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MAINIERI TO WELCOME 15 NEW PLAYERS TO BASEBALL SQUAD
LSU Coach Congratulates Pitcher Kevin Gausman on Signing Deal with Orioles
BATON ROUGE, La. -- LSU
baseball coach Paul Mainieri said Friday that the 15-man class of
newcomers enrolling next month provides exactly what the Tigers need –
speed on the bases and in the outfield, power hitting and additional
pitching prowess.
The new group of Tigers includes seven
pitchers and eight position players. Two of the players – infielder
Alex Bregman and right-handed pitcher Will LaMarche - were selected in
the 2012 MLB Draft and elected to enroll at LSU instead of beginning a
pro career.
“We are very excited to see what kind of
impact this class will make upon our program,” said Mainieri, who led
the Tigers to the 2012 SEC championship. “I truly believe we’ve
addressed our needs in all phases of the game, and I know our fans will
enjoy watching these young men perform in Alex Box Stadium very soon.”
The
15 newcomers start classes at LSU on August 20 and will join the
returning players for conditioning drills and individual workouts.
The
Tigers begin their six-week, full-squad fall practice session on
September 23. The 2013 season starts on February 15 when the Tigers
play host to Maryland in Alex Box Stadium.
LSU was the No.
7 National Seed in the 2012 NCAA Tournament and fell just one win shy
of reaching the College World Series. Mainieri said the Tigers are
looking forward to the opportunity to reach the CWS in Omaha, Neb. in
2013.
“In a lot of ways we overachieved last year,”
Mainieri said, “and we came so close to realizing all of our goals.
However, we recognize there are areas in which we need to improve and
we’re confident that we’re heading in the right direction with this
signing class.”
Mainieri also sent congratulations Friday
to ace pitcher Kevin Gausman, who signed a contract with the Baltimore
Orioles. Gausman, a 2012 first-team all-American with a 12-2 mark and a
2.77 ERA, was the fourth overall selection in last month’s draft.
“I’m
so proud of Kevin, and he’s earned everything that’s coming his way,”
Mainieri said. “He developed so much both as a pitcher and as a young
man during his time here, and I know the Orioles will benefit
tremendously from having Kevin in their organization. I think it says a
lot about our program that a young man of Kevin’s ability came to LSU
and grew both professionally and personally in very significant ways.”
2012 LSU Draft Summary
LSU Players selected in the 2012 MLB Draft
Kevin
Gausman,
RHP
1st Round
Baltimore
4th
selection
signed with Orioles
Austin Nola, SS
(Sr.)
5th Round
Miami
167th
selection
signed with Marlins
Nick Goody,
RHP
6th Round New York
Yankees 217th
selection
signed with Yankees
Raph Rhymes,
OF
30th Round New York
Yankees 937th
selection
returning to LSU
Tyler Hanover, INF
(Sr.) 33rd
Round Detroit
Tigers
1024th
selection
signed with Tigers
LSU Signees selected in the 2012 MLB Draft
Joey
Gallo,
INF/RHP
Comp Round
A
Texas
39th
selection
signed with Rangers
Jesmuel Valentin,
INF
Comp Round
A Los
Angeles Dodgers 51st
selection
signed with Dodgers
Hayden Jennings,
OF
6th
Round
Washington
204th
selection
signed with Nationals
Will LaMarche,
RHP
18th
Round
Minnesota
550th
selection
enrolling at LSU
Alex Bregman,
INF
29th
Round
Boston
901st
selection
enrolling at LSU
2012 LSU Baseball Signing Class (enrolling at LSU this fall)
No.
Name
Pos.
B-T Ht.
Wt. Cl.
Exp. Hometown (High School/Previous
School)
30 Alex
Bregman
INF R-R
5-11 180
Fr.
HS Albuquerque, N.M. (Albuquerque
Academy)
40 Taylor
Butler
RHP R-R
6-1
180
Fr.
HS Lake Charles, La. (Barbe HS)
20
Chris
Chinea
C
R-R 6-0
205
Fr.
HS Miami, Fla. (Gulliver Prep
School)
12 Hunter
Devall
LHP L-L
5-10 180
Fr.
HS Clinton, La. (Centreville
Academy)
14 Christian
Ibarra
INF R-R
5-7
155
Jr.
JC La Puente, Calif. (South Hills
HS/Rio Hondo College)
16
Geonte’ Jackson
INF R-R
6-0
170
Fr.
HS Sugarland, Texas (Elkins HS)
9
Mark
Laird
OF
L-L
6-2
180
Fr.
HS Monroe, La. (Ouachita Christian
School)
36 Will
LaMarche
RHP R-R
6-3
220
Jr.
JC Pleasanton, Calif. (Chabot
College)
41 Jamie
McClure
RHP R-R
6-2
180
Jr.
JC Baton Rouge, La. (Catholic
HS/Panola JC)
7 Sean
McMullen
OF
L-L
5-8
175
Jr.
JC Metairie, La. (Brother Martin
HS/Delgado CC)
55 Hunter
Newman
RHP R-R
6-4
180
Fr.
HS Bloomingdale, Ga. (Calvary
Baptist School)
45 Russell
Reynolds
RHP R-R
6-3
175
Fr.
HS Baton Rouge, La. (Parkview
Baptist HS)
29 Chase
Rivett
OF R-R
5-10 175
Fr.
HS Gonzales, La. (East Ascension HS)
27
Mitchell
Sewald
RHP R-R
6-5
180
Fr.
HS Mandeville, La. (Rummel HS)
6
Andrew Stevenson
OF
L-L
6-0
170
Fr.
HS Youngsville, La. (St. Thomas
More HS)
LSU Signee Quick Facts
30 Alex Bregman, INF
R-R, 5-11, 180, Fr., HS
Albuquerque, N.M. (Albuquerque Academy)
· 29th round selection of Boston Red Sox in 2012 MLB Draft
·
Led 18U U.S. National Team to a gold medal last fall at the
International Baseball Federation World Championships
· First team All-State each of last two years
· Batted .678 as a junior in 2011 and set a New Mexico season record with 19 HRs
· 2010 - USA Baseball Player of the Year - Richard W. "Dick" Case Award
· Received All-Metro honors and All-District honors
· Helped lead team to high school state championship in 2009
Head Coach Paul Mainieri on Bregman:
“Alex
is a very polished hitter and infielder from Albuquerque, New
Mexico. He has been touted by many sources as one of the best, if
not the best, hitter in the 2012 high school class. We were very
fortunate that Alex slipped to the 29th round in the 2012 MLB Draft
because he had been projected as a top 2 round draft pick since he was
the MVP of the 16U Team USA team in 2010. His strong commitment
to attending LSU was what ultimately made MLB scouts pass on Bregman
until the 29th round. He is very versatile defensively as he can
play anywhere on the field. We will first look at him on the left side
of the infield. Needless to say, we are extremely excited about Alex
starting his career as a Tiger and we expect him to have a stellar one.”
40 Taylor Butler, RHP
R-R, 6-1, 180, Fr., HS
Lake Charles, La. (Barbe HS)
·
Earned three wins on the mound during the 2012 Class 5A state
tournament, helping lead Barbe to the state title
·
Threw five scoreless innings of relief and earned the win over Rummel
in the 2012 state title game
Head Coach Paul Mainieri on Butler:
“Taylor
is a right-handed pitcher that helped lead Barbe High School to a state
title in 2012. His fastball sits in the mid to high 80’s,
occasionally touching 90 mph, and uses a big 12-6 breaking ball in any
count, and he shows a good change up. Taylor has a lot of
experience pitching in big games and he will add depth to our talented
pitching staff.”
20 Chris Chinea, C
R-R, 6-0, 205, Fr., HS
Miami, Fla. (Gulliver Prep School)
· 2012 – Hit .542, 12 doubles, 1 triple, 9 HR, 38 RBI
· 2012 High School All-American
· 2011 1st Team Rawlings Perfect Game All American
· 2010 2nd Team Rawlings Perfect Game All American
· 2010 – Hit .597 with 15 doubles, 6 HRs, 55 RBI
· 2010 – 3A All Dade County Player of the Year
· 2009 – Hit .495 with 13 doubles, 5 HR’s, 44 RBI
Head Coach Paul Mainieri on Chinea:
“Chris
is a stout, very strong catcher from Miami, FL who runs well for a
catcher and is athletic enough to play multiple positions. His
ability to really hit, as well as run above average, will open up his
options to play early on as a freshman at places other than
catcher. Chris has been a very advanced hitter his whole life and
has hit on every team he’s ever been on. He and Bregman come into
LSU as the power threats that we so desperately need. We definitely see
that trend continuing for him at LSU. Only his strong commitment to LSU
kept him from being drafted in the top 10 rounds. He was names 2nd team
All-America by Baseball America magazine. ”
12 Hunter Devall, LHP
L-L, 5-10, 180, Fr., HS
Clinton, La. (Centreville Academy)
· 2011 Perfect Game Underclass High Honorable Mention
·
2010 Perfect Game Underclass World Championships Most Valuable
Pitcher
Head Coach Paul Mainieri on Devall:
“Hunter
is a lefty from Clinton, La. but attended Centreville Academy in
Mississippi. He is an absolute bulldog on the mound who believes
he can get anyone out in any situation. He has a ¾ arm slot from
the left side and a good breaking ball that is very tough on
left-handed hitters. He is a guy that we are going to look for to
be reliable out of the bullpen in intense situations, probably even as
a freshman.”
14 Christian Ibarra, INF
R-R, 5-7, 155, Jr., JC
La Puente, Calif. (South Hills HS/Rio Hondo College)
· Regarded as the best junior college shortstop in California in 2012
· A “plus” defender with a big-time arm at shortstop
· Excellent baseball instincts and savvy in the infield
Head Coach Paul Mainieri on Ibarra:
“Christian
is a smooth, sure-handed middle infielder that comes to us from Rio
Hondo Community College in southern California. Although he is
small in stature, Ibarra makes all of the defensive plays look easy and
has arm that touches 90 mph across the infield. After the
departure of Austin Nola, we are looking forward to Ibarra possibly
being able to step in and fill that always important defensive role at
shortstop.”
16 Geonte’ Jackson, INF
R-R, 6-0, 170, Fr., HS
Sugarland, Texas (Elkins HS)
· 2012 – Hit .347 with 1 HR, 16 RBI, .387 OBP
· 2011 – Hit .412 with 3 HR, 25 RBI, .394 OBP
· 2011 2nd Team All-District
Head Coach Paul Mainieri on Jackson:
“Geonte’
is a very athletic infielder that we were able to get out of the
baseball talent-rich Houston, Texas area. He has very loose
actions in the infield and moves very well laterally at third
base. At the plate, Geonte’ is a gap to gap hitter who we believe
will develop into more of a power threat as his career goes on and he
gets stronger from being in the weight room. He has quick hands
and a flat bat that will bode well for getting hits against the tough
SEC pitching.”
9 Mark Laird, OF
L-L, 6-2, 180, Fr., HS
Monroe, La. (Ouachita Christian School)
· 2012 Louisiana Class 1A Most Valuable Player
· 2012 MVP of Louisiana state football title game as a wide receiver and DB
Head Coach Paul Mainieri on Laird:
“Mark
is one of the fastest players you will ever see on a baseball
field. He will bring a left-handed hitting presence to the lineup
that can handle the bat and absolutely fly around the bases. A
standout wide receiver and center fielder at Ouachita Christian High
School, Mark was named the LHSAA 1A MVP in baseball in 2011-2012.
He also was the MVP of the state championship football game as a wide
receiver and defensive back. Laird is one of those guys a coach loves
to have on his team because he possesses a tool that cannot be taught,
game-changing speed. How quickly he adapts to SEC caliber pitching will
determine his playing time.
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