- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
re: Baseball Preview 2023 Edition (Feb 10th - Pro Prospects & SEC Standings)
Posted on 2/1/23 at 5:45 am to Adam4848
Posted on 2/1/23 at 5:45 am to Adam4848
FIRST BASE
Tre Morgan Jr. 6’1 191lbs (18) Bats-L Throws-L
Cade Beloso RS-Sr. 6’0 216lbs (24) Bats-L Throws-L
Tommy White So. 6’0 242lbs (47) Bats-R Throws-R
Ethan Frey Fr. 6’5 215lbs (33) Bats-R Throws-R
Every offseason we speculate if and Trey will shift to the outfield. With the embarrasment of riches LSU appears to have in the outfield Occam's razor theory would tell us to take the simple approach here. Trey Morgan will return at 1B where he’s became an ALL-SEC defender as a true freshman that has continued to blossom into a premier bat at the collegiate level. Cade Beloso who returns for his fifth season is as proven as a backup as you can get in the SEC. Tommy White is one of those candidates that would fit in at 1B if for some reason he can’t handle 3B. As always this spot can and will have a number of players rotate in when Tre is not on the field. A guy such as Ethan Frey to me fits in here with his extremely large frame and ability to move well laterally.
Tre Morgan will be the most overshadowed player on this entire team…any other year he’s one of the first off the bus and first player commentators mention…this year at times will be an afterthought. At the next level some feel Tre will be limited to a corner outfield spot but for now he’s done everything he needs to do to show scouts he can handle first base moving forward. His glove is a plus plus tool, fast twitch instincts, great range, soft hands, helps clean up messes made by the middle infield time and time again. He would probably be a 2B or SS for LSU right now if he wasn't left handed. Morgan at the plate is very selective/patient which makes for a perfect leadoff type bat if they go that route. Bat control is very advanced and has the ability to go to all fields. Power didn’t show in numbers like I thought a year ago but the knee injury didn’t do him any favors and I expect a resurgence where he could get to 10-12 HR's this season. I expect Tre to be in either the 1 or 2 hole for a majority of the season and he’ll push to lead the team in doubles. The knee is finally 100% which is a welcoming sign as it limited any kind of threat on the base baths after that Miss St series. At the same time I look at the guys behind him in the order and there won’t be a need to be ultra aggressive on the base paths. Right now Tre is a 1C-2 round pick in the 2023 MLB draft depending on the mock draft you’re looking at and with a year comparable to his first two then he won’t need to wait long to hear his name on day 2 given the options he'll give a team at the next level.
Cade Beloso had some terrible luck a season ago…injuring himself in the group huddle before the first game of the year in 2022. I was shocked to see him back and to be honest was pleasantly surprised because he’s going to be a much needed left handed bat in the lineup or in a pinch hit role late in games. Defensively Cade can slide into first base where he was stationed for all of 2019 and 2020 before DHing in 2021 with Tre’s arrival. Cade for all intents and purposes is a three year letterman in the SEC who could have transferred to another school and started right away. At the very least he will push for a starting role to DH this year.
Tommy White who I’ll highlight on at another position is an ideal fit here if there is major shuffling of the infield.
Ethan Frey who is primarily a catcher is going to get caught up in a numbers game and I see a quicker route to playing time either here or DH. Has the perfect frame to fill out and become a middle of the lineup type bat if he sticks around in the program. Ethan's power is his best tool and will only continue to improve as he matures.
My take: Tre Morgan is one of the top first basemen in all of college baseball depending on which publication you’re searching. Morgan presents as another five tool player at the collegiate level and having him at first is more so a luxury than a necessity. A healthy Cade Beloso backing up is extremely rare in this day in age and there wouldn’t be much of a drop off production wise even with his subpar 2021 season. In the lineup Morgan should continue to hit around 1 or 2 with his left handed bat, ability to work counts, plate discipline, and the distraction he brings to pitchers on the base paths. The position has one of the top players at his position with a veteran backup, oh and if that’s not enough Tommy White could also slide here if needed.
Tre Morgan
Power------65
Hitting------70
Speed------65
Fielding----75
Arm---------60
POSITION ADDITIONS:
Ethan Frey
POSITION LOSSES:
Luke Leto
POSITION OVERALL GRADE: 75
Tre Morgan Jr. 6’1 191lbs (18) Bats-L Throws-L
Cade Beloso RS-Sr. 6’0 216lbs (24) Bats-L Throws-L
Tommy White So. 6’0 242lbs (47) Bats-R Throws-R
Ethan Frey Fr. 6’5 215lbs (33) Bats-R Throws-R
Every offseason we speculate if and Trey will shift to the outfield. With the embarrasment of riches LSU appears to have in the outfield Occam's razor theory would tell us to take the simple approach here. Trey Morgan will return at 1B where he’s became an ALL-SEC defender as a true freshman that has continued to blossom into a premier bat at the collegiate level. Cade Beloso who returns for his fifth season is as proven as a backup as you can get in the SEC. Tommy White is one of those candidates that would fit in at 1B if for some reason he can’t handle 3B. As always this spot can and will have a number of players rotate in when Tre is not on the field. A guy such as Ethan Frey to me fits in here with his extremely large frame and ability to move well laterally.
Tre Morgan will be the most overshadowed player on this entire team…any other year he’s one of the first off the bus and first player commentators mention…this year at times will be an afterthought. At the next level some feel Tre will be limited to a corner outfield spot but for now he’s done everything he needs to do to show scouts he can handle first base moving forward. His glove is a plus plus tool, fast twitch instincts, great range, soft hands, helps clean up messes made by the middle infield time and time again. He would probably be a 2B or SS for LSU right now if he wasn't left handed. Morgan at the plate is very selective/patient which makes for a perfect leadoff type bat if they go that route. Bat control is very advanced and has the ability to go to all fields. Power didn’t show in numbers like I thought a year ago but the knee injury didn’t do him any favors and I expect a resurgence where he could get to 10-12 HR's this season. I expect Tre to be in either the 1 or 2 hole for a majority of the season and he’ll push to lead the team in doubles. The knee is finally 100% which is a welcoming sign as it limited any kind of threat on the base baths after that Miss St series. At the same time I look at the guys behind him in the order and there won’t be a need to be ultra aggressive on the base paths. Right now Tre is a 1C-2 round pick in the 2023 MLB draft depending on the mock draft you’re looking at and with a year comparable to his first two then he won’t need to wait long to hear his name on day 2 given the options he'll give a team at the next level.
Cade Beloso had some terrible luck a season ago…injuring himself in the group huddle before the first game of the year in 2022. I was shocked to see him back and to be honest was pleasantly surprised because he’s going to be a much needed left handed bat in the lineup or in a pinch hit role late in games. Defensively Cade can slide into first base where he was stationed for all of 2019 and 2020 before DHing in 2021 with Tre’s arrival. Cade for all intents and purposes is a three year letterman in the SEC who could have transferred to another school and started right away. At the very least he will push for a starting role to DH this year.
Tommy White who I’ll highlight on at another position is an ideal fit here if there is major shuffling of the infield.
Ethan Frey who is primarily a catcher is going to get caught up in a numbers game and I see a quicker route to playing time either here or DH. Has the perfect frame to fill out and become a middle of the lineup type bat if he sticks around in the program. Ethan's power is his best tool and will only continue to improve as he matures.
My take: Tre Morgan is one of the top first basemen in all of college baseball depending on which publication you’re searching. Morgan presents as another five tool player at the collegiate level and having him at first is more so a luxury than a necessity. A healthy Cade Beloso backing up is extremely rare in this day in age and there wouldn’t be much of a drop off production wise even with his subpar 2021 season. In the lineup Morgan should continue to hit around 1 or 2 with his left handed bat, ability to work counts, plate discipline, and the distraction he brings to pitchers on the base paths. The position has one of the top players at his position with a veteran backup, oh and if that’s not enough Tommy White could also slide here if needed.
Tre Morgan
Power------65
Hitting------70
Speed------65
Fielding----75
Arm---------60
POSITION ADDITIONS:
Ethan Frey
POSITION LOSSES:
Luke Leto
POSITION OVERALL GRADE: 75
This post was edited on 2/2/23 at 8:07 am
5
Posted on 2/1/23 at 5:45 am to Adam4848
SECOND BASE
Jack Merrifield Sr. 6’2 189lbs (53) Bats-R Throws-R
Gavin Guidry Fr. 6’2 182lbs (1) Bats-R Throws-R
Ben Nippolt Jr. 5’11 175lbs (5) Bats-L Throws-R
Gavin Dugas Gr Sr. 5’10 204lbs (8) Bats-R Throws-R
Besides DH this position is still a complete unknown that will continue to go back and forth leading up the week before opening night. You could pick any of these three right now because they'll rotate before the conference schedule. Jack Merrifield and Ben Nippolt have both played themselves into starting roles. Gavin Guidry has started to show a little more consistency at the plate as they try and fast track him to take over this position full time by the middle of the season. Gavin Dugas has had some tough luck with an eye problem as mentioned by Johnson last week…I’m listing him here but it remains to be seen how quickly he can get back.
Jack Merrifield came into LSU a season ago with somewhat high expectations in the thought he could shore up a relatively weak infield and provide some sort of stability. He was a guy that disappointed me a year ago, I thought he played extremely stiff in the field and wasn’t patient at the plate when he did get his chances in early 2022. Both the glove and bat were liabilities at the same time. Something is clicking right now, I don’t know if he feels less pressure with the influx of talent around him but his plate appearances continue to be more productive...he's not reaching like he used. He's squaring balls up the middle with effectiveness throughout the fall and early spring practice. After having taken reps at both 3B and SS during his time at LSU it’s obvious he can handle second base if they go this direction. Arm is above average, not the most athletic infielder yet has a has a lofty frame, is showing the ability to make the routine plays. I keep going back to this but something seems to be clicking right now…he’s making contact, staying patient, his strikeout percentages are way down, and he’s shown the ability to drive the ball into the gaps which was nonexistent in the at bats he received in 2022. Jack is never going to be a huge power threat at this level. Speed is average.
Gavin Guidry the uber talented two way player out of Barbe is being groomed into the future SS at LSU. I have him second on the depth chart right now simply because I question how quickly he gets adjusted to SEC pitching and I cant project him as the full time starter until we see it. His two best tools right now are his speed and electric arm as a former infielder/pitcher. Moves extremely well laterally and can make any throw look routine. If you were to tell me he could start opening night and hit 0.275 I think Johnson would take that chance and plug him in now and be done with it. At the same time I question how slow/quickly the coaching staff is trying to bring him along. Speed is a plus plus tool where he can fly down the line. Guidry still has a wiry frame and will fill out a ton over the next year and show more power. I’d like to see Gavin put the ball in play with more consistency where he can use his legs.
Ben Nippolt is my darkhorse to win the second base job. Originally at Des Moines Area CC he transferred over to VCU in 2022 where he stuck mainly at 3B on his way to becoming a first team ALL A-10 player. Nippolt was option C in the Carter Young and Jack Pineda sweepstakes but will be a nice veteran piece to this infield. Nippolt has wowed me on a couple of plays this spring, not a high ceiling type guy either but can move really well for a middle infielder. Arm is more than adequate for second base. Another singles type hitter from the left side who will need to hit at least 0.280 in my opinion if he’s to stick because he won't show any power and his base stealing threat isn't off the charts.
I don’t know where to put Gavin Dugas anymore? 2B? LF? He’s been sidelined for so long intermittently that he’s starting to fall behind others simply because he cannot get reps. His power is certainly a tool you try and do anything to get into the lineup but at this point I’m worried at how well he’s able to see the ball. This one’s a wait and see…
My take: It's not a weak position weak however it’s one of the few question marks on this team so I grade it as average at best. LSU had the recruiting class in the nation, the best transfer portal, but losing out on Young and Pineda was the biggest blemish last summer. Right now you have two veterans who I would call slightly above average defenders who give you options from both sides of the plate, below average power, and should hover around a 0.275 clip. Johnson a year ago labeled Gavin Guidry as the most important recruit of the class…he’s a draft eligible sophomore so maybe there will be some sense of urgency to use him as soon as he can. Still I’m going conservative and assuming Jack Merrifield continues to hit in spring practice he’s paid his dues and deserves a shot to start opening night. If Jack is the starter he’ll end up in either the 8 or the 9 hole depending on who’s catching.
Jack Merrifield
Power------40
Hitting------45
Speed------50
Fielding----55
Arm---------55
POSITION ADDITIONS:
Ben Nippolt
Gavin Guidry
POSITION LOSSES:
Cade Doughty
POSITION OVERALL GRADE: 50
Jack Merrifield Sr. 6’2 189lbs (53) Bats-R Throws-R
Gavin Guidry Fr. 6’2 182lbs (1) Bats-R Throws-R
Ben Nippolt Jr. 5’11 175lbs (5) Bats-L Throws-R
Gavin Dugas Gr Sr. 5’10 204lbs (8) Bats-R Throws-R
Besides DH this position is still a complete unknown that will continue to go back and forth leading up the week before opening night. You could pick any of these three right now because they'll rotate before the conference schedule. Jack Merrifield and Ben Nippolt have both played themselves into starting roles. Gavin Guidry has started to show a little more consistency at the plate as they try and fast track him to take over this position full time by the middle of the season. Gavin Dugas has had some tough luck with an eye problem as mentioned by Johnson last week…I’m listing him here but it remains to be seen how quickly he can get back.
Jack Merrifield came into LSU a season ago with somewhat high expectations in the thought he could shore up a relatively weak infield and provide some sort of stability. He was a guy that disappointed me a year ago, I thought he played extremely stiff in the field and wasn’t patient at the plate when he did get his chances in early 2022. Both the glove and bat were liabilities at the same time. Something is clicking right now, I don’t know if he feels less pressure with the influx of talent around him but his plate appearances continue to be more productive...he's not reaching like he used. He's squaring balls up the middle with effectiveness throughout the fall and early spring practice. After having taken reps at both 3B and SS during his time at LSU it’s obvious he can handle second base if they go this direction. Arm is above average, not the most athletic infielder yet has a has a lofty frame, is showing the ability to make the routine plays. I keep going back to this but something seems to be clicking right now…he’s making contact, staying patient, his strikeout percentages are way down, and he’s shown the ability to drive the ball into the gaps which was nonexistent in the at bats he received in 2022. Jack is never going to be a huge power threat at this level. Speed is average.
Gavin Guidry the uber talented two way player out of Barbe is being groomed into the future SS at LSU. I have him second on the depth chart right now simply because I question how quickly he gets adjusted to SEC pitching and I cant project him as the full time starter until we see it. His two best tools right now are his speed and electric arm as a former infielder/pitcher. Moves extremely well laterally and can make any throw look routine. If you were to tell me he could start opening night and hit 0.275 I think Johnson would take that chance and plug him in now and be done with it. At the same time I question how slow/quickly the coaching staff is trying to bring him along. Speed is a plus plus tool where he can fly down the line. Guidry still has a wiry frame and will fill out a ton over the next year and show more power. I’d like to see Gavin put the ball in play with more consistency where he can use his legs.
Ben Nippolt is my darkhorse to win the second base job. Originally at Des Moines Area CC he transferred over to VCU in 2022 where he stuck mainly at 3B on his way to becoming a first team ALL A-10 player. Nippolt was option C in the Carter Young and Jack Pineda sweepstakes but will be a nice veteran piece to this infield. Nippolt has wowed me on a couple of plays this spring, not a high ceiling type guy either but can move really well for a middle infielder. Arm is more than adequate for second base. Another singles type hitter from the left side who will need to hit at least 0.280 in my opinion if he’s to stick because he won't show any power and his base stealing threat isn't off the charts.
I don’t know where to put Gavin Dugas anymore? 2B? LF? He’s been sidelined for so long intermittently that he’s starting to fall behind others simply because he cannot get reps. His power is certainly a tool you try and do anything to get into the lineup but at this point I’m worried at how well he’s able to see the ball. This one’s a wait and see…
My take: It's not a weak position weak however it’s one of the few question marks on this team so I grade it as average at best. LSU had the recruiting class in the nation, the best transfer portal, but losing out on Young and Pineda was the biggest blemish last summer. Right now you have two veterans who I would call slightly above average defenders who give you options from both sides of the plate, below average power, and should hover around a 0.275 clip. Johnson a year ago labeled Gavin Guidry as the most important recruit of the class…he’s a draft eligible sophomore so maybe there will be some sense of urgency to use him as soon as he can. Still I’m going conservative and assuming Jack Merrifield continues to hit in spring practice he’s paid his dues and deserves a shot to start opening night. If Jack is the starter he’ll end up in either the 8 or the 9 hole depending on who’s catching.
Jack Merrifield
Power------40
Hitting------45
Speed------50
Fielding----55
Arm---------55
POSITION ADDITIONS:
Ben Nippolt
Gavin Guidry
POSITION LOSSES:
Cade Doughty
POSITION OVERALL GRADE: 50
This post was edited on 2/3/23 at 8:39 am
Posted on 2/2/23 at 8:44 am to Adam4848
quote:
POSITION LOSSES:
Luke Leto
Posted on 2/2/23 at 9:18 am to Adam4848
quote:
Fielding----75
Just wondering what would constitute an 80 here... do you have a college player that had an 80. Honest question.
Assuming Stevenson was 70-80 range when he roamed CF
Posted on 2/2/23 at 11:52 am to Adam4848
My guess is that Tre plays OF in a few pre-conference and/or mid week games for half the game or so. If Jay likes the look and other things need to be worked out, he may tinker with it on the weekends. I just want a healthy Tre for the full season.
ETA: If Thompson struggles, we may want to take a look at Tre at SS.
ETA: If Thompson struggles, we may want to take a look at Tre at SS.
This post was edited on 2/2/23 at 11:54 am
Posted on 2/2/23 at 12:38 pm to Adam4848
quote:
Adam4848
Adam, I'm curious why you don't have Jones in your list?
He played 1B primarily in the fall when he wasn't catching. In fact, he played the position ahead of Frey when they were on the same team in the fall. I actually thought he looked a little better there than Frey did.
In early spring scrimmages, he has been used at 3B on the team opposite of White, but that is in part due to Dugas being out and then Nippolt got hurt in Saturday's scrimmage necessitating a need for another utility type player on the infield. But putting Jones at 3B would suggest he has the lateral movement and glove to play 1B well too.
Because of his bat, I'd have him as the primary backup to Morgan.
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News