LSU catcher Hayden Travinski returning for 2024 season
LSU just returned a pivotal piece from its 2023 College World Series run. On Tuesday, Leah Vann of “The Advocate” reported catcher Hayden Travinski will return for the 2024 season.
Travinski battled his way to the starting catcher position by April for LSU. In 41 appearances and 23 starts, Travinski boasted a .356 batting average with five doubles, 10 homers, 30 RBI and 30 runs scored.
LSU head coach Jay Johnson claims Travinski’s confidence is a key behind his success.
“He’s a super confident guy and once he got in there that really changed us as a team,” Johnson said.
The Louisiana native only improved in the postseason. Travinski was named to the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional All-Tournament Team after hitting .429 with one double, two homers, five RBI and five runs.
Johnson couldn’t be prouder of Travinski’s improvement throughout the season.
“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.”
Despite a strong finish, Travinski did not finish in the top 500 MLB prospects and ultimately went undrafted. Travinski won’t return to the same Tigers team as last season. LSU saw 13 players/commits selected in the 2023 MLB Draft. However, that doesn’t mean all 13 players are gone. Selected players will have until August 1 to sign a contract.
More on LSU’s success in 2023 MLB Draft
LSU saw their first pick go No. 1 overall as Paul Skenes will play in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. You have to scroll all the way to the 19th round to find the program’s last selection with Christian Little going No. 576 overall to the New York Mets.
For the first time in the history of Major League Baseball, two players from the same school were selected with the top two picks. As mentioned, Skenes will be in Pittsburgh while the Washington Nationals selected outfielder Dylan Crews with the No. 2 overall pick.
Despite LSU’s losses, the Tigers will look to repeat history next season with Travinski by their side.
On3’s Griffin McVeigh contributed to this article.