2024 LSU Baseball Preview

Erik Trosclair • January 18, 2024

Lets get into it!

LSU's 2023 baseball season will be one Tiger fans will always remember as LSU brought their seventh national championship back to Baton Rouge. Now in 2024, LSU has to replace lots of production, starting with none other than the top two selections in the 2023 MLB draft, Dylan Crews and Paul Skenes. D1Baseball has LSU ranked number 4 and Perfect Game has the Tigers ranked number 3 coming into the season. The SEC is loaded this season as eight teams are ranked in the top 25, and LSU has to play six of those teams.


COACHING CHANGES

For the second time in as many seasons, LSU is having to bring in a new pitching coach as Wes Johnson left LSU to become the head coach at the University of Georgia. Jay Johnson turned to a familiar face by bringing in Nate Yeskie. Yeskie has been coaching for nearly twenty years now. Before coaching, Nate Yeskie was the 9th round selection by the Minnesota Twins in 1996, he spent five seasons pitching in the Twins organization. Yeskie started his coaching career at UNLV, where he played his college ball, in 2005. He became Oregon State's pitching coach in 2009, and he would stay there until 2019. In 2019 he would become Jay Johnson's pitching coach at Arizona. He has spent the previous two seasons at Texas A&M as their pitching coach. Coach Yeskie has quite the résumé, in 2017 he was named D1Baseball's Assistant Coach of the Year. In 2018 he helped Oregon State win a national championship. He is the only assistant coach to be a part of three different programs that have gone to the College World Series (Oregon State, Arizona, Texas A&M). In a Baseball America poll of 70 head coaches, he was the voted as the top assistant coach in the nation. He has coached 99 draft picks, 20 big leaguers, and multiple award winners.


Coach Jay Johnson has added Terry Rooney to the staff as the Associate Director of Program Development and Recruiting. Rooney was previously part of the Tiger's coaching staff in 2007 and 2008. He left LSU to become the head coach at the University of Central Florida for eight seasons, he would rack up 261 victories in that time. He was Alabama's associate head coach and interim head coach in 2017. He would become the pitching coach at the University of Houston from 2019 to 2021. Most recently, he was Purdue's recruiting coordinator and pitching coach the past two seasons. He has recruited some guys baseball fans may have heard of, Justin Verlander, DJ LeMahieu, and Anthony Ranaudo.


Another addition to the staff is Brent Haring, LSU's new Director of Operations. Haring replaces Josh Simpson who followed Wes Johnson to the University of Georgia. Brent Haring was a part of BYU's baseball staff since 2012. The past two seasons he was the Cougar's associate head coach. While at BYU he helped develop many All Conference, All Region, and All American players. In 2016, 2017, and 2019 BYU won the regular season West Coast Conference title, along with winning the conference tournament in 2017.


NEW LOOK TIGERS?

LSU had a top ten high school recruiting class along with a top five transfer class. The Tigers recruiting class is anchored down by probable two way player Jake Brown, who was the top high school prospect in Louisiana, and the 18th ranked left handed pitcher in the nation. Get familiar with Jake Brown quick Tiger fans. Cam Johnson is an exciting incoming Freshman he was the 11th ranked overall prospect coming out of high school. Steven Milam, the 32nd ranked shortstop in the country, looks to add some depth in the infield. Ashton Larson the number 78th overall prospect in the country will play some outfield for the Tigers.

Coach Johnson adds a familiar face in Mac Bingham from Arizona. Bingham was an All Pac 12 player for the Wildcats. Michael Braswell III transfers from South Carolina, where he was a Freshman All SEC performer. Luke Holman transfers over from Alabama where he was the top starting pitcher for the Crimson Tide.


Fun Fact: Luke Holman was the pitcher who was pulled due to "back issues" against LSU in the Brad Bohannon alleged sports betting saga.


RECOVERING TIGERS

Pitcher Chase Shores looks to return at some time during the season as he recovers from Tommy John Surgery. Shores suffered a torn UCL in April 2023. Chase showed lots of promise for the Tigers last season. Jaden Noot, who has yet to see the mound in a Tiger uniform, was injured before last season is another pitcher that should be ready for the 2023 season. Noot was the 33rd ranked prospect in 2022. Fan favorite Tommy White had offseason shoulder surgery. White, who played through a lot of pain last season, missed all of fall practice, but Tommy should be ready for the start of the 2024 season.


NUMBER 8

Number 8 for LSU baseball goes to a true leader on and off the field since it began in 2009. Think of it as LSU football's number 18 .. but on the diamond. This year the honor goes to Hayden Travinski. Hayden has been a part of the team since 2020. He recently graduated in the spring of 2023. Hayden has played and will continue to play multiple positions for the Tigers.


MY PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

C: Alex Milazzo - a true leader behind the plate, brings contact and a great glove (Look for Brady Neal, Hayden Travinski, and Ethan Frey to get time behind the plate)

1B: Jared Jones - ton of power and very experienced (Hayden Travinski, Ethan Frey, and Jake Brown may see time at 1st)

2B: Josh Pearson - very experienced, ton of speed, and a big arm (Steven Milam, Ben Nippolt, and Gavin Guidry may see time up the middle)

SS: Michael Braswell III - sure glove up the middle (Steven Milam, Ben Nippolt, and Gavin Guidry may see time here as well)

3B: Tommy White - big arm, power, contact, a sure glove, and a load of SWAG (Jared Jones, Ben Nippolt, and Brady Neal may see time at the hot corner)

RF: Paxton Kling - very experienced, has a powerful arm, along with lots of speed (Mic Paul, Zeb Ruddell, and Ashton Larson can fill in any position in the outfield)

CF: Mac Bingham - All Pac 12, a great glove, can hit for contact and power

LF: Jake Brown - Louisiana High School Player of the Year, 10-2 record 1.71 ERA, and .336 BA, 7 HR, and 20 stolen bases, brings all five tools to the field

DH: Hayden Travinski - very experienced brings a big arm and a power bat to the lineup (Jared Jones and Ethen Frey could see time here as well)


ROTATION

Thatcher Hurd - look for Thatcher to have a big season for the Tigers

Luke Holman - very experienced in the SEC, finished 2nd in WHIP, 3rd in opponent batting average, and 3rd in hits per nine innings in the conference in 2023

Javen Coleman - very experienced in all roles, solid all around pitcher

Gage Jump - didn't pitch in 2023, has started and closed in his college career


RELIEVERS

Aiden Moffett - touched the upper 90s in the fall

Nate Ackenhausen - can pitch a short or long outing for the Tigers

Chase Shores - may see some starts later in the season

Jaden Noot - may see some starts at some point

Christian Little - has pitched in all roles for the Tigers

Kade Woods - the Alabama transfer has started and pitched in relief in his college career

Cam Johnson - can be a potential starter at some time during the season

Kade Anderson - can touch the mid 90s, an exciting young pitcher

Griffin Herring - very experienced has pitched in all roles

Will Hellmers - brings a ton of experience to the staff

Samuel Dutton - may see some starts at some point


SET UP AND CLOSERS

Gavin Guidry - can play the field or pitch, brings a load of confidence to the field and an experienced closer

Justin Loer - the Xavier transfer notched 7 saves last season, 2nd team All Big East


RECORD PREDICTION

Last season, I was one game off of LSU's regular season record. I like to do best case, worst case, and what I believe will happen.

Best Case: 50-6

Worst Case: 34-22

Prediction: 43-13


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Why Peyton "Pop" Houston Could Play a Major Role in LSU's Pursuit of Easton RoyalWhy Peyton "Pop" Houston Could Play a Major Role in LSU's Pursuit of Easton Royal

By Auston Taylor • July 8, 2026
 LSU has made it clear that five-star wide receiver Easton Royal remains one of its top priorities in the 2027 recruiting class. Although Royal is currently committed to Texas, LSU has continued to recruit him aggressively. Based on recent recruiting events and public reporting, one factor that could strengthen the Tigers' position is the presence of quarterback commit Peyton "Pop" Houston. While no outcome is guaranteed in recruiting, Houston's relationship with Royal has become one of the more intriguing storylines surrounding LSU's 2027 class. According to recruiting coverage from The Opening and reports from And The Valley Shook, Houston and Royal showcased noticeable chemistry while competing together on the national stage. Houston also drew attention by winning the event's longest throw competition with a reported 67-yard throw, further reinforcing why many evaluators consider him one of the premier quarterback prospects in the 2027 class. In my view, Houston has the potential to become much more than another highly rated offensive commitment. Elite quarterbacks often become magnets for other top recruits, and early signs suggest Houston could have that kind of influence on LSU's 2027 recruiting class. Why Houston Matters in Royal's Recruitment Quarterback and wide receiver relationships have become one of the most influential factors in modern recruiting. Elite receivers aren't simply choosing a school—they're choosing an offense, a coaching staff, and perhaps most importantly, the quarterback who will help maximize their abilities. If Royal ultimately views Houston as LSU's quarterback of the future, it gives the Tigers another compelling selling point. Rather than asking Royal to imagine what the offense could become, LSU can point to chemistry that has already been displayed during national recruiting events. That doesn't guarantee a commitment flip, but it does provide LSU with something tangible that few recruiting pitches can offer: an established connection between two elite prospects. LSU's History Shows Why This Matters LSU's greatest offensive seasons have consistently featured elite quarterbacks throwing to elite receivers. During the Tigers' historic 2019 National Championship season, Joe Burrow captured the Heisman Trophy while throwing to arguably the greatest receiving corps in college football history—Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Terrace Marshall Jr. That offense rewrote NCAA record books and remains the standard for modern college football offenses. A few years later, history repeated itself. Jayden Daniels won the 2023 Heisman Trophy while benefiting from one of the nation's most explosive receiving duos in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. Daniels' remarkable development was certainly his own, but LSU's elite receiving talent allowed the offense to reach another level. The lesson is clear: great quarterbacks elevate receivers, but elite receivers also help quarterbacks reach championship-level production. That history gives LSU a compelling message for recruits considering Baton Rouge. Peyton "Pop" Houston's Development Houston's rise as one of Louisiana's premier quarterback prospects is backed by more than recruiting rankings. Evaluators consistently praise his arm strength, touch, ability to extend plays outside the pocket, and willingness to attack defenses vertically. His continued development at Evangel Christian Academy has made him one of the foundation pieces of LSU's 2027 recruiting class. The Bigger Picture If LSU eventually pairs Peyton Houston with Easton Royal, it would represent much more than another recruiting victory. It would signal that LSU landed a quarterback capable of attracting elite talent around him while adding a receiver willing to build alongside that vision. Programs that consistently compete for championships often see recruiting momentum build this way. Elite quarterbacks attract receivers. Elite receivers attract additional offensive talent. Once that cycle begins, recruiting classes can quickly become special. None of this guarantees that Easton Royal will flip his commitment. Texas remains in a strong position, and recruiting decisions can change for countless reasons. However, Houston's emergence gives LSU something every elite program hopes to have: a quarterback capable of becoming the centerpiece of an entire recruiting class. LSU has already witnessed what happens when championship-caliber quarterbacks are paired with elite receivers. Joe Burrow won the Heisman Trophy. Jayden Daniels won the Heisman Trophy. If Peyton "Pop" Houston eventually helps bring Easton Royal to Baton Rouge, it could become one of the defining recruiting stories of LSU's 2027 class—and perhaps the first step toward building another explosive Tiger offense.

Tight End Room Outlook: Revamped and Ready To Roll

By Kaden Arkeder • July 4, 2026
The tight end room has some fresh blood and they look poised to be more impactful heading into next season. With the new arrivals of Noah Fant and third round draft pick Oscar Delp the offense will have the ability to play more in multiple tight end sets to create mismatches for the defense. Multiple tight end sets should allow the Saints to improve the run game and conversely the play action game. Playing in tight end heavy sets was something they were unable to do more of last year due to injuries and lack of talent at the tight end position. Mainstay and the only returning starting caliber player is Juwan Johnson. Johnson had a good year last year as one of the few reliable targets in the passing game aside from Chris Olave. Johnson is looking to build on a solid year where he had 77 receptions for 889 receiving yards with 3 touchdowns. He was a security blanket when Rattler was starting and had quite a few big plays when Shough took over as the starting quarterback. With Shough coming into the season as the presumed starter I expect their connection to be even better next season. Someone hoping to have a better connection with a new QB is Noah Fant. Fant was a first round pick back in 2019 with the Broncos but has never quite lived up to his draft status. Fant will be playing on his third team in three years as he seeks to be a quality rotational piece in the offense and find stability for his career here in New Orleans. Fant should be utilized more in the passing game than in the running game but should be able to hold his own when called upon to do his part on run downs. Fant has been on a statistical decline since his time with Denver as his best receiving season came in at 68/670/4 back in 2021. Although his stats have been declining Fant still has plenty to offer with his athleticism and should produce more given a better opportunity. After Fant in the depth chart should be Oscar Delp who could be the x-factor of the tight end room after being selected in the third round of the draft this year. Delp brings a versatile option to the offense as he can lineup in various spots and handle the rigors of blocking in the run game. Delp’s calling card in college was his elite athleticism which jumps off the screen when you watch his tape. He has the ability to turn a five yard catch into an explosive play with how quickly he can get to top speed. Delp is an adequate, willing blocker where like most new tight ends in the league has room to improve in the blocking area of his game. With his versatility and athleticism I believe Delp will play a pivotal role in the offense this upcoming season. With Delp presumed to round out the depth chart at tight end the remaining tight ends will be competing for spots on the practice squad or spots on another team. This group includes Cody Hardy, Treyton Welch, Moliki Matavao, and Zaire Mitchell-Paden. We’ve seen Welch and Matavao from last season fill in admirably after some injuries but are best served as bench options at this point in time in their development. This group of roster hopefuls should hopefully provide some good competition from one another as we progress through training camp and preseason here shortly. Overall this group has a lot more promise heading into this season as it did last year. By getting younger and more athletic the tight ends will play a more prominent role in Kellen Moore’s offense. Whether it’s Juwan building on last season or Fant having a bounce back year or Delp proving to be revelation, the team is going to have plenty of options to choose from to attack the defense. Exactly what this team needed after not having enough last season.
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