O’Neal Lochridge won’t return to baseball program in 2016-17; will remain enrolled at LSU and rehab back

Lochridge started 10 games at third base this season

By JAMES MORAN
Tiger Rag Associate Editor

O’Neal Lochridge won’t be part of the LSU baseball program for the 2016-17 season.

Lochridge announced via twitter on Wednesday night that he wouldn’t be returning to practice in the fall “due to the uncertainty of when the healing process” of his injured back would be complete.

Paul Mainieri confirmed via text that Lochridge was taking a year off to rehab his back. He’ll remain at LSU in the meantime and “decide later if he is able to and wants to return to playing.” He also confirmed Lochridge won’t be on the roster for the coming season.

pic.twitter.com/jY8yryll6I

— O'Neal Lochridge (@Olochridge) June 23, 2016

Lochridge started 10 of LSU’s first 16 games at third base after Mainieri shuffled his infield by moving Cole Freeman and eventually Kramer Robertson to shortstop. He .229 with two home runs and 10 RBI before a re-aggravated stress fracture ended his season.

Fellow freshman Chris Reid manned the hot corner for the remainder of the season. He hit .287 with one home run, 16 RBI and got on base at a .417 clip.