Gavin Guidry has key role in LSU’s pitch to repeat

VMI and Central Arkansas visit Alex Box Stadium this weekend as the much-anticipated 2024 college baseball season begins for the reigning National Champion LSU Tigers.

A key member of that squad was Gavin Guidry, the 2022 Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year after batting .422 with 25 RBI, while posting an 8-0 mark on the mound and an impressive 0.16 ERA with 83 strikeouts.

The Barbe High School star did not have the same two-way impact as a college freshman. Guidry received just seven at-bats, producing one RBI. However, he ended up as the Tigers’ closer, pitching 28.2 innings.

“It was an amazing opportunity that I didn’t think I was going to get going into 2023.” Guidry stated. “Not many freshmen get to pitch on the level that I got to pitch. They trusted me. I was grateful and humbled by it.”

Guidry developed into a top option out of the bullpen with appearances in the College World Series championship series during Games 2 and 3 against Florida, making the final pitches in the title game.

“I didn’t think that I’d be in the position that I was in at the end of the year,” Guidry said. “That’s how it all worked out. You just go into the season and do whatever you can to help the team win. This year I just go in everyday and attack that day.”

It was the big unknown where Guidry would contribute at LSU as a freshman or if he would play at all. Despite his many talents, he may have to temporarily retire his infield mitt and batting gloves. Head coach Jay Johnson feels confident in his budding star on the mound.

“He’s going to mainly focus on pitching,” Johnson said. “He’s such a good athlete that when you trickle down the roster for SEC play, I have no problem putting him in the play defense, run, step up with a bat, execute something. But we’re going to put the focus on pitching. When he’s on the mound, I feel like you’re going to win. And there’s a lot of guys on this staff that I feel about the same way.”

“I grew up as a hitter then as a pitcher. I always did what I could to help my team win. God has a plan for everything. Just trust the process and have faith in Him. You know He’s putting you in the right positions. Control what you can control. Leave it in God’s hands.”

Guidry’s fastball averages 88-91 miles per hour, often touching 93. His curveball is special, making for a devasting out pitch.

Nate Yeskie has arrived as the new Tiger pitching coach, bringing with him 18 years in baseball, five trips to the College World Series and a 2018 national title ring from Oregon State. He has been recognized as a top assistant in college baseball.

“Coach Yeskie is amazing.” Guidry exclaimed. “He is the perfect balance between modern technology and old school mentality. If you do your job, it doesn’t matter what analytics say.” Guidry shared that 75-80 percent of his pitches during fall practice were fastballs.

“(Yeskie) has really helped me develop confidence in my fastball,” Guidry said. “It withered away last year just a bit, not using it as much. He’s not going to limit me throwing breaking balls, but I have concentrated on throwing a ton of fastballs. He’s kind of forcing me to go there, locate the fastball and compete with that pitch. I think that is going to be really big for me.”

LSU will have to replace Paul Skenes and Ty Floyd from the ’23 staff. Collectively, the duo accounted for 329 strikeouts out of the team’s 798 overall (41.2 %). The Tigers posted 54 victories for the campaign, and the duo of Skenes and Floyd were responsible for 20 of those (37%).

The anticipated starting rotation for the upcoming weekend features a trio of juniors:

RHP Thatcher Hurd (6-4, 230), fastball up to 98, 8-3 record and 84 strikeouts last season.
RHP Luke Holman (6-4, 201), transfer from Alabama, fastball in low 90″s, recorded 87 strikeouts last season.
LHP Gage Jump (6-0, 197), transfer from UCLA, missed ’23 with Tommy John surgery.

Sophomore lefty Griffin Herring is the primary expected mid-week option to start games.

“Griffin Herring, another Omaha hero,” Johnson said. “He got to the point early in the SEC schedule where he could bring in leverage situations and he came through and gave us length.”

Overall, the 2024 LSU pitching staff may feature considerably more depth than last year’s squad.

”There is a lot to see,” said Guidry. “You have lefties, you have righties. You have spin guys. You have changeup guys. You have guys who can sink the ball. You have guys throwing in the 100’s. You have everything you can imagine if you’re building a pitching staff.”

There are a few additional hurlers who could become a factor as the season proceeds forward.

No newcomer is more ballyhooed than freshman Cam Johnson (6-5, 251), the second ranked left-handed high school pitcher in the country last year. His repertoire features a fastball at 97, a great slider and a developing changeup.

D.J. Primeaux, a left-handed redshirt freshman from Central High in Baton Rouge, has opened eyes already thanks to a promising off-speed pitch.

”D.J. might have the best single pitch on the entire pitching staff, a slider, the best pitch on the team,” Guidry noted. ”His fastball is super hard to pick up as a batter, a lot of deception.”

Sophomore Aidan Moffett (6-3, 221) was the top right hander in the state of Mississippi in the 2022 class, boasting a 1.65 ERA with 305 punchouts. ”His fastball is up to 100 and he has two elite off speed pitches.” Guidry added.

Another young southpaw is Kade Anderson from St. Paul’s in Covington. A three-time All-State performer for the Wolves, Anderson recorded a 0.22 ERA in high school while posting a 28-1 record and 212 strikeouts. Johnson stated,

“He has the talent to be a superstar,” Johnson said.

Guidry is excited about Anderson’s potential as well.

“He’s always had electric stuff,” Guidry said. “If he had not gotten Tommy John surgery, he wouldn’t have ended up here. It’s a blessing in disguise for LSU fans. He’s going to be an elite pitcher here. He is going to pitch at a very high level. He has a ton of confidence in his pitches. He has three pitches he can throw for strikes whenever he wants to. He can be special.”

Guidry is working to maximize his pitching potential, concentrating on adding weight and strength to his frame.

“I’ve gotten up to 185 pounds, trying to get to 190 during the season and hold that,” Guidry said. “Putting on weight for me is very difficult. Hydrate well, make sure I’m sleeping well and getting 5-6 meals every day.”

After the 2023 championship season wound to a conclusion, individual players took note on how they could make improvements in their game for 2024. The hay is in the barn and now the bright lights come on as the new season arrives.

“The whole staff came together in the SEC Tournament and things began to just fit right.” Guidry explained. “We all figured out a lot of things (about ourselves). You have to have complete trust in yourself and your pitches. That confidence all stems from preparation, seeing things work out and realizing that you can do it.”