LSU baseball is saying goodbye to catcher/first baseman Sean Ochinko (above) and pitcher Nolan Cain. They join outfielder Jared Mitchell in signing contracts with major league ball clubs and now begin their professional careers.
Mitchell was the first LSU player to go pro. He was a first round draft pick for the Chicago White Sox and signed Wednesday. He has been assigned to their Class A affiliate, Kannapolis Intimidators. The junior was named the Most Outstanding Player of the College World Series this year and will be missed patrolling the outfield in Alex Box Stadium.
Ochinko was also a junior and now joins the Toronto Blue Jays. He was drafted by them in the 11th round and has been assigned to their affiliate, Auburn Doubledays in the Class A New York Penn League. Ochinko thrived in the postseason for LSU, hitting .363 with three doubles, two homers and thirteen RBI. In the deciding game of the College World Series he went 4-for-5 with a homerun and 3 RBI.
Cain has signed a free-agent contract to pitch in the Detroit Tigers organization and will begin his pro career with the team's Class A advanced team in Lakeland, Florida. As a senior in 2009, Cain went 5-0 with victories in two of LSU's biggest games. He came out of the bullpen at Mississippi State in a 15-4 win that enabled LSU to claim a share of the Southeastern Conference regular-season championship. At the SEC tournament against Georgia, Cain started and won a game that sent the Tigers to the championship game.
So which players could leave pack next? LSU coach Paul Mainieri has to wait and see what happens. DJ LeMahieu, Blake Dean, and Ryan Schimpf could be in different uniforms next year. The Cubs picked LeMahieu in the 2nd round and Schimpf went to the Blue Jays in the 5th. Both will most likely sign in the next couple of days. Blake Dean is another story.
Dean was taken in the 10th round by the Minnesota Twins and could stick around for another season as a Tiger. Coach Mainieri has told the slugger that if he does decide to stay, he would see playing time at first base or in the outfield. For most of this past season he was a designated hitter and by playing a position on an everyday basis, could increase his stock and go higher in next year's draft.
Whatever happens Tiger nation, sleep tight knowing that the Coach of the Year Paul Mainieri will have this ball club restocked and ready to go for another shot at a national title next year. He has brought so much recognition to the program and recruiting the nation's best talent will now be even easier.
We wish all the guys leaving our very best. This season was magical and will never be forgotten. I hope we see them in a MLB All Star game soon, just like former Tigers Aaron Hill and Brad Hawpe this year.
You can e-mail Steve at sgeller@entercom.com
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