Tag: 2023 MLB draft

Top Louisiana baseball recruit Jake Brown officially coming to LSU

One of LSU’s top 2023 signees will not sign after being drafted in the 16th round by the Texas Rangers.

Despite being selected by the Texas Rangers in the 16th round of the 2023 MLB draft, one of LSU’s top recruiting signees will ultimately come to campus in [autotag]Jake Brown[/autotag].

The left-handed pitcher from Sulphur, Louisiana, is the No. 1 recruit in the state, and he ranks as the No. 116 overall high school recruit nationally, according to Perfect Game.

Brown reaching campus was largely expected. After he wasn’t selected in the first 10 rounds of the draft, he tweeted tiger emojis. However, that tweet was deleted when he was ultimately taken by Texas the next day.

Still, it was reported that Brown would likely still enroll at LSU, and though he took a week to mull it over, that’s what he chose to do in the end.

Brown is a big addition to a pitching staff that’s expected to also add [autotag]Cameron Johnson[/autotag], a 20th-round pick. Johnson is the No. 11 player in the 2023 class and would be the highest-ranked recruit to ever reach campus for the Tigers.

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Undrafted catcher Alex Milazzo returning to LSU in 2024

Both of LSU’s primary catchers in Alex Milazzo and Hayden Travinski are returning in 2024.

After getting the news that [autotag]Hayden Travinski[/autotag] would be returning for another season in 2024, the LSU Tigers got another boost at the catcher position as another veteran in [autotag]Alex Milazzo[/autotag] will reportedly return to the Tigers, according to the Advocate’s Leah Vann.

Milazzo wasn’t selected in the 2023 MLB draft, and though he had several offers to join organizations as an undrafted free agent, he ultimately spurned them all to be a part of the defending championship team next spring.

After starting 47 games in 2021, Milazzo was limited to just 12 games due to injury in 2022. This spring, he began the year as a backup but ultimately played in 53 games with 25 starts at catcher, playing in place of Travinski while he battled injuries down the stretch.

He had his best season at the plate in 2023, batting .289 with a double, 15 RBI and 21 runs scored. With both Milazzo and Travinski on board after neither was selected in the draft, the catcher position looks like a strength in 2024.

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LOOK: Paul Skenes officially introduced after signing record-setting deal with Pirates

Skenes was formally introduced by the Pirates on Tuesday after earning the biggest signing bonus in MLB draft history.

The best pitcher in college baseball in 2023 is officially joining the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.

On Tuesday, No. 1 MLB draft pick Paul Skenes agreed to terms with the Pirates, receiving a record signing bonus of $9.2 million. The previous record for a first overall pick was Spencer Torkelson’s $8.42 million with the Detroit Tigers in 2020.

The Pirates ultimately selected Skenes over his LSU teammate in Dylan Crews, who went to the Washington Nationals with the second pick and has also signed a deal with the organization.

A transfer from Air Force, Skenes took a major leap in 2023. He won the Dick Howser Award and was named National Player of the Year by multiple publications.

His 1.69 earned run average ranked second nationally, while his 209 strikeouts and 0.75 walks plus hits per inning pitched both led Division I.

Now, Skenes will hope to work through the Pirates minor league system in what many expect to be a short path to the Majors.

Here were the photos as Skenes was formally introduced by Pittsburgh.

Veteran LSU catcher returning for 2024 season

One of the star players of the 2023 baseball season will be returning for another year on the Bayou.

One of the star players of the 2023 baseball season will be returning for another year on the Bayou. Redshirt junior catcher [autotag]Hayden Travinski[/autotag] has confirmed that he will be coming back to LSU to play one more season.

It came as a surprise to me when Travinski was not drafted during the 2023 MLB draft. We’re talking about a solid catcher who is coming off his best spring at LSU. Last year, Travinski had a batting average of .356 with five doubles, 10 homers and 30 RBI.

With that kind of production, especially for a team that won the national championship, he seemed like a shoo-in to be drafted this year.

Nevertheless, the man who had his own mustache t-shirt will be coming back to LSU to help lead another group of pitchers. He’ll get to catch for [autotag]Thatcher Hurd[/autotag] once again and a few new faces as well. One of those is [autotag]Cameron Johnson[/autotag], LSU’s highest-rated baseball signee of all time.

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Brayden Jobert officially goes pro with Cardinals

Brayden Jobert will officially turn pro with the St. Louis Cardinals.

After the St. Louis Cardinals selected [autotag]Brayden Jobert[/autotag] in the 12th round of the MLB Draft, he’s elected to forgo his remaining eligibility and turn pro.

It comes as no surprise with Jobert being a four-year college player, spending two years at a community college before playing his final two at LSU.

Jobert was one of LSU’s most consistent hitters in his time as a Tiger, slugging .587 over 119 games. He totaled four hits in his final game to help LSU clinch the College World Series final against Florida.

In a Tweet, Jobert thanked [autotag]Jay Johnson[/autotag] and the staff and said, “I will carry the Purple and Gold love for the rest of my life.”

The big swinging lefty will now try to make the most of his power in the Cardinals organization. Despite being a 12th-round pick, his age and SEC experience could make him a valuable piece as he attempts to make it to the show.

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LSU signee Blake Mitchell officially inks under-slot deal with Royals

As expected, Blake Mitchell won’t make it to campus and is trying his hand at professional ball.

In a decision that should come as no surprise to LSU, catcher [autotag]Blake Mitchell[/autotag] will not enroll in Baton Rouge and will join the Kansas City Royals after the team drafted him with the eighth pick in the 2023 MLB draft last weekend.

According to MLB.com’s Jim Callis, Mitchell agreed to a signing bonus of $4.9 million. That’s nearly $1 million below the slot value for the eighth pick, which sits at $5,980,100.

Mitchell ranks as the top high school catcher prospect and is the No. 8 overall prospect in his class. Perfect Game also ranks him as the top player in the talent-rich state of Texas.

Mitchell is the only LSU signee who is expected to sign with a pro club following the draft. The Tigers expect left-handed pitcher [autotag]Cameron Johnson[/autotag] — the No. 11 high school prospect in the country and a 20th-round pick — to make it to campus.

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LSU pitcher Christian Little won’t sign with Mets, returns to Tigers in 2024

Christian Little struggled in his first season at LSU, but he’ll return to Baton Rouge to try to improve upon it.

LSU’s pitching staff took some hits in the 2023 MLB draft, but it will get one piece back in right-hander [autotag]Christian Little[/autotag].

Little, a transfer addition from Vanderbilt last offseason, was selected in the 19th round of the draft by the New York Mets, but he will not sign and will instead return to Baton Rouge for the 2024 season.

Following the draft, Little heavily implied his return in a post on his Twitter account where he stated that he was “not done,” and shortly after, he told The Advocate’s Leah Vann that he will indeed pass on his offer from the Mets.

Little came in with high expectations but struggled quite a bit. He began the year as a weekend starter but became a bullpen reliever by the end of the season, finishing with a 2-2 record and a 7.79 earned run average in 19 appearances.

He made eight starts and pitched a total of 34.2 innings, striking out 42 batters while issuing 29 walks. Still, Little is a guy with big-league talent, and his return will allow him another chance to unlock it with the Tigers.

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Dylan Crews named a semifinalist for the AAU Sullivan Award

The James E. Sullivan Award has been given out every year since 1930 to recognize the best collegiate or Olympic athlete in the United States.

The James E. Sullivan Award has been given out every year since 1930 to recognize the best collegiate or Olympic athlete in the United States. This year, [autotag]Dylan Crews[/autotag] has been named a semifinalist for the award.

The six Sullivan Award finalists, determined after this first round of voting, will be invited to attend the award ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 19, at the New York Athletic Club.

Crews saved his best year on the Bayou for last as he had a phenomenal year. He had a .426 batting average with 16 doubles, two triples, 18 homers and 70 RBI. The main thing he did was that he accomplished his goal of winning a national championship.

Those stats led to him being recognized as the 2023 Golden Spikes Award winner, First-Team All-American, SEC Player of the Year, SEC Male Athlete of the Year and many more.

Crews was drafted No. 2 overall by the Washington Nationals in the 2023 MLB draft.

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Every SEC Baseball player selected in the 2023 MLB draft by school

There were 79 SEC players selected in the 2023 MLB Draft. Roll Tide Wire takes a look at how many players were drafted from each SEC program.

The SEC was well-represented in the 2023 MLB draft. LSU had 13 players drafted which was the most in the country. The Tigers also won the 2023 College World Series.

Other programs like Alabama, Tennessee, and Texas A&M had a decent number of players selected, as well. Every SEC program had two or more players drafted.

In total, 79 SEC players were taken in the 2023 MLB draft. From top to bottom, the SEC consistently gets players drafted. Each year, the conference has several representatives in Omaha. It just goes to show how well the SEC prepares its players for the next level.

Roll Tide Wire takes a look at which SEC players were selected in the 2023 MLB draft.

Top LSU pitching signee Cameron Johnson expected to come to campus, pass on offer from Cardinals

Cameron Johnson would be the highest-ranked LSU signee to ever reach campus.

The St. Louis Cardinals gave LSU baseball fans a scare on Tuesday evening when they took a flyer on left-handed pitcher [autotag]Cameron Johnson[/autotag] with their 20th-round pick.

The Rangers themselves even viewed that pick as a “Hail Mary,” as the team seems to widely expect that Johnson will forego his contract offer and ultimately choose to enroll at LSU.

That indeed seems to be how things are trending. According to MLB.com Cardinals writer John Denton, Johnson is unlikely to sign before the July 25 deadline.

As the No. 11 overall player and No. 2 left-handed pitcher in the class of 2023, Johnson would become the highest-ranked prospect to ever reach campus for LSU. For reference, [autotag]Dylan Crews[/autotag] ranked No. 13 when he withdrew from the draft out of high school.

Getting Johnson to enroll after he fell in the draft would be a massive win for coach Jay Johnson’s team, which will need to replace quite a bit of pitching talent in 2024.

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