BATON ROUGE – LSU pitchers and catchers will report to Alex Box Stadium on Saturday to begin individual workouts and conditioning drills in preparation for the 2011 season. Infielders and outfielders will start individual training on Tuesday.
The entire squad will come together for the start of official preseason practice on Friday, January 28. The Tigers open the season on Friday, February 18 versus Wake Forest in Alex Box Stadium.
Fifth-year coach Paul Mainieri likes the makeup of a 2011 LSU club that blends established players with a highly-skilled group of rookie performers.
“We’re especially excited about this season because we feel like our program is entering into a new era with a great mix of veterans and newcomers,” Mainieri said. “We’re extremely optimistic about this season and we can’t wait to get started. This appears to be a very athletic team. We have a lot of guys that run fast and look to be in great shape.”
The LSU roster includes 16 lettermen from the 2010 squad, including eight position players with starting experience and eight pitchers that recorded innings last season.
Junior outfielder Mikie Mahtook, junior shortstop Austin Nola and junior second baseman Tyler Hanover are two-year starters that form the core of LSU’s veteran leadership. Other Tigers returning that made significant contributions in 2010 include junior outfielder Trey Watkins, junior utility player Grant Dozar, sophomore outfielder Mason Katz and sophomore infielders Alex Edward and Beau Didier.
Mainieri said with the new NCAA bat standards that are in place for the 2011 season, a premium will be placed upon speed and hitting into the gaps.
“The bats that we begin using this season perform almost just like wood bats,” Mainieri explained, “so there will be a greater emphasis placed on running and hitting line drives. We will have to be adept at that type of game.”
The pitching staff is led by junior all-America right-hander Matty Ott, who has 27 career saves, just two shy of the all-time LSU saves record of 29 held by Rick Greene (1990-92).
Ott is joined by an excellent group of hurlers that includes senior right-handers Ben Alsup and Daniel Bradshaw, and notable newcomers like freshman right-hander Kevin Gausman and junior right-hander Tyler Jones.
“Our pitching was outstanding throughout our fall intrasquad games, and it’s evident we have several talented arms,” Mainieri said. “I thought the pitchers made great strides during fall practice, and we’re looking forward to seeing that development continue this spring.”
LSU’s class of 19 newcomers includes seven players that were selected in the 2010 Major League Draft. The Tigers’ incoming class was voted No. 1 in the nation in the annual Collegiate Baseball recruiting survey.
“We have a tremendous class of new players that will significantly impact our program,” Mainieri said. “I think our fans will really enjoy watching these young men perform throughout their careers.”