By Ryan Rogers
LSUsports.net
LSU was gouged deeply for players by the Major League Baseball first year draft last spring. Now, LSU players are showing why their stock was so high by performing well for their respective minor league teams.
Brad Hawpe is continuing to dazzle the fans and coaches in Portland, Ore. He is batting .319 with 18 extra base hits including 13 doubles, one triple and four home runs. He is second on the Portland roster in extra base hits.
Hawpe has received much early praise, and everyone involved believes he has a very bright future in professional baseball.
Hawpe?s smooth left-handed stroke of the bat has slowly started to build a big reputation for the former LSU Tiger.
Brad Cresse has gone on a recent tear in High Desert. Since joining the team on June 25, Cresse has batted .325 with an impressive 12 home runs. He is second on the team in both categories. Cresse also sports a .650 slugging percentage.
The former LSU superstar is proving his worth in the minors. This is big for Cresse. After having so much exposure to MLB within the Dodgers organization, the hunger to make it to the big leagues is very immense for Cresse. A great start in High Desert will certainly help to propel him.
Joining Cresse in High Desert is Cedrick Harris. Harris is off to a good start as well batting .295 with seven stolen bases. He has made numerous starts for the club.
A pair of Tigers in the Cubs’ organization may be the biggest surprises. Blair Barbier and Ryan Jorgenson are teammates in Eugene, Ore. Barbier wasn?t drafted and signed with the Cubs as a free agent. Jorgenson was drafted relatively high, but he didn?t start for LSU while playing behind Cresse. However, their status coming in hasn?t bothered either Barbier or Jorgenson.
Barbier is batting .320 while making the transition to first base. He is the second best hitter on the squad behind Ryan Jorgensen whom leads the team in batting average at .333. Jorgenson?s bat has been a bonus. He was drafted due to his incredible defensive skills, but I don?t think the Cubs are complaining about his bat coming alive in Eugene.
Three Tiger pitchers have made appearances in the minors. Neither Hunter Gomez, Heath McMurray nor Trey Hodges are off to splendid starts. They have all struggled a little, but all three are showing lots of promise.
Hodges is 0-1 with a 6.23 ERA in Jamestown. he has pitched in seven games, 13 innings pitched allowing 10 runs during that stretch. Opponents are batting .296 off of Hodges.
McMurray has appeared in six games for Ogden, a Brewers affiliate. He has a 2-1 record with a 7.20 ERA.
Hunter Gomez, also in the Brewers organization playing for Helena, has appeared in 10 games. He has an 0-3 record with a 4.20 ERA.
In all, it has been a great summer for LSU players in the minors. They have all laid down the groundwork toward success in professional baseball.