BATON ROUGE — Former LSU infielders Ryan Theriot and Mike Fontenot are featured in the “SI Players” section of the August 20 issue of Sports Illustrated. The article, authored by David Epstein, describes how the pair was re-united earlier this season to form the Chicago Cubs’ middle infield.
Theriot, a shortstop from Baton Rouge, and Fontenot, a second baseman from Slidell, La., have played vital roles during the Cubs’ surge toward the top of the National League Central Division. The Cubs trail the Milwaukee Brewers by just a half-game in the division standings with 42 games remaining in the regular season.
Chicago opens a four-game homestand against the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals Friday night in Wrigley Field.
Theriot is hitting .288 (111-for-385) in 109 games this season with 22 doubles, one triple, three homers, 38 RBI, 66 runs and 22 stolen bases. Fontenot is batting .291 (55-for-189) in 59 games with 10 doubles, four triples, three homers, 27 RBI, 27 runs and five steals.
Theriot and Fontenot helped lead LSU to the 2000 NCAA championship, and each was selected in the 2001 Major League Draft.
Theriot was selected by the Cubs in the third round and he made his major league debut in 2005. Fontenot was selected in the first round by the Baltimore Orioles and was traded to the Cubs in 2005, making his major league debut later that season.