LSU TIGERS COLLEGE BASEBALL PREVIEW 2024

Coming in at #3….

In 2023, the LSU Tigers finished 54-17 overall and 19-10 in the SEC conference and won the national championship for the seventh time in school history. In 2024. They hope to reload for another title for head coach Jay Johnson who is 94-39 in two seasons at the helm. 

Returning Tommy White is one of the best third basemen in the nation and sophomore catcher Brade Neal is back behind the plate. Jared Jones was an All-American freshman at first base. Hayden Travinski and Alex Milazo are fifth year seniors.

Coach Johnson added quality transfers with lefthander Gage Jump from UCLA and righty Luke Holman from Alabama. Also, shortstop Michael Braswell from South Carolina and Arizona outfielder Mac Bingham will all likely be in the lineup. 

Gone are some big names such as the #1 pitcher Paul Skenes and #2 draftee Dylan Crews. Not only production is gone with them but plenty of leadership has left the field. 

In the rotation is starter Thatcher Hurd whom they got through the portal in 2022. He was a bit inconsistent at times but was one of the best in Omaha as he faced Florida and Wake Forest with great success in 12 innings of work.

Some players to watch include:

Pos.	Name	Year	AVG	OBP	SLG	AB	HR	RBI
C	Brady Neal	So.	.209	.411	.388	67	3	9
1B	Jared Jones	So.	.304	.426	.640	161	14	45
2B	Josh Pearson	Jr.	.226	.393	.387	137	4	27
3B	Tommy White	Jr.	.374	.432	.725	273	24	105
SS	Michael Braswell	Jr.	Transfer—South Carolina
OF	Mac Bingham	R-Sr.	Transfer—Arizona
OF	Paxton Kling	So.	.289	.390	.522	90	4	9
OF	Jake Brown	Fr.	HS—Sulphur, La.
DH	Hayden Travinski	R-Sr.	.356	.465	.692	104	10	30
Pos.	Name	Class	W	L	ERA	IP	SO	SV
SP	Thatcher Hurd	Jr.	8	2	5.68	63	84	3
SP	Gage Jump	R-So.	Transfer—UCLA
SP	Luke Holman	Jr.	Transfer—Alabama
RP	Gavin Guidry	So.	3	0	3.77	29	42	3
RP	Griffin Herring	So.	5	2	3.93	34	41	2
RP	Cam Johnson	Fr.	HS—IMG