Tag: Jay Johnson

Top LSU pitcher signee officially inks professional deal with the Braves

One of LSU’s top signees in the 2024 baseball recruiting class won’t be making his way to Baton Rouge.

One of LSU’s top signees in the 2024 baseball recruiting class won’t be making his way to Baton Rouge after he was drafted in the first round of the [autotag]2024 MLB Draft[/autotag].

[autotag]Cam Caminiti[/autotag] had an incredible year for Saguaro High School as a Senior. He went 9-0 with a 0.93 ERA on the season, striking out 119 batters in 52 2/3 innings. At the plate, he hit .493. He helped lead his high school to its first state championship in 13 years.

The 2021 World Series Champion [autotag]Atlanta Braves[/autotag] drafted him with the 24th pick in the first round of the draft. The slot value for his pick was $3,556,300 so he signed for his exact value and the Braves did not overpay or underpay in order to sign him.

At just 17 years old, Caminiti throws gas. His fastball has topped out at 97 miles per hour and he has a killer breaking ball. He will now be sent to play rookie ball in the Braves farm system as he starts his journey to the majors.

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LSU baseball brings 7 top-100 signees to campus after 2024 MLB draft

The Tigers add an elite freshman class to a transfer portal haul that ranks No. 1 in the nation.

The 2024 MLB draft really couldn’t have gone much better as far as LSU’s purposes go.

While things were mostly chalky when it came to current players — with [autotag]Jared Jones[/autotag] and [autotag]Michael Braswell III[/autotag] announcing their returns to Baton Rouge after they weren’t selected. And while several of LSU’s top high school signees — namely [autotag]Konnor Griffin[/autotag], [autotag]Cam Caminiti[/autotag] and [autotag]Kale Fountain[/autotag] — will sign with a professional club, the Tigers are bringing in an unreal freshman class.

In total, seven top-100 signees will reach campus. That’s in addition to a transfer portal class that already ranks No. 1 in the nation.

Outfielder [autotag]Derek Curiel[/autotag] announced his decision to attend LSU ahead of the draft, and he was joined by elite pitching commit [autotag]William Schmidt[/autotag] and prized catcher [autotag]Cade Arrambide[/autotag].

The Tigers had a disappointing season in 2024 coming off a national title campaign. Though they turned things around in the back half, they couldn’t get out of the Chapel Hill Regional.

Now, coach [autotag]Jay Johnson[/autotag] is reloading with a roster that looks to be as competitive as any in the country.

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The stars are aligning for LSU baseball in 2025

LSU baseball has all the tools to win a national title in 2024. Now, it’s about putting the pieces together.

The summer of 2022 was a good one for LSU baseball. [autotag]Jay Johnson[/autotag] knew players like [autotag]Dylan Crews[/autotag] and [autotag]Tre Morgan[/autotag] were returning while adding superstars [autotag]Paul Skenes[/autotag] and [autotag]Tommy White[/autotag] in the transfer portal. It made LSU the consensus No. 1 entering 2023, with some calling it a dream team.

That group fit the billing, going on to win the national title a year later.

This summer has been a similar flood of positive news for Jay Johnson’s squad. According to 64Analytics, the Tigers have the top transfer class in college baseball. LSU survived the MLB draft largely unscathed and with a few surprises.

Star high school pitcher [autotag]William Schmidt[/autotag] pulled his name from draft boards and announced his decision to attend LSU. Key contributors from the 2024 squad, first baseman [autotag]Jared Jones[/autotag] and shortstop [autotag]Michael Braswell[/autotag], both announced their return to school.

I’m not saying the 2025 squad will be a dream team on the level of 2023. We may never see that assembly of talent again in college baseball. LSU hasn’t added a Skenes or White in the portal, but those players aren’t there every year. There’s no Dylan Crews or Tre Morgan either, even if LSU’s lineup does have potential to be among the nation’s best.

Regardless, LSU is positioning itself to be a true national title contender in 2025. Questions about the pitching staff remain, but the portal work has built enough depth for a few solid options to emerge. Jones should take another step forward as a slugger and second basemen [autotag]Steven Milam[/autotag] is set to become a superstar.

Don’t forget about [autotag]Jake Brown[/autotag], who had several impressive moments as a true freshman down the stretch.

It’s a team that will be battle-tested after facing adversity in 2024 and seeing its season come to a heartbreaking end in the Chapel Hill Regional.

Johnson, having managed a team filled with stars in 2023 and a team that needed some work in 2024, has proven he can win in different ways. Next year, we’ll see a combo of the two styles. It will be a team with strong portal reinforcements, but much of the core will come through high school recruiting and retaining what LSU already has.

After a disappointing 2024, the pressure will be turned on again next year. How this group deals with that will be something to watch, but the veteran presence is there.

Johnson knows his gig is the best job in the country. It’s because it doesn’t take much effort to assemble a team like this. LSU has all the tools to win another national title in 2025, now it’s just about putting the pieces together.

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LSU flips coveted Texas A&M pitcher signee

Cooper Williams — a top 75 player nationally — became the second Texas A&M player that LSU flipped Wednesday.

As the downstream effects of Jim Schlossnagle’s departure from Texas A&M for rival Texas continue to take their toll, LSU is the beneficiary from at least one piece of the fallout.

On Wednesday, left-handed pitcher [autotag]Cooper Williams[/autotag] announced that he would be decommitting from Texas and pledging to the Tigers. A 2024 recruit, Williams will join the team for the 2025 season.

It’s a big-time pickup for coach [autotag]Jay Johnson[/autotag] and the staff. The Alvin, Texas, native is the No. 2 lefty in Texas and the No. 73 player overall nationally with a fastball that currently pushes 93 MPH, according to Perfect Game’s scouting report.

Williams was the second former Texas A&M commit LSU landed on Wednesday as it also added 2025 shortstop [autotag]Ethan Clauss[/autotag]. He was not selected in this past weekend’s 2024 MLB draft.

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LSU baseball lands a commitment from top prospect in Nevada

Ethan Clauss is the No. 42 overall player in the 2025 recruiting class.

[autotag]Jay Johnson[/autotag] landed an elite signing class in 2024 and managed to bring three top-15 prospects to campus. Now, he’s turning his attention to the 2025 class.

On Wednesday, the Tigers landed a commitment from shortstop [autotag]Ethan Clauss[/autotag], the No. 1 player in the state of Nevada and the No. 42 overall prospect nationally.

“I want to give praise to my Lord and Savior for giving me the ability to play the game I love,” Clauss said in a social media post. “I also want to thank all of my coaches, teammates, friends, and most importantly my family for helping me throughout my journey. Finally, I would like to thank (coach Jay Johnson). Geaux Tigers!”

Clauss becomes the 18th member of LSU’s 2025 class, but as we saw this weekend at the 2024 MLB draft, it will be a battle to get him to campus as he will certainly be a draftable prospect next summer.

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Watch Livvy Dunne show off pitch grips with Paul Skenes at the MLB All-Star Game

Livvy Dunne showed off her four-seam fastball grip, though she conceded that she’s “more of a splinker girl.”

[autotag]Paul Skenes[/autotag] is only a couple of months into his MLB career, and he’s already etching his name in the history books.

On Tuesday night, Skenes became the first rookie pitcher to start the All-Star Game since 1995, and though he only threw for one inning, it was certainly an impressive frame.

He allowed just one baserunner on a walk to Juan Soto, but he capped off the inning by inducing a first-pitch groundout from Soto’s Yankees teammate Aaron Judge. Skenes threw just 16 pitches in the inning, 11 of which were strikes.

Also in attendance with Skenes was his girlfriend, LSU gymnast [autotag]Livvy Dunne[/autotag], who enters her fifth season with the Tigers in 2025. While Dunne is known for her feats on the floor, she also seems to be picking up some pitching hacks.

At Skenes’ prompting, Dunne showed off her four-seam fastball grip, though she joked that she’s “more of a splinker girl.” The splinker is Skenes’ hybrid splitter and sinker pitcher, which he has relied on heavily to this point in his pro career.

If LSU baseball coach [autotag]Jay Johnson[/autotag] needs some pitching depth next spring, I know where he needs to call.

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LSU starting shortstop Michael Braswell III announces return to Tigers on social media

LSU baseball got another big boost following Day 2 of the draft on Saturday.

After going unselected in the first 10 rounds of the 2024 MLB draft, LSU starting shortstop [autotag]Michael Braswell III[/autotag] announced on social media that he will be returning to Baton Rouge for his senior season.

The Mableton, Georgia, native was seen as a player to keep an eye on in the draft, but after he fell, he’ll join a 2025 roster that features the nation’s No. 1 transfer portal class and got some nice boosts on Sunday when top-15 high school prospects [autotag]William Schmidt[/autotag] and [autotag]Cade Arrambide[/autotag] announced they would be withdrawing from the draft and attending LSU.

A transfer from South Carolina, Braswell started 64 games at shortstop in 2024 and finished the season batting .311 with 12 doubles, four home runs and 36 RBI.

LSU will have to replace some key pieces next season, but that’s now one less position coach [autotag]Jay Johnson[/autotag] has to worry about entering 2025.

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LSU College World Series hero Nate Ackenhausen drafted by Royals in Round 10

Nate Ackenhausen is joining the Royals organization after two seasons in LSU’s bullpen.

With the 287th pick of the 2024 MLB draft, the [autotag]Kansas City Royals[/autotag] selected [autotag]Nate Ackenhausen,[/autotag] a left-handed pitcher from LSU.

“Nasty” Nate Ackenhausen has heard his name come off the board in the 10th round of the 2024 MLB Draft as Nate will be headed to join the Kansas City Royals organization.

Nate pitched for LSU for two seasons and finished with a career record of 5-5 and a 4.76 ERA. Ackenhausen struck out 95 hitters while only walking 36 in 73.2 total innings of work. He’s headed to Baton Rouge to a great organization in Kansas City that is looking to get back to their winning ways.

In his senior season at LSU, Ackenhausen did not have the best year with a 3-4 record and a 5.65 ERA. Although he did not have a great season, he still has great stuff. He will head to the minor leagues to continue mastering his craft and hopefully, we will see him in the MLB one day.

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Top LSU bullpen option Griffin Herring drafted by Yankees in 6th round

Jay Johnson previously said Griffin Herring would be a weekend starter if he returned to LSU in 2025.

With the 181st pick of the 2024 MLB draft, the [autotag]New York Yankees[/autotag] selected [autotag]Griffin Herring[/autotag], a left-handed pitcher from LSU.

After taking [autotag]Thatcher Hurd[/autotag] in the third round of the draft, the Yankees double up on LSU pitchers as they take the player who was possibly the best pitcher on LSU’s roster last season, [autotag]Griffin Herring[/autotag].

Herring finished last season with a 6-1 record and a 1.79 ERA. He struck out 67 hitters and walked 13 over 50.1 innings of work. [autotag]Jay Johnson[/autotag] stated that if Herring decided to come back next Spring he would be one of the Tigers’ starting pitchers.

That plan may have now gone out the window with the Yankees picking him in Round 6. The slot value for the 181st pick is $339,600. Herring still has the option to sign with New York or to stay in Baton Rouge. The ball is in his court.

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LSU signee Kale Fountain drafted by the San Diego Padres in 5th round

Kale Fountain became the first prep player from LSU’s signing class to be taken on Day 2.

With the 151st pick of the [autotag]2024 MLB Draft[/autotag], the San Diego Padres selected [autotag]Kale Fountain[/autotag], a third baseman from Norris High School in Nebraska.

The [autotag]San Diego Padres[/autotag] really love raining on [autotag]Jay Johnson[/autotag]’s parade in this draft. Sunday night, they took high school pitcher [autotag]Boston Bateman[/autotag], who was a highly touted member of LSU’s signing class. On Monday, they take another highly touted member of the class in Fountain.

The 151st pick in the draft is worth $444,200, but the Padres may have struck a deal with Fountain and agreed to pay more for him if he would sign with them. Kale still has the option to choose to go to Baton Rouge, but being a fifth-round draft pick, I would expect him to join Bateman in the Padres farm system.

Fountain becomes the first prep player from LSU’s 2024 recruiting class taken on Day 2 of the MLB draft. Yesterday, three Tiger prospects were taken.

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