Tag: Chase Shores

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

Chase Shores missed all of 2024 but finished the 2023 season with an 0-1 record and a 1.96 ERA.

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.

[autotag]Jay Johnson[/autotag] 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 [autotag]Chase Shores[/autotag].

https://twitter.com/BHollandSports/status/1844061716633747966

Labeling a player as the best pitcher you have recruited at LSU other than [autotag]Paul Skenes[/autotag] 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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LSU pitcher Chase Shores progressing nicely after missing 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery

Chase Shores missed all of 2024 as he recovered from injury, but Jay Johnson said he would have been available in the super regionals.

LSU has the makings of a very talented pitching rotation next season with a stud transfer class and several prized high school recruits making it to campus.

There is also a potential X-factor in the group of returning pitchers as [autotag]Chase Shores[/autotag] is expected to be back after missing the entire 2024 season following Tommy John surgery.

Shores impressed early as a true freshman in 2023, appearing in seven games with four starts. He ended the year with a 0.96 ERA in 18.1 innings before his campaign ended with a torn UCL on March 31.

Though he missed the entire campaign, coach [autotag]Jay Johnson[/autotag] recently said the Shores would have been available if LSU had reached the super regionals in the NCAA Tournament.

The hard-throwing 6-foot-8, 245-pound right-hander had a breakout season cut short in 2023, but the former top prospect in Texas should be finally back to full health by the time LSU’s 2025 season begins.

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Jay Johnson not worried about LSU baseball retaining talent this offseason

Jay Johnson addressed the Tigers’ roster-building and retention priorities entering the offseason.

LSU baseball turned around what was looking like an abysmal 2024 season as it looked to defend its national title.

The Tigers ultimately earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, taking host North Carolina to the brink before falling short in the Chapel Hill Regional last weekend.

Coach [autotag]Jay Johnson[/autotag] doesn’t have long to dwell on that result, however. The college baseball offseason has a quick turnaround time, and Johnson has been hard at work looking for transfer portal talent since the season ended.

That isn’t his only priority, however. The Tigers must also retain players currently on the roster from leaving for the pros or the transfer portal, and they also need to make sure as many players from the 2024 signing class reach campus as possible.

Speaking on 104.5 Off The Bench, Johnson said player retention is not something he is particularly worried about.

“I’m proud of my coaches and the resources we provide them to become major league baseball players,” Johnson said, per Glen West of 247Sports. “For me that should be enough to retain guys, it’s a different era that we live in and that’s ok. We’ve got a good group. I’ll tell you one thing, the guys that were rolling through my office on Wednesday, the character of what we will have returning is very strong. It’s a good starting point from a human being, leadership perspective with some talent.

“Getting [autotag]Chase Shores[/autotag] back and healthy is a massive deal. To win 43 games probably without your best pitcher for the entire season, proud of the team for doing that. That’s what I’m speaking to relative to that character. [autotag]Kade Anderson[/autotag], fully bought in. [autotag]Jaden Noot[/autotag] we’ll get back healthy so we’ve got a really good start with some of the pitching staff.”

Johnson also said the Tigers will try to retain their six draft-eligible sophomores and juniors, pitching them on their ability to improve their draft stocks in 2025.

Only time will tell what this roster looks like entering 2025, but it’s clear Johnson has a lot to do to maintain it.

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Report: LSU reliever Garrett Edwards to miss remainder of the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery

Edwards hasn’t pitched since April 7 at South Carolina.

LSU’s bullpen took a major hit on Wednesday with the news that right-handed pitcher [autotag]Garrett Edwards[/autotag] will miss the rest of the 2023 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery to repair a torn UCL.

The news was first reported by Leah Vann of The Advocate.

Per Vann, Edwards was seen wearing a brace during this past weekend’s series against Alabama. He hasn’t pitched since April 7 against South Carolina when he was pulled in the fifth inning after he was injured while throwing a pitch.

It’s a tough loss for a Tigers bullpen that is already missing a couple of key pieces and has struggled a bit in recent weeks. Edwards becomes the third LSU pitcher this season to undergo Tommy John surgery, joining [autotag]Chase Shores[/autotag], who had surgery last month, and [autotag]Grant Taylor[/autotag], whose preseason injury caused him to miss the entire year.

In 23.1 innings pitched out of the bullpen, Edwards had a 1.93 ERA with 27 strikeouts to just five walks. He earned a 4-0 record in 2023 and also recorded a save.

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BREAKING: LSU RHP Chase Shores to miss remainder of the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery

Shores’ true freshman campaign has come to an end after he tore his UCL.

The Tigers baseball team will be without one of its top bullpen arms for the rest of the way as true freshman right-handed pitcher [autotag]Chase Shores[/autotag] announced on Tuesday that his season is over after tearing his UCL.

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce my 2023 season has come to an end due to a UCL tear,” the Midland, Texas, native wrote in a Twitter post. “I will miss my time competing at Alex Box, but I won’t let this injury stop me from being the best teammate & supporter for my boys as we close out the season. I will be back better than ever. Geaux Tigers!”

Shores underwent Tommy John surgery last week to repair the torn ligament, according to The Advocate’s Leah Vann.

The top-ranked right-handed pitcher in the state of Texas for the 2023 signing class, Shores made seven appearances with four starts as a true freshman. In 18.1 innings pitched, he had an ERA of just 1.96. He threw 15 strikeouts while allowing nine walks.

He hasn’t appeared in a game since March 31 against Tennessee, and coach [autotag]Jay Johnson[/autotag] hasn’t provided many updates on his condition. Now, it’s clear why that was the case.

Shores is one of the most promising arms on the team, and the 6-foot-8 player was expected to play a major role in the bullpen down the stretch. It’s a tough break for an LSU team that has dealt with quite a few injuries to the pitching staff this season.

[autotag]Nate Ackenhausen[/autotag] returned to the field last weekend, luckily, and [autotag]Garrett Edwards[/autotag] — arguably the most reliable arm in the bullpen — seems to be getting closer to making his return.

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Jay Johnson updates LSU pitching injuries: Garrett Edwards, Chase Shores officially OUT vs. Kentucky

The Tigers’ bullpen will be shorthanded once again this weekend.

It appears LSU’s pitching staff will be stretched pretty thin once again this weekend when the Tigers host Kentucky at Alex Box Stadium.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, coach [autotag]Jay Johnson[/autotag] offered no update on the status of [autotag]Garrett Edwards[/autotag] or [autotag]Chase Shores[/autotag] but confirmed neither will be available this weekend against the Wildcats.

Johnson couldn’t provide an update on [autotag]Nate Ackenhausen[/autotag], who was set to be evaluated later on Wednesday.

The Tigers split their weekend series on the road against South Carolina after Game 3 was canceled due to weather. LSU beat Tulane on the road Tuesday night and will now welcome a UK team that is coming off a series loss to Georgia.

LSU will hope to overcome a shorthanded bullpen this weekend and remain unbeaten in SEC series this season.

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LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson updates status of injured pitchers

Johnson provided encouraging (if vague) updates on LSU’s injured pitchers.

The rain kept a series winner from being decided in this weekend’s bout between LSU and South Carolina, but the decision to cancel Game 3 might have worked to the Tigers’ advantage.

The pitching staff is ravaged by injuries. [autotag]Chase Shores[/autotag] and [autotag]Nate Ackenhausen[/autotag] were unavailable coming into the weekend, and LSU lost reliever [autotag]Garrett Edwards[/autotag] during Game 2.

Coach [autotag]Jay Johnson[/autotag] told The Advocate’s Leah Vann that the team is “getting closer” to having an answer on Shores’ availability after suffering an undisclosed arm injury. Ackenhausen, meanwhile, missed two weeks earlier in SEC play with a hamstring injury and was out once again this weekend.

Johnson said he hopes Ackenhausen will be available next weekend against Kentucky.

Regarding Edwards, Johnson said he was optimistic but conceded that it’s not clear exactly how serious the injury was.

“The preliminary evaluation was as positive as it could be,” Johnson said. “We’re hoping that it’s not as serious as it looked. It’s kind of odd, the pitch was a changeup, you don’t see a significant injury when a guy is throwing a changeup. I’m hopeful, but I’m not a doctor, we’ll get him further evaluated when we get home.”

LSU has the talent to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament and get to the College World Series in Omaha. However, there are question marks with the pitching staff, and the Tigers desperately need to get their bullpen healthy.

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Tigers take series over Tennessee with Game 2 win

LSU baseball will go for the sweep on Saturday.

LSU took down Tennessee 6-4 in Game 2 to take the series against the No. 10 team in the country.

Game 2 in Baton Rouge started with hot bats on both sides. The Tennessee Vols scored a run on a solo homer to give them a 1-0 lead before the Tigers scored three of their own in the bottom of the inning. [autotag]Tommy White[/autotag], [autotag]Cade Beloso[/autotag], and [autotag]Josh Pearson[/autotag] hit RBI doubles to give LSU a 3-1 lead after the first inning.

Tennessee scored another run in the top of the second with another solo homer to cut the lead to 3-2. In the top of the fourth, the Vols took the lead with a two-run homer to give them a 4-3 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, LSU took the lead back due to [autotag]Gavin Dugas[/autotag] and [autotag]Brady Neal[/autotag] both hitting solo homers to give LSU a 5-4 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Tigers got an insurance run when White hit a sacrifice fly to score Dugas and give LSU a 6-4 lead.

[autotag]Chase Shores[/autotag] and [autotag]Griffin Herring[/autotag] followed a good start by Floyd to close out Game 2 and win the series over No. 10 Tennessee at Alex Box Stadium. Game 3 will be Saturday with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. CT.

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LSU drops Game 1 against Arkansas after 10th-inning shelling

Arkansas hit a three-run homer to take the lead in the top of the 10th and never looked back.

In the first game of what is likely the hottest college baseball matchup this weekend, Arkansas won a pitcher’s duel against [autotag]Paul Skenes[/autotag] after opening things up in the 10th inning of a 9-3 game.

Skenes had another great day on the mound as he held the Razorbacks to only one run on two hits, three walks, and 12 strikeouts in seven innings.

That run was scored against him in the top of the fourth inning when Tavian Josenberger hit a double, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a sacrifice fly.

LSU came in with one of the best lineups in college baseball but Arkansas stifled them for seven innings. The Tigers were only able to muster four hits during that stretch.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, [autotag]Brady Neal[/autotag] hit a solo shot to left field to tie the game 1-1 and breathe life into a dormant offense. [autotag]Josh Pearson[/autotag] followed that with a single and that brought [autotag]Dylan Crews[/autotag] to the plate. Crews reached on an infield single to shortstop. [autotag]Tommy White[/autotag] fouled out for out number two. [autotag]Gavin Dugas[/autotag] walked to load the bases for [autotag]Tre Morgan[/autotag].

Morgan fouled out and the game remained tied 1-1.

[autotag]Chase Shores[/autotag] came in to pitch the eighth and ninth inning for LSU and he gave up one hit with three strikeouts. He allowed the leadoff hitter in the top of the ninth to get a single but he shut the next three batters down to give LSU a chance to walk it off.

All three Tiger batters struck out in the bottom of the ninth and we went to extra innings. After Shores gave up a leadoff walk in the top of the tenth, [autotag]Christian Little[/autotag] came in to pitch.

In the top of the tenth, Robinett hit a three-run homer to give the Razorbacks a 4-1 lead. Arkansas scored another run on a sacrifice fly to make it 5-1. Diggs followed that with a grand slam to make it 9-1.

Crews hit a two-run ‘Crews Missile’ in the bottom of the 10th to cut the lead to 9-3, but that is all LSU could manage as Arkansas took Game 1 of the series. Game 2 will be Saturday at 1 p.m. CT.

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Tigers blow late lead to the Aggies in Game 3 for 2nd loss of the season

LSU squandered a two-run lead in the eighth inning as it took its second loss of the year.

LSU took an early lead in Game 3, but Texas A&M used an eighth-inning rally to overcome a two-run deficit and take the 8-6 win to avoid a sweep and hand the Tigers their second loss of the season.

LSU (18-2, 2-1 SEC) started game three strong. After two walks and an error by the Aggie pitcher, A&M walked a run in to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. [autotag]Josh Pearson[/autotag] hit a two-RBI single to right field to score [autotag]Dylan Crews[/autotag] and [autotag]Tommy White[/autotag] and [autotag]Jordan Thompson[/autotag] hit an RBI single to score [autotag]Gavin Dugas[/autotag] to give LSU a 4-0 lead after half an inning.

The Aggies got one of those runs back when they hit a solo homer in the bottom of the first inning to cut the lead to 4-1.

White hit an RBI single in the top of the second to score Crews and extend the lead to 5-1. The Tiger bats would go cold after that as the Aggies clawed their way back into the game over the next few innings.

Texas A&M scored a run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the third inning and in the bottom of the fifth inning, they scored two on a two-RBI double to cut the LSU lead to 5-4.

In the top of the seventh, LSU got some insurance as Pearson scored on a [autotag]Brady Neal[/autotag] sacrifice fly to make it 6-4.

LSU got themselves in a bind in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Aggies loaded the bases with no one out after a single and a hit batter by [autotag]Chase Shores[/autotag]. [autotag]Christian Little[/autotag] entered the game to try and get the Tigers out of the jam. He walked the first batter he faced which loaded the bases with no outs. Little struck out two batters in a row before he walked in a run to cut the lead to 6-5.

The Aggies followed that with a two-RBI single to left field to give the Aggies their first lead of the ball game. Haas then singled to score another run to give A&M an 8-6 lead after eight innings.

In the top of the ninth inning, all the Tigers could manage was a [autotag]Jared Jones[/autotag] single. The Aggies pulled out an 8-6 victory in game three.

With the loss, LSU drops to 18-2 this season. The Tigers will face Central Arkansas on Tuesday night before welcoming the Arkansas Razorbacks to Baton Rouge next weekend.

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