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LSU baseball: 2016 full preview

By Bailey Adams

Jun 18, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; LSU Tigers and TCU Horned Frogs compete in the 2015 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. TCU defeated LSU 8-4. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 18, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; LSU Tigers and TCU Horned Frogs compete in the 2015 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. TCU defeated LSU 8-4. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 7, 2013; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Paul Mainieri looks out as the Tigers are introduced prior to the first pitch agains the Oklahoma Sooners during the Baton Rouge super regional of the 2013 NCAA baseball tournament at Alex Box Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 7, 2013; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Paul Mainieri looks out as the Tigers are introduced prior to the first pitch agains the Oklahoma Sooners during the Baton Rouge super regional of the 2013 NCAA baseball tournament at Alex Box Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports /

Players to Watch

It was announced on the first day of spring practice that outfielder Jake Fraley would get the honor of wearing the jersey no. 8, worn in the past by Mikie Mahtook (2009-11), Mason Katz (2012-13) and Alex Bregman (2014-15). In 2015, Fraley hit .307 with 11 doubles, five triples, two home runs and 35 RBI. Paul Mainieri called his senior leader “one of the best players in the country” and said that “he’s very capable of being an All-SEC and All-American player.”

Two more returners to keep an eye on are Jared Poche’ and Alex Lange, who are locked in as the Tigers’ top two in the pitching rotation. Lange broke out as a freshman in 2015, finishing the season with a 12-0 record and a 1.97 ERA. He earned All-American honors in addition to being both the SEC Freshman of the Year and the National Freshman Pitcher of the Year. Poche’ entered 2015 as LSU’s no. 1 starter, finishing the season with a record of 9-2 and a 3.05 ERA.

A wealth of the team’s newcomers will have a chance to make an impact this season as LSU replaces seven of nine starters.

Freshman Trey Dawson will take on the task of replacing Bregman at shortstop, playing alongside JUCO transfer Cole Freeman, who takes over at the hot corner. Mainieri likened Freeman to former Tiger Tyler Hanover, saying he is “a pesky, hard-nosed ball player.”

Freshman outfielder Antoine Duplantis received high praise from Mainieri in the fall. He has repeatedly been compared to former LSU outfielders Mark Laird and Andrew Stevenson, who starred throughout their time in Baton Rouge.

The overall restructuring of the lineup is referred to by many as a rebuilding process, but Mainieri doesn’t agree. On the first day of practice, he told the press that “rebuilding years don’t exist at LSU.” With a new roster in place, intriguing times are ahead for the Tigers.

Next: Around the SEC

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