The champions are back. Following a 2023 season in which LSU won 54 games and finished second in the SEC West, they advanced to the College World Series and defeated fellow SEC team Florida to secure their seventh national championship in school history. The Tigers are anticipated to bring back some of the biggest names from their championship-winning roster while also bidding farewell to key players. The most notable losses for the Tigers occurred during the MLB draft.
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After just the first round, their top pitcher and top hitter were selected, with Paul Skenes going first overall to the Pirates and 2023 Golden Spikes winner Dylan Crews going second to the Nationals. These were among the 12 players LSU lost to the draft, but they plan to compensate with their returning players, transfers, and signing class. Ranked second by Baseball America and fourth by D1Baseball in preseason rankings, LSU is set to welcome back significant contributors for the upcoming season while also introducing new talent.
It all begins with Tommy White. The preseason All-American is expected to lead the Tigers’ offense after a stellar 2023 season, during which he hit 24 home runs and recorded 105 RBIs. Joining him in the lineup are 2023 All-American Jared Jones, Hayden Travinski, and Alex Milazzo. Players who will bolster the lineup include Arizona transfer Mac Bingham, South Carolina transfer Michael Brown III, and freshman Jake Brown, aiming to fill the gaps left by departed players.
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On the pitching front, the Tigers are guided by returnee Thatcher Hurd. Despite making only 11 starts last year, he is slated to take on the role of the Friday night starter for LSU this season. The Tigers also retain other top pitchers from last year, such as Nate Ackenhausen, Gavin Guidry, and Griffin Herring, who are expected to play more prominent roles. The pitching staff will also benefit from new additions, including UCLA transfer Gage Jump, Xavier transfer Justin Loer, and Alabama transfer Luke Holman, who are expected to assume significant roles for the Tigers. Second-ranked LSU currently holds a 16-2 record as they enter conference play and will kick off against Mississippi State in Starkville.
