Preseason practice is underway in Baton Rouge as LSU looks to make a run back to the College World Series.
"So, I'm excited about our team this year, we got a lot of great kids. A lot of young kids."
LSU baseball coming into this new season with some key positions to fill, the biggest vacancies coming from the infield. Head Coach Paul Mainieri says the only veteran they have is Junior shortstop Hal Hughes.
It might not be the most experienced infield; however, Mainieri says he has a handful of recruits, one being California native Zack Mathis, who is a solid third baseman. He says he could potentially be an option and create competition for Hughes at shortstop.
"He's a very good defense player. He can really hit, he's going to be our three-hole hitter. Zack Mathis has those qualities, he can be a real leader."
"It's kind of an easy transition from like, low and coming up to the highest point," said Mathis.
When it comes to the other middle infield position, Maineiri likes the friendly competition between Sophomores Gavin Dugas and Cade Doughty.
"Gavin is going to be in the line-up, whether it's going to be as a second baseman or a DH, I don't know," Mainieri explained. "His competition is Cade Doughty, who's a freshman from Denham Springs who I think is going to be a great player at LSU."
Mainieri says their biggest challenge will be in the Tigers' opener against Indiana, because he knows they're going to use their speed to try to steal the bases and his new infield is going to have to try to find a way to stop that.
The team opens up the year in that opener against Indiana on February 14.