Former LSU Infielder Austin Nola Gets First Hit in MLB Debut

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Former infielder for the LSU Tigers Austin Nola can add his name to the list of Paul Mainieri coached Tigers to make it to the major leagues. Nola made his big league debut on Sunday June 16, 2019 for the Seattle Mariners. He got the start at first base for Seattle and even collected his first major league base hit with a single in the third inning. Nola would come around to score his first run in his MLB career as well. He finished the game 1-for-2 and the Mariners would get the 6-3 win.

Nola earned his call up to the big league club by recording a .327 batting average this season; with seven home runs and 37 runs batted in, in 55 games with Seattle’s Triple-A affiliate, the Tacoma Rainiers.

Austin Nola was a fifth round draft choice of the Miami Marlins in 2012, becoming the 17th LSU player coached by Paul Mainieri to reach the big leagues. Nola, a Baton Rouge native, played shortstop at LSU from 2009 through 2012, and he helped lead the Tigers to the 2009 College World Series championship. Nola was also part to the 2009 and 2012 SEC Championship teams at LSU.

The former Tiger also earned All-American and All-SEC recognition at LSU, and he was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2012 NCAA Baton Rouge Regional and the Most Valuable Player of the 2010 SEC Tournament. In his time at LSU, Austin Nola played in 233 career games, batting .296, with 49 doubles, six triples, 14 home runs, 155 runs batted in, 164 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases for the Tigers.

Austin Nola’s younger brother, Aaron, is currently an All-Star starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. The Nolas are now the fourth pair of brother to play in the major leagues this season.

The other Mainieri coached LSU players to reach the major leagues are infielder JaCoby Jones, infielder Alex Bregman, infielder Ryan Schimpf, pitcher Nick Goody, outfielder Mikie Mahtook, pitcher Nick Rumbelow, pitcher Aaron Nola, pitcher Louis Coleman, pitcher Charlie Furbush, pitcher Ryan Verdugo, infielder DJ LeMahieu, pitcher Anthony Ranaudo, pitcher Kevin Gausman, infielder Matt Clark, outfielder Andrew Stevenson and pitcher Ryan Eades.

LSU has had at least one former player make his MLB debut in 26 of the past 29 seasons. The Tigers have produced a total of 75 Major Leaguers during their illustrious baseball history.