Tag: lsu baseball

Paul Skenes puts away Aaron Judge in 1-inning, shutout MLB All-Star Game outing

Paul Skenes worked through a mostly clean frame in his sole inning of All-Star Game action.

Former LSU pitcher and No. 1 overall draft pick [autotag]Paul Skenes[/autotag] made history on Tuesday night, becoming just the fifth rookie pitcher in history to start the MLB All-Star Game and the first since 1995.

Getting the nod for the National League, the budding superstar for the Pittsburgh Pirates saw just one inning of action, but it was a pretty good one as he managed to show off his arsenal of pitches, which includes a routinely 100+ MPH fastball.

He began his outing with a popout and groundout before allowing a full-count walk to New York Yankees star Juan Soto. That brought up cleanup hitter and fellow Yankees star Aaron Judge for a matchup everyone was anticipating.

Judge swung at the first pitch, leading to a routine groundout as Skenes worked through the inning throwing just 16 pitches, 11 of which were strikes. He would not return for the second inning as his brief appearance came to an end.

Skenes is the odds-on favorite to win the National League Rookie of the Year, and after leading LSU to a national championship in 2023, he’s on his way to becoming one of the best pitchers in baseball at the highest level.

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LSU slugger Jared Jones confirms return for 2025 season after he went undrafted

LSU will get a big power boost on its roster in 2025 with Jared Jones returning.

LSU’s lineup got a huge boost entering the 2025 season on Tuesday.

After he went unselected in the 2024 MLB draft, Tigers first baseman [autotag]Jared Jones[/autotag], a draft-eligible sophomore, confirmed that he will be coming back to Baton Rouge for his junior season.

After starting 47 games as a true freshman in 2023 while batting over .300 and hitting 14 home runs, the Marietta, Georgia, native took a huge step forward this spring.

He doubled his home run total to 28 — the fourth-highest single-season total in program history — while still batting .301. He also batted in 59 runs last season.

Jones’ slugging potential made him an intriguing prospect for some heading into the draft, but after he fell to Day 3, no team opted to take a late flyer on him.

Now, he’ll return to the Tigers in 2025 as he looks to be one of the top power hitters in college baseball.

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Rockies draft LSU pitcher Justin Loer in 13th round

Justin Loer has an additional year of college eligibility if he chooses to use it.

With the 378th pick of the [autotag]2024 MLB Draft[/autotag], the [autotag]Colorado Rockies[/autotag] selected [autotag]Justin Loer[/autotag], a left-handed pitcher from LSU.

Justin Loer transferred to LSU after spending two seasons at Xavier. During his time with the Musketeers, Loer had an 8-3 record with a 2.41 ERA. He made 34 appearances out of the bullpen in those two seasons. Last year for LSU, Loer had a 2-0 record and a 5.92 ERA. He struck out 30 hitters and walked 12 over 24.1 innings of work.

Loer won’t be the only former LSU player joining the Rockies pitching staff in the minor leagues. Yesterday the Rockies drafted Fidel Ulloa from LSU. They will be teammates once again if Loer decides to sign with Colorado.

Loer was just a junior for the Tigers last season so he still has a year of eligibility left if he wants to use it, though he entered the transfer portal following the season. Congratulations to Justin and his family on hearing his name was drafted in the 13th round.

LSU reliever Christian Little drafted by Seattle Mariners

Christian Little was picked in the 11th round after two seasons at LSU.

With the 333rd pick in the 2024 MLB draft, the [autotag]Seattle Mariners[/autotag] have drafted [autotag]Christian Little[/autotag], a right-handed pitcher from LSU.

Little, the Vanderbilt transfer, has been in Baton Rouge for two seasons after spending two years at Vandy. During his career at LSU, Little finished with a 4-2 record and a 7.16 ERA. He had 80 strikeouts and 45 walks over 64.1 innings of work.

Little started his career as a starting pitcher for Vandy but has since transitioned into a bullpen role. He made 14 starts in two years for Vandy and eight starts in his first year at LSU but he did not make any starts this year in 23 appearances.

Little is a talented pitcher but he has struggled with location. That is a big reason why he has slid all the way down to the 11th round. He still has good stuff and I believe the Mariners can bring out the best version of him.

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How to watch the MLB All-Star Game as Paul Skenes starts for National League

Paul Skenes will be the fifth rookie pitcher to start the All-Star Game and the first since 1995.

Former LSU pitcher and first overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft [autotag]Paul Skenes[/autotag] has had a meteoric start to his major league career.

He has been one of the best pitchers in baseball since he was called up to the Pittsburgh Pirates in May, and he’s earned a few rare distinctions in that time. Not only was Skenes selected as an All-Star in his rookie season, but he was named the starting pitcher for the National League in Tuesday night’s All-Star Game.

Skenes becomes just the fifth rookie pitcher to start an All-Star game and is the first since 1995. We don’t quite know how much Skenes will pitch in this game as the NL has other pitchers to work though as well, but here’s what LSU fans need to know to watch former Tiger and budding MLB superstar Skenes start the All-Star Game.

How to Watch

  • Date: Tuesday, July 16
  • Time: 7 p.m. CT
  • TV: FOX
  • Live Stream: FOX Sports App/fuboTV (watch here)

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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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LSU reliever Fidel Ulloa goes to Rockies in 7th round of 2024 MLB draft

Fidel Ulloa showed quite a bit of promise in his one year in LSU’s bullpen.

With the 198th pick of the 2024 MLB draft, the [autotag]Colorado Rockies[/autotag] selected [autotag]Fidel Ulloa[/autotag], a right-handed pitcher from LSU.

Ulloa transferred to LSU after spending two seasons at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, California. Last season, Ulloa finished with a 2-2 record and a 4.63 ERA. He struck out 26 hitters and walked 11 over 23.1 innings of work.

Ulloa was a bullpen pitcher for the Tigers and he showed a lot of promise in his only year at LSU. Now, he has been drafted in the seventh round by the Colorado Rockies. The Rockies play at Coors Field which is known for being a hitter’s park due to the high elevation.

It is a difficult task to pitch there but Ulloa has the skills to do it. He will start out in the minor leagues for the Rockies and have to work his way up to the big leagues.

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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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