullpen along with Devin Fontenot gives me goosebumps. There are finally two solid lefties that you feel you can count on along with veteran leadership. The freshmen class is deep and 1-2 will almost always hit. I really like this group.
POSITION ADDITIONS:
POSITION LOSSES:
OVERALL POSITION GRADE: 70
I'm extremely excited to see Javen in another year or two where I think he can work himself into a starter role. Has three pitches he can get over right now and because of this I think he might see a weekday start here or there to see what they have in him. The fastball from the left side of the plate can sneak up on hitters, he's someone that works quick and pounds the zone as well.
Aaron George GR-Sr. 6'5 226lbs (32) RHP
George is another big bodied arm for LSU with veteran experience. I see him in a similar role as Beck where he comes in during a jam because he can get swings and misses with his slider. Won't normally go more than 1-2 innings unless it's needed.
Brandon Kaminer Sr. 6'2 205lbs (37) LHP
A veteran lefty it's almost a given that Kaminer is going to be used in situational pieces if Hasty is not available. At the same time Brandon has been groomed to work multiple innings and could become a long inning reliever. He's too premium of an arm to keep in the midweek as long as the freshmen are handling things there.
Theo Millas Fr. 6'4 201lbs (29) RHP
Millas was a heavily recruited pitcher from Canada who has a ton of room to fill out and get stronger. Smooth delivery with fastball that runs down on hitters, will need to continue to develop his off speed pitches before he works into a weekend role.
Will Hellmers Fr. 6'4 203lbs (48) RHP
This kid has been impressive he's hitting and pitching at a high level for his maturity. In the limited time split on the mound he's not walking many people and challenging hitters with a bit of success. Fastball is average to slightly above where his curve ball will get outs. I could see him having a prominent role during mid week action and getting called up per say when the time comes.
Alex Brady So. 5'9 212lbs (46) LHP
Brady is a JUCO lefty who they brought in to give another option in relief. Alex is going to be someone I think needs to prove himself in the midweek. As long as he has his control he'll see platying time early on.
Michael Fowler Fr. 6'3 185lbs (33) RHP
I'm very excited to see what Fowler can do in a couple of years. Has above arm strength with a very hard and nasty slider. He's competing with a number of other freshmen arms this year but he has the chance to become a long term pitcher in this program.
Zachary Murray Fr. 6'0 173lbs (38) RHP
Murray for his body type has a bit more life and strength on his fastball right now than the other freshmen and because of this I could see him getting more changes in the bullepn. Has played some great competition in his youth so he's one of those arms that may be "more ready" in heat of the moment per say. Will be an electric arm as a reliever in a couple of seasons.
Brooks Rice Fr. 6'3 197lbs (41) RHP
Comparable to Fowler in alot of ways. Great frame that will fill out and get stronger, as long as he can refine his mechanics and consistently throw strikes he'll be a nice arm at the back end of the bullpen.
My take: Bullpen was able to hang on to a couple of guys at the top I thought were surely go pro much like some other teams in the SEC. The competition is going to be incredible this season but you can only control what you can control per say. Having Ty Floyd in this bullpen along with Devin Fontenot gives me goosebumps. There are finally two solid lefties that you feel you can count on along with veteran leadership. The freshmen class is deep and 1-2 will almost always hit. I really like this group.
POSITION ADDITIONS:
POSITION LOSSES:
OVERALL POSITION GRADE: 70
This post was edited on 2/9/21 at 8:36 am
Posted on 2/1/21 at 6:50 am to Adam4848
PRO PROSPECTS
2021 MLB DRAFT
1. Jaden Hill RHP (Jr.)
2. Devin Fontenot RHP (Sr.)
3. Landon Marceaux RHP (Jr.)
4. AJ Labas RHP (RS-Jr.)
5. Giovanni DiGiacomo CF (Jr.)
6. Alex Milazzo C (So.)
7. Brandon Kaminer LHP (Sr.)
8. Matthew Beck RHP (Gr-Sr.)
9. Cade Beloso DH (Jr.)
10. Aaron George RHP (Gr-Sr.)
2022 MLB DRAFT
1. Maurice Hampton LF (So.)
2. Cade Doughty 2B (So.)
3. Hayden Travinksi DH (So.)
4. Jacob Hasty LHP (So.)
5. Zach Arnold 3B (So.)
2023 MLB DRAFT
1. Dylan Crews RF (Fr.)
2. Ty Floyd RHP (Fr.)
3. Jordan Thompson SS (Fr.)
4. Tre Morgan 1B (Fr.)
5. Brody Drost RF (Fr.)
2021 MLB DRAFT
1. Jaden Hill RHP (Jr.)
2. Devin Fontenot RHP (Sr.)
3. Landon Marceaux RHP (Jr.)
4. AJ Labas RHP (RS-Jr.)
5. Giovanni DiGiacomo CF (Jr.)
6. Alex Milazzo C (So.)
7. Brandon Kaminer LHP (Sr.)
8. Matthew Beck RHP (Gr-Sr.)
9. Cade Beloso DH (Jr.)
10. Aaron George RHP (Gr-Sr.)
2022 MLB DRAFT
1. Maurice Hampton LF (So.)
2. Cade Doughty 2B (So.)
3. Hayden Travinksi DH (So.)
4. Jacob Hasty LHP (So.)
5. Zach Arnold 3B (So.)
2023 MLB DRAFT
1. Dylan Crews RF (Fr.)
2. Ty Floyd RHP (Fr.)
3. Jordan Thompson SS (Fr.)
4. Tre Morgan 1B (Fr.)
5. Brody Drost RF (Fr.)
This post was edited on 2/10/21 at 12:41 pm
Posted on 2/1/21 at 6:51 am to Adam4848
SEC PREDICTIONS
SEC EAST:
Florida 21-9
Vanderbilt 19-11
Tennessee 16-14
South Carolina 15-15
Georgia 13-17
Missouri 11-19
Kentucky 7-23
SEC WEST
Ole Miss 20-10
Mississippi St. 18-12
LSU 17-13
Arkansas 17-13
Auburn 15-15
Alabama 13-17
Texas A&M 12-18
SEC Regular Season Champion - Florida
SEC Tournament Champion - Mississippi St.
SEC EAST:
Florida 21-9
Vanderbilt 19-11
Tennessee 16-14
South Carolina 15-15
Georgia 13-17
Missouri 11-19
Kentucky 7-23
SEC WEST
Ole Miss 20-10
Mississippi St. 18-12
LSU 17-13
Arkansas 17-13
Auburn 15-15
Alabama 13-17
Texas A&M 12-18
SEC Regular Season Champion - Florida
SEC Tournament Champion - Mississippi St.
This post was edited on 2/10/21 at 7:51 am
Posted on 2/1/21 at 6:51 am to Adam4848
I’m just here for the melt about the 20-80 scale
Posted on 2/1/21 at 6:52 am to MOT
quote:
I’m just here for the melt about the 20-80 scale
Grab a seat
Posted on 2/1/21 at 6:58 am to Adam4848
What time you gonna drop the catcher evaluation?
Posted on 2/1/21 at 7:02 am to Adam4848
quote:
20 Bottom of the Scale (Think Matt Gaudet, LSU - 2010 “speed”)
Matt didn’t deserve that.
Posted on 2/1/21 at 7:03 am to Adam4848
14
Posted on 2/1/21 at 7:12 am to Adam4848
YEEESSS
this is the best thread by a long shot
this is the best thread by a long shot
Posted on 2/1/21 at 7:14 am to lsu711
quote:
Matt didn’t deserve that.
I kind of made it as a running joke but I haven't figured out another player to change it to
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