LSU eyes replacement after Sanchez’s retirement

Mannings Galore: QB camp a hit in Thibodaux
July 16, 2014
Winston enjoys Manning Camp, eager to grow
July 16, 2014
Mannings Galore: QB camp a hit in Thibodaux
July 16, 2014
Winston enjoys Manning Camp, eager to grow
July 16, 2014

The 2015 LSU baseball season will be a crucial one in the history of the Tigers’ program as the team looks to win its first College World Series games since the 2009 season.

To get back to the pinnacle of the sport in the next season, the Tigers will have to excel offensively with a new voice instructing their offensive weapons.

LSU hitting coach Javi Sanchez announced this week that he has resigned from his position so that he could accept a job outside of coaching back in his native Miami.


Sanchez, 32, has been with the team for seven seasons. He was part of the Tigers’ staff during their 2009 College World Series Championship season.

The coach said he loves coaching and college baseball, but is retiring from the profession to pursue a “normal job” – one that will allow him to spend more time at home with his wife Michelle and young daughter Valentina.

Sanchez is also LSU’s recruiting coordinator and has orchestrated some of the best recruiting classes in the country over the past several seasons.


“Clearly, I am fulfilled with our progress and achievements during my time at LSU,” Sanchez said this week. “However, my heart has led me in a different direction, and I’m ready to face new challenges that lie ahead. This was a personal decision made in the best interest of my family and my career as a professional moving forward.”

“It is with a great deal of sadness that I have accepted the resignation from our staff of Javi Sanchez,” LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri added. “I’m very sorry to see Javi leave because he has been such a big part of the success we have had at LSU in our baseball program over the last seven years.

“His infectious personality will be missed by everyone.”


During Sanchez’s time as LSU’s hitting coach, the Tigers were consistently one of the top hitting teams in the SEC – both before and after the radial bat changes that have swallowed up the sport in recent seasons.

In 2012, Sanchez coached the nation’s leading hitter, outfielder Raph Rhymes, a slugger who owned a ridiculous .431 batting average. As a team, LSU’s lineup rallied around Rhymes’ efforts and led the conference in both runs scored and RBI.

One year later, the Tigers’ offense was just as good, leading the conference in hits, doubles and total bases. LSU was also in the top-half of the conference in all of the power offensive statistics in 2013, including home runs, RBI and runs scored.


During that season, Sanchez again coached Rhymes, but also slugger Mason Katz, the SEC’s leader in both home runs and RBI. Shortstop Alex Bregman had a big year in 2013, as well, winning National Freshman of the Year honors after a huge offensive year, batting .369 with six home runs and 52 RBI.

With Katz and Rhymes gone from the heart of LSU’s batting order in 2014, LSU took a step back from their offensive prowess. But they were still among the best in the SEC in most categories, ranking in the top 5 in the league in 10 different offensive categories. The Tigers were third in the SEC in batting average last season, second in slugging percentage and third in RBI. The Tigers peaked their efforts at the right time, hitting .348 in their final 12 games of the season with 106 runs and 16 home runs.

No replacement has been named.


Former LSU hitting coach Javi Sanchez retired this week to pursue other endeavors. LSU is searching for a replacement.

LSU SPORTS INFORMATION