Expectations are already high for LSU baseball in 2025

There has been a dramatic makeover of LSU’s baseball roster since the team was bounced from the Chapel Hill Regional. At one point in June, there were just eleven returning players on the roster because 14 players hit the transfer portal, including hard throwing left-hander Cam Johnson.

Third baseman Tommy White and pitchers Gage Jump, Luke Holman and Griffin Herring are also leaving to begin their pro careers.

But Coach Jay Johnson has built the roster back up with ten players out of the transfer portal and that includes second baseman Daniel Dickinson from Utah Valley and UC San Diego right-hander Anthony Eyanson. Dickinson and Eyanson are projected first round picks next year.

Also, seven freshman signees have made it on campus, despite being Top 100 MLB draft prospects.

The seven include the nation’s top right-handed high school pitcher in William Schmidt, who passed up millions of dollars to come to LSU. California outfielder Derek Curiel was projected to be a top three round pick, instead he’ll be wearing Purple and Gold. Johnson calls it the best freshman class he’s ever recruited.

These newcomers will join a good group of core players that include power hitting first baseman Jared Jones, starting shortstop Michael Braswell and Freshman All-American Steven Milam. Plus, outfielders Jake Brown, Ashton Larson and Josh Pearson will be Tigers next season.

Highly respected Baseball America has analyzed all of the rosters and they have LSU number one in their Way to Early Top 25 for the Top 2025 season.

Very impressive what Johnson has done as players are coming and going in this transfer portal era.

When the real preseason polls come out next January, LSU will likely be in the Top 5 again. They didn’t completely live up to the hype in 2024, but Johnson is determined to get back to Omaha in 2025.