Ten members of LSU baseball team honored Friday at graduation celebration

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Ten members of the LSU baseball squad were honored Friday in a graduation celebration held at the team’s hotel in Fayetteville.

Since the Tigers are playing Arkansas this week and could not attend the commencement ceremonies on the LSU campus, the event was held at the hotel to honor the graduates.

Team members graduating from LSU this semester are infielder Brandt Broussard (business administration), outfielder Antoine Duplantis (sport administration), undergraduate assistant coach Jared Foster (sport administration), pitcher Caleb Gilbert (civil engineering), pitcher Clay Moffitt (finance), infielder Chris Reid (sport administration), and equipment managers ZJ Buster (marketing), Ryan Key (marketing), Bryce Shelton (sport administration) and Trent Forshag (finance).

Also recognized Friday was former LSU outfielder Mark Laird, who has earned a degree in animal sciences.

“At some point, the athletic careers of our players will end, but nobody can ever take away their education,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “These players have earned an LSU degree that will impact them for a lifetime. It will give them earning power and a means to contribute to our society in a very meaningful way.

“What they’ve accomplished is a very difficult thing to do. They’re required to develop their baseball skills in order to perform at a high level in pressure situations while at the same time meeting all of their academic obligations. I’m extremely proud of these young men and their dedication to excellence.”

The ceremony opened with remarks by the team’s academic advisor, Kirstin DeFusco, who is in her fifth season with the Tigers, and it concluded with a speech delivered by Duplantis, who reflected upon his career at LSU and expressed gratitude for the support the players received in earning their degrees.