Ex-LSU coach makes bold claim about Alex Bregman's defensive abilities

LSU alum Alex Bregman is among the best infielders in baseball. The two-time World Series winner is a defensive asset, and his former LSU coach, Paul Mainieri, was full of praise for the All-Star slugger.

Mainieri, who came out of retirement to take the coaching role at the South Carolina Gamecocks in June, served as the head of LSU from 2007 to his retirement in 2021.

Alex Bregman represented the LSU Tigers for three years (2013 to 2015) under Mainieri and made a lasting impression on the former LSU coach. In a conversation with MLB Network Radio on Sunday, the two-time SEC Coach of the Year said:

"The opportunity to coach Alex Bregman and get to know him and have him in my life is one of the great privileges of my coaching career. Coaching him for three years was such a joy because I've never been around anybody, well, maybe one other person, the head coach at the Air Force Academy, Mike Kazlausky, who loved the game as much as Alex Bregman."

While Alex Bregman has failed to find a new team in the offseason after electing for free agency following the 2024 season with the Houston Astros, his former LSU coach feels any team will be lucky to have a player of Bregman's defensive quality.

"I always told people, look he can play any position on the field. He's just the consummate ball player so whether he got moved to third base or he played shortstop or moved to second, he could play the outfield or play first base.

"I don't care where he plays, he's going to be a Gold Glove-caliber player at whatever position he plays, he can hit so well in addition to his defense. So that is just a tremendous baseball player in every regard and like I said, whoever gets him is going to be very lucky."

Alex Bregman started his baseball journey at LSU as a shortstop and was named the Brooks Wallace Shortstop of the Year in his freshman year in 2013. However, he has made his name at third base since transitioning to MLB and won his maiden Gold Glove with the Astros last year.

Alex Bregman's versatility could solve his free agency puzzle

Paul Mainieri's praise about Alex Bregman being a top defenseman at any position will be music to the ears of his potential suitors, especially the Boston Red Sox.

While the Red Sox have added a few important pitching pieces in a busy offseason for the franchise, Craig Beslow's team has been linked with Bregman over the last few weeks.

One of the potential headaches for the Red Sox is that Rafael Devers already occupies third base. However, Bregman could be moved to second, going by the former LSU coach's words.

The Red Sox aren't the only team linked with Bregman as the Detroit Tigers were also heavily linked with the All-Star in December. However, talks of a potential move have seemingly slowed since then, with Spring Training looming.