By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
BATON ROUGE – It still may take a while for LSU’s fans to transition from the expected game-opening series wins of last year’s national championship team provided by pitcher Paul Skenes, the No. 1 overall draft pick in the 2023 Major League Baseball draft.
There’s no longer Mr. Automatic Get on Base, brilliant centerfielder Dylan Crews, the No. 2 overall MLB draft selection., who got on base just about any time he wanted.
Also missing is first baseman Tre’ Morgan, the greatest infield security blanket in LSU baseball history, whose glove and athleticism will remain forever the gold standard of fielding in the program.
But after the 2024 season-opening four-game series for the No. 2 Tigers concluded Monday, a 4-0 record with wins over VMI (11-8, 27-5) and Central Arkansas (2-0, 4-3), LSU head coach Jay Johnson was even more optimistic about his revamped team than he was a week ago.
“You can seemingly command their (LSU’s players) attention for improvement when you lose a game better than when you win a game,” Johnson said after his team’s one-run win over Central Arkansas. “I thought we had their attention.
“We didn’t need to lose a game to improve, and that is something I’m very happy about. That shows maturity in this completely new team. We have some good leadership. They’re motivated. We have an approach to every game here that is unique. And I think they did a good job with that this weekend.”
Johnson started different lineups every day, getting a look at different outfield combinations and various batting orders.
The Tigers batted .380 in the series. The pitching staff, using three starters and 13 relievers, had a combined ERA of 3.71 and only three fielding errors were committed (two by Tigers’ pitchers on errant pickoff throws).
“We’re not a finished product; we’re going to move guys in and out of the lineup,” Johnson said. “Maybe it’s almost even tougher this year than it was last year because we have a lot of guys who are (in) close (competition) that offer different things.
“I’m pleased with what I see is the depth of the position player group. And I’m really confident where we’re going to land once all our pitching pieces are in place.”
LSU returns to action this weekend for a second straight four-game homestand. The Tigers play Northern Illinois on Thursday and Saturday and face Stony Brook on Friday and Sunday.
Here’s a review of LSU’s opening weekend:
Best hitter: Even before grad student catcher Hayden Travinski concluded the series Monday afternoon batting .571 (8 of 14) with 4 RBIs, 8 runs scored, three walks drawn and twice hit by pitches, he was collecting his first in-season award. On Monday morning, the Shreveport native was named the SEC’ co-Player of the Week.
Best starting pitcher: In his LSU debut, Alabama transfer Luke Holman was in total command. He pitched more innings (5.1) and struck out more batters (10) than the other three weekend starters.
Best reliever: UCLA transfer Gage Jump, throwing in a live game for the first time in 22 months, after returning from Tommy John surgery, dazzled in his LSU debut in the Tigers’ season-opening 11-8 win over VMI last Friday.
Eight of his 11 ninth-inning pitches were strikes, closing out the Keydets in order including two strikeouts.
Best surprise pitcher: Of all LSU’s new pitchers, Johnson rarely mentioned Fidel Ulloa’s name in the preseason. But the 6 2, 205-pound junior transfer from San Joaquin (Calif.) College gave up 1 hit, no runs, and struck out 3 in facing 9 batters in a collective 2.1 innings in Game 1 vs. VMI and Game 4 vs. Central Arkansas. He got the save in the latter game, retiring the visitors on eight pitches in the ninth.
Best surprise position player: Outfielder Jake Brown was the most ballyhooed true freshman signee in the preseason. He didn’t disappoint as he leads LSU in hitting, batting .600 after the opening weekend.
But the “Who is THAT guy?” true freshman was second baseman Steven Milam, voted the No. 1 player in New Mexico last season when he led Las Cruces (Centennial) to the state championship.
After not playing in LSU’s season opener last Friday and coming off the bench in Game 2 vs. Central Arkansas, he started Game 3 vs. VMI as the Tigers ‘ leadoff hitter. He went 4 of 6 with three RBIs and four runs scored.
He exited his first weekend as a collegiate batting .545 with 4 RBIs and 5 runs scored.
GO FIGURE
6: Opposing base runners thrown out by LSU catchers Brady Neal (3), Alex Milazzo (2) and Hayden Travinski (1).
8: LSU batters combining to get hit by 15 opposing pitches
15: LSU runs scored with two outs
15: LSU batters hit by pitches in first four games
20: LSU singles in Game 3 vs. VMI, a Tigers’ single-game record
27: LSU hits in Game 3 vs. VMI, tying Tigers’ single-game record
33: LSU players on its active 40-man roster played in the opening weekend
.733: Batting average (11 of 18) for LSU in 3-2 pitch counts
Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com