Top LSU pitching transfer target commits to SEC rival

LSU has already put together one of the nation’s strongest transfer classes, but it missed out on one of the top targets on its board Monday.

Zach Root, a left-hander from East Carolina and the top-ranked pitcher in the transfer portal, announced his commitment to Arkansas. Root was also considering LSU and another SEC foe in Auburn, though recent reports indicated that coach Jay Johnson’s team had fallen out of the race.

Many thought he was heading for the plains, but instead, he joins coach Dave Van Horn and a Razorbacks team coming off a second-straight disappointing regional exit in the NCAA Tournament.

Root, who hails from Fort Myers, Florida, went 6-2 in 12 starts as a sophomore in 2024. He finished with a 3.95 ERA, striking out 76 batters while walking just 21.

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