Gavin Dugas belts first home run as a professional

It’s been a great day on Sunday for two former LSU Tigers on the Fredericksburg Nationals. First, former Tiger slugger Dylan Crews blasted his first home run as a professional. Then, his old LSU teammate, Gavin Dugas decided to obliterate one over the wall as well on Sunday afternoon.

Check it out as the second home run for a former LSU Tiger is launched.

Now Gavin Dugas clubs HIS first professional home run, to make it a 5-2!#WeAreFXBG pic.twitter.com/3ng0mUEz6c

— Fredericksburg Nationals (@FXBGNats) August 6, 2023

The solo shot in the bottom of the fifth inning put the Nationals up 5-2.

Dugas was taken in the sixth round, No. 165 overall by the Washington Nationals in the 2023 MLB Draft.

He played a critical role in helping LSU win the 2023 national title as he hit .290 with 12 home runs and 46 RBIs. The Louisiana native appeared in 68 games, while starting 66 of them. He also finished No. 1 in the nation in hit-by-pitch with a school-record 33 on the year.

Gavin Dugas was named to the College World Series All-Tournament Team at second base after he hit .308 with two home runs, two doubles and four RBIs in Omaha.

Dugas spent five seasons playing at LSU. He appeared in 201 games, while starting 178 of them. For his career, Dugas hit .287 with 44 home runs and 148 RBIs.

He posted a 55-game reached base streak from February 17-June 2. Dugas showcased freon coursing through his veins when the Tigers played Tennessee on March 31st, blasting a solo shot in the fourth inning, breaking a 4-4 tie and proving to be the game-winner in his team’s victory.

In the 2022 season, he blasted a solo shot in the bottom of the eighth inning of the championship game of the NCAA Hattiesburg Regional vs. Southern Miss, tying the game at 7-7. In 2022, he batted .306 with eight doubles, five home runs, 25 RBIs, and 26 runs. Dugas also batted .438 on the year with runners in scoring position.

In the 2021 season, Dugas ranked near the top of the conference in several statistical categories. He made 62 starts in left field–leading the SEC in RBIs (66). The Louisiana native also ranked third in the league in home runs (19), and fifth in slugging percentage (.641). In LSU’s seven tournament games that year–he belted three home runs.

In the 2020 season, he blasted a team-high three home runs.

As a high school prospect, he earned All-American honors from Rawlings and earned first team all-state honors for Houma Christian High School.

On3’s Matt Connolly also contributed to this article.