Little impact on second day of draft
LSU coach Paul Mainieri obviously was worried about keeping together his 12-member signing class through the major league baseball draft.
Friday was going to be an important day as rounds three through ten were conducted. Mainieri was confident most of his signees wanted to come to school. Normally, professional organizations will make a huge effort to sign those players drafted in the first ten rounds.
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Mainieri could breathe easier at the end of the day as only one Tigers signee was chosen Friday - catcher/first baseman Bobby Bradley from Gulfport (Miss.). Bradley was the third-round draft pick of the Cleveland Indians. Bradley informed the LSU coaches Friday that he will sign with the Indians.
None of the six pitchers signed by the Tigers were drafted. Lilburn (Ga.) native Mac Marshall, the top prospect in the group, made it known Friday that he will attend LSU. Jake Godfrey of New Lenox (Ill.) was another pitcher who was high on draft boards.
So, it appears that Mainieri will have at his disposal six freshman pitchers, all of whom throw in the low 90s. It would not be surprising if two of these freshmen end up in the weekend rotation in 2015.
Only one current member of the LSU program was drafted Friday. Catcher/first baseman Tyler Moore was selected in the sixth round by the New York Mets. Moore will sign with the Mets and forego his senior season with the Tigers.
Moore, a lefthanded batter, caught fire in the final month of the season. He finished with a .301 batting average with six homers and 37 runs batted in - all career highs. Moore completed his career with a .282 batting average with ten home runs and 76 RBIs.
The departure of Moore will leave somewhat of a hole at first base for 2015. Connor Hale and Kade Scivicque, who divided time between first base and another position, will be back for their senior seasons. Hale also started at second base, while Scivicque did some catching.
Moore was the catcher this past season when Aaron Nola was on the mound. Two individuals who started games at catcher will return next season - Scivicque and Chris Chinea.
Closer Joe Broussard and outfielders Jared Foster and Mark Laird were underclassmen who were not drafted Friday. Only two LSU players were picked in the first ten rounds - Nola, the seventh selection in the first round by the Philadelphia Phillies, and Moore.
It has been since 2011 that the Tigers had fewer players drafted in the first ten rounds. Only Mikie Mahtook (first, Tampa Bay Rays) was chosen then. LSU had one draft pick in the first ten rounds in 2008 - Ryan Verdugo (ninth, San Francisco Giants). The last 30 rounds of the draft will be held Saturday.