LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson makes bold statement about RHP Chase Shores

Last year, LSU baseball finished the season 43-23 and failed to defend their national championship. Their season ended in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with a loss to the Tar Heels in the Chapel Hill Super Regional.

Jay Johnson recently met with the media to discuss the 2025 version of the Bayou Bengals and what he was excited about as he headed into fall ball. There were many topics on the docket for Johnson, but one of the things he talked about was starting pitching.

Who is a pitcher Johnson is high on heading into the next season? That would be redshirt sophomore right-handed pitcher Chase Shores.

Labeling a player as the best pitcher you have recruited at LSU other than Paul Skenes is a head-turning statement. We are talking about a pitcher who was drafted as the No. 1 overall player in the 2023 MLB draft and will likely be the 2024 Rookie of the Year in the MLB.

Giving Shores that kind of praise is interesting, but he has the stuff to be an Ace in the rotation. Shores pitched in seven games in 2023, totaling 18.1 innings and striking out 15 hitters while only walking nine. He finished the year with an 0-1 record and a 1.96 ERA.

I think Shores will make the transition from a bullpen guy to a starter this Spring and I hope he will have a great season in 2025.

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