No. 12 LSU baseball is back on the baseball diamond. The Tigers haven't played a game since March 11th of last year before the pandemic halted college baseball. This year's team is one that will rely heavily on their veteran pitching staff so the young but talented hitting lineup can round into form. Coach Paul Mainieri stopped short of saying it's the deepest pitching staff of his tenure, but did express optimism about the potential of a dominant set of hurlers.
LSU's weekend pitching rotation is formidable. Projected Friday night starter Jaden Hill is explosive. He's got a fastball that can touch 95 plus MPH and a hurt your feelings off-speed. Hill has all the tools you want in a Friday night starter. Junior right hander Landon Marceaux spent two years reshaping his body and is poised for a solid, after a freshman campaign that had plenty of bright spots and few low moments. He's a different pitcher than he was two years ago. Marceaux will be the Tigers’ Saturday night starter. On Sunday, LSU will hand the ball to veteran right hander A.J. Labas. He's yet another pitcher who has a plus fast ball (95 plus MPH). Labs is so good he could easily be a Friday night starter on any pitching staff in the SEC.
Most college baseball teams have a Friday night dude, and hope they have a Saturday night dude, and wish they had a Sunday dude. LSU has three Friday night dudes! The pitching depth doesn't stop with the starters. The Tigers have tremendous depth and experience out of the bullpen that features four veteran right handers in Trent Vietmeier, Devin Fontenot, Mathew Beck and Aaron George. Fontenot is expected to serve as the team’s closer to finish games. Beck is a middle relief guy and probably a mid-week spot starter. If you throw in Junior hold over Ma’Kail Hilliard, LSU actually has five guys out of the bullpen who can either start or come on in relief.
The biggest question mark surrounding LSU this season is how quickly will the team grow up at the plate. Veteran holdovers Giovanni Diagiacomo, Cade Beloso, and Drew Bianco will pace this lineup. The offense is young but talented. Freshman Tre Morgan is a player that Coach Paul Mainieri has gushed over this spring. Veteran Gavin Dugas figures to carve out a roll in the lineup in some manner. Be patient with this lineup, if you are, you will be rewarded. It's a group that features a ton of speed with just enough power. Let them get their feet wet.
What's the expectation? If this LSU Tigers baseball team can host a regional, it's a success. If this team is a top 8 national seed, it's a tremendous success. This is yet another young team. I know I said that last year, but they basically have two freshman classes coming in because of the pandemic, so that applies again. The pitching staff will carry this team for most of this season. Once the offense comes around, this is going to be a dangerous team. LSU will finish as a top 8 national seed and host a regional and super regional. Call me a homer if you want, just call me in June when it's true.
