Former Mandeville High infielder Brandon Mooney transferred to Loyola-New Orleans this season and made an immediate impact.
That might be an understatement.
The redshirt sophomore started all 53 games at second base while setting new single-season school records for hits (81) and runs (63).
He also led the team with a .411 batting average and 18 doubles while being named an SSAC All-Conference first-team selection and taking home an SSAC Gold Glove at second base.
Mooney hit leadoff for the Wolf Pack, driving in 35 runs and walking 38 times to notch a .516 on-base percentage and a .543 slugging percentage. He was also a threat on the base paths, stealing 22 bases in 23 attempts.
Mooney began his Loyola career with hits in eight of the first nine games, starting 12-for-30 (.400) with 11 runs scored, four RBIs, five stolen bases and seven walks. He didn’t slow down for the rest of the season.
He recorded 25 multi-hit games, including 13 games with at least three hits and three with at least four. In addition, Mooney only struck out 17 times in 197 at-bats, by far the least among Loyola’s everyday players.
He was also an impressive defender with a .973 fielding percentage with 88 putouts and 90 assists. He went error-free in his first 26 games.
Mooney came to Loyola after spending two seasons at LSU-Eunice. He redshirted his freshman year in 2021 and then hit .309 in 26 games played in 2022. He scored 20 runs with 21 hits in 68 at-bats with a .400 OBP.