As LSU baseball continues their 2024 SEC Tournament run, more and more veteran players are also beginning to step up now that it matters more than ever. Some of the most notable performances over the last few weeks have come from outfielder Josh Pearson, who has most recently impressed coach Jay Johnson as he finds a way to once again play some of his best baseball in May.
LSU outfielder Josh Pearson is back in his postseason form as the Tigers continue through the 2024 SEC Tournament
When talking about who the stars are for LSU baseball, some of the top names offensively that often come to mind might include third baseman Tommy White, first baseman Jared Jones and catcher Hayden Travinski, and deservingly so. All three are some of the best sluggers in the country one performing at their best, so they naturally put plenty of points on the board.
With that said, one of the most consistent, and often overlooked players on the roster is none other than outfielder Josh Pearson, who always seems to play his best baseball towards the latter portions of the year.
“If you go back and look at all these wins; walk-off hit against Auburn – big hit right there, huge bases loaded double against No. 1 Texas A&M, and there was a couple last weekend against Ole Miss,” coach Jay Johnson said about the West Monroe, LA, product.
“He’s just a quality at-bat machine, and I haven’t quite figured out what’s different in March vs. May for this guy, but last year, I just basically said, ‘We’re playing this guy. We have enough guys that can hit the ball over the fence on one of the best offenses in college baseball history. He’s gonna play great defense in the outfield, he’s gonna move the ball with runners on base and I just trust him.'”
Trust isn’t something that’s just given out. It’s no secret that the 5-foot-10, 190-pound Pearson isn’t exactly the most talented player on the LSU baseball roster, but what he does have is the baseball IQ and consistency that allows him to stay in the lineup for coach Jay Johnson and the Tigers no matter the situation.
In turn, he’s currently in the midst of one of his best statistical seasons yet as a part of the purple and gold, logging a .244 batting average and .421 slugging percentage to go along with 40 hits, 25 RBIs and 27 runs in 51 game appearances.
“We kinda got to that point this year too, and he just moves our offense,” coach Johnson continued following Tuesday’s SEC tournament victory over Georgia. “He might not be your prototypical SEC four-hitter, but because he can do what he can with runners on base is why I have him placed in the lineup where I do right now.”
The 2024 SEC Tournament continues on later today, as No. 11 LSU baseball will take on No. 3 Kentucky in Hoover, AL, at 9:30 a.m. CST. The game will be available to watch live on SEC Network, with the winner will move on to play the winner of No. 2 Arkansas vs. No. 10 South Carolina on Thursday evening.
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