re: LSU Baseball 2023 (and beyond) Recruiting Thread - Old Thread - Please unpin

Diving a little deeper into Mac Bingham's stats over the years.

He was a Freshman in the COVID-shorted 2020 year. Obviously limited sample size compared to usual season, but started 12 of 15 games and played in all 15 total games before the season was cancelled. He hit for a high average at a .361 clip. He had a 9 BB to 5 K ratio, but most stats other than average are likely too limited to give any weight to.

His "RS Freshman" year in 2021, his playing time increased to 38 starts and 55 games played. The average balanced out at .305 but his power numbers were a bit tame with only 7 2B, 1 3B, and 1 HR in 141 ABs. What stands out was his 25 BB to 29 K ratio in his first full collegiate season. The 2021 season was Bingham's last year playing under Jay.

The next year as a "RS Sophomore" in 2022 was Bingham's first year at Arizona without Jay as his head coach and hitting instructor. He started 61 games, but the average took quite the slide to .277, though the power numbers did surge. Slugging rose from .390 the year prior to .459 in 2022 and that's with the reduction in average. With the increased power came a regression in the BB to K ratio which inverted to 21 BB to 58 K.

Last year (2023) in his "RS Junior" year, it appears every single stat took a substantial jump forward, as did most of college baseball, though this jump appears more significant than the nationwide surge. In 58 starts, Bingham's average, OBP, and SLG rose nearly 100 statistical points each when compared to the prior season: .360/.432 /.573 in 2023 (versus .277/.338/.459 in 2022). Power numbers in 2023 compared to 2022 are 20 2B (12 2B in 2022), 10 HR (6 HR in 2022), and 51 RBI (47 RBI in 2022), all in only 11 more ABs in 2023 versus 2022.
Also, his BB to K ratio progressed closer to a more balanced 1:1 ratio when compared to the prior year at 32 BB to 43 K in 2023.

Given a 3.5 season sample size, I think its safe to say that Bingham is a gifted offensive player who over the course of his career as of late has "figured it out," and I think will only further thrive back under Jay's offensive approach and instruction. While the quality of pitching will certainly be a step up from PAC-12 to SEC, I would expect Bingham to thrive in the purple and gold back under Jay in his final collegiate year of eligibility.