LSU Baseball 2023 Season Preview: OF Gavin Dugas

If you were to take a preseason look to predict who some of the top hitters in LSU baseball’s 2023 lineup would be this season, Gavin Dugas is a name that will quickly come to mind. An experienced player coming off back-to-back impressive seasons, here is a 2023 season preview for Dugas.

LSU Baseball 2023 Season Preview: OF Gavin Dugas

A former in-state product out of Houma Christian High School, Dugas as mentioned previously is an experienced player for the Tigers, one who originally made his collegiate debut during the 2019 season. His first in Baton Rouge, Dugas would slash .186/.265/.233 that season, appearing in only 19 games due to an injury.

During the shortened 2020 season, Dugas would go on to play in 13 games for the Tigers, and would see a rise in production in a similar sample size. Slashing .286/.412/.607, Dugas would also hit three HR, and was well on his way to enjoying a breakout 2020 campaign for the Tigers.

Dugas would however have that breakout season in 2021, slashing .295/.407/.641 with 19 HR and 66 RBI, a number that would lead the SEC entirely. In addition to those numbers, Dugas also ranked Top 10 in the SEC that season in HR, SLG%, and total bases, while also being named SEC Co-Player of the Week once, as well as MVP honors from the 2021 NCAA Eugene Regional.

As for last season, the graduate student is coming off a 2022 campaign in which he appeared in a total of 39 games for LSU, slashing .306/.479/.519 with five HR and 25 RBI. Dugas, who missed some time with an injury, also had eight 2B and three SB, while also starting in left field for the Tigers when healthy.

Now entering his fifth season in Baton Rouge, Dugas should once again be one of LSU baseball’s top hitters in 2023, with the experienced outfielder now back to full health. Yes, the Tigers are absolutely loaded entering the season, but Dugas should still be one LSU’s top players regardless, and could even rival his impressive 2021 season production-wise.

Defensively, Dugas could also see time at a few different positions, with a majority of the time coming in the outfield. Overall, expect Dugas to simply have a strong 2023 season in Baton Rouge, one in which the graduate student will help lead a deep and talented LSU lineup.

2023 Season Prediction: .300 AVG, .445 OBP, .600 SLG, 1.045 OPS, 40 R, 12 2B, 13 HR, 55 RBI, 5 SB