By Hunt Palmer
Major league hitters struggle against Paul Skenes.
That’s why the flame-throwing former Tiger started the All-Star Game 13 months after Chris Stanfield, a freshman leadoff hitter from Auburn, collected a pair of hits off of him.
Fast forward two years, and Stanfield has switched his Tiger stripes from navy and orange to purple and gold and is thriving in his own role in Baton Rouge as a transfer. He’s manned the ninth spot in the order in 52 of LSU’s 59 games. For some, that would feel like a slight. Stanfield has embraced it.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Stanfield said. “Being in the nine-hole, there’s a lot of versatility. There’s sometimes I might need to bunt and get the bat to DC (Derek Curiel) or drive a guy in. Really just being there and being a team player more than anything.”
The speedy centerfielder actually led LSU in hitting in conference play and for the season ranks second on the team in sacrifice bunts and doubles. His versatility has shown through time and time again.
Saturday night, he added another element to his game–power. Stanfield had not hit a home run in over 200 plate appearances entering winners’ bracket game with Dallas Baptist. In the second inning, he took a tip from head coach Jay Johnson.
“Tonight, and really this whole week, I’ve just been working hard on getting back to using the whole field and staying within myself,” Stanfield said. “So today, they were working me away, and Coach Johnson told me before the AB to look away, really just trust in it, let the ball get deep. And I was able to put a good swing on it. Thankfully it was able to fly out of here.”
A first he won’t forget 💜@_chrisstanfield | ESPNU pic.twitter.com/ePV4cNIiE0
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) June 1, 2025
The opposite-field longball gave LSU a 3-0 lead, and the Tigers were off and running.
Fittingly, Stanfield’s next at bat called for a completely different approach. With two men on and one out, he lined a single to left field to plate another run to keep the momentum going.
Two innings later, he dug in with runners at second and third and one out and drove in a run with a ground ball to shortstop.
Three plate appearances. Three different sets of circumstances. Three successful results.
“We put a lot of hard work in, get here early to hit,” Stanfield said. “Really, once we get in the game, just believing in each other, passing the bat down 1-through-9. I believe we’re the best in the country, and we’re untouchable.”
The Tigers certainly have been to this point in the weekend, outscoring Little Rock and Dallas Baptist 19-0 en route to the Baton Rouge Regional final.
LSU has scored in 11 of 16 innings offensively and has only been retired in order three times. The constant pressure has taxed the opposing pitching staffs and produced plenty of runs to win behind a stellar pitching staff.
“We take a lot of pride in being complete and winning any type of game,” Johnson said. “We’ve won some pitchers’ duels this year, close games, one run type games, a few slugfests. You play in different parks throughout this tournament…In Omaha, the ballpark’s bigger. So, you just want to have a complete skillset to function in a way that helps you in any type of game. And I think this team was put together in a way that it can do that.”
