Jay Johnson praises LSU players that emerged as key contributors this season

LSU advanced to the College World Series for the first time since 2017, when the program finished as the national runner-up to Florida. And a few LSU players emerged along the way to get the Tigers there.

Two in particular caught the eye of head coach Jay Johnson: Cade Beloso and Hayden Travinski.

“I actually would tell you I’m probably the least surprised by it,” Johnson said on Mik’d Up w/ Mikie Mahtook. “And I know that may sound a little front-runnerish now that they’re doing well, but when Cade got hurt last year right before the first game that really hurt our team last year.”

Now that he’s healthy again, Beloso has been a staple in the LSU lineup. He’s hitting .316 with 14 home runs and 41 RBI. He’s been a spark plug of sorts at times.

Of course, he had to battle through last year’s disappointment to get there.

“He was in the lineup batting fifth opening night, then he got hurt and was out for the season,” Johnson said. “Well, he was batting fifth last night and for the past 25, 30 games. He just takes such a good at-bat. You could see it coming. The work has all really paid off for him.”

In terms of LSU players who’ve emerged, it’s a similar story with Travinski. He has put up even more impressive numbers at the plate, albeit in fewer games. Travinski is hitting .404 with 10 home runs and 29 RBI.

He has appeared in 36 games, starting 20 of them.

“With Hayden the talent has never been the question, he just has struggled with injuries too the whole time that we’ve been here,” Johnson said. “He just, kind of the same thing, he put the team first, he took the role that he had, embraced it and then he just kept working. And I know it may sound strange, but his fourth year here, his second with us, you could kind of see he was improving while he was waiting to get his opportunity.

“He’s a super confident guy and once he got in there that really changed us as a team.”

Johnson has used both players as an example for his team. And it’s not necessarily the LSU players that emerged that will benefit from the example they’re setting, but players further down the lineup who may not be seeing a ton of action this year.

That’s the kind of invaluable example programs that want to sustain a strong culture need.

“I’m not surprised at all but those two guys have shown the way for everybody of how to handle things professionally and put the team first, place the needs of the team above your own, be mature, keep working, be prepared when your opportunity comes and then go execute,” Johnson said. “I mean they’re the model for that.”

The post Jay Johnson praises LSU players that emerged as key contributors this season appeared first on On3.