Pearson is the total package
If you hear folks around northeastern Louisiana talk about seeing LSU baseball signee Jacob Pearson “rake” at West Monroe (La.) High School, don’t assume they’re referring to his offensive prowess.
Sure, Pearson hit .500 with 11 home runs, 14 doubles and 17 stolen bases during the regular season. And he hit another homer and triple in West Monroe’s Class 5A playoff win over Higgins on Tuesday night.
But minutes after the Rebels finished off their 10-0 win in five innings, there was Pearson joining other teammates working on their field. His task on this night was to rake the warning track and he attacked it with the same zeal as the first-inning pitch he smashed over the fence at Shelby Aulds Field.
“He’s very special,” said West Monroe coach Wade Simoneaux, the former head coach at Louisiana Tech and assistant at Louisiana-Lafayette. “His work ethic is second to none. He’s not a big rah-rah guy and not a big talker. He leads by example. He’s right up there with any guy I’ve ever coached and I was in college 20 years.
“It’s not just the production but it’s the whole package. He’ll weed-eat the fence line before a game if you ask him to. As a matter of fact, he was the other day.”
Pearson’s work ethic is the key to his gaudy production this season too.
“It really just goes back to batting practice,” he said. “We put the work in every day. Getting out here after putting all that work in, you feel confident there’s nothing that can stop you. They can throw the curveball, fastball or changeup. It all hits.”
Like many top LSU baseball signees, Pearson’s decision could change depending on the Major League baseball draft in June.
“Every kid’s ultimate goal is to play in the Major Leagues,” Pearson said. “So the opportunity to play there is what I’m looking for. If LSU is the way to go to get to that opportunity, that’s where I’m going to go. If they give me a good opportunity, I’m just going to take the best route possible. It all boils down to opportunity.”
Pearson has seen freshman from his part of the state playing regularly at LSU this season and is encouraged by their early success.
“That’s what I’m hoping for,” he said. “Go down there and work hard and hope I have that starting position freshman year, opening day. I hope I can continue to go out and play hard.”
Simoneaux expects Pearson will flourish no matter his path.
“He has a no-lose choice between LSU and the draft,” Simoneaux said. “The thing about it is, he never says a thing about either one of them. He never says LSU, never says draft, never says money. He just comes to work every day.”
Whether in the cage, patrolling the outfield or handling his grounds-keeping duties, Pearson said he takes the same approach.
“I was raised by great parents, great grandparents and they all think I have a great work ethic,” Pearson said. “I just try to help out where I can.”
Blayne Enlow weighing his options too: St. Amant ace Blayne Enlow is focused on helping his team advance in the playoffs for now.
The LSU signee fanned seven batters, allowed one earned run, walked two and hit a two-run home run on Tuesday night in a 8-6 win over Ruston.
“Sometimes you just have to fight back,” Enlow said. “They got an early lead on me in the second inning. They got a few hits and it put it together. We came back strong.”
The pro baseball draft will factor into Enlow’s college decision but for now it’s all just speculation.
“It’s a to-the -date kind of decision,” Enlow said. “I have no idea what I want to do yet. It’s something I think about almost every night but right now I’m just trying to make the best of my high school season. I just want to push that all away for the last few weeks I’ve got with my boys.”
Enlow is also keeping tabs on LSU baseball this season.
“I think their pitching is going to come together and it’s all going to come together,” he said. “It will work itself out. It’s LSU baseball. It always does.”