A former LSU baseball star is putting on a show in the minor leagues. The Athletics selected LSU pitcher Gage Jump in the fourth round of the 2024 draft, and after a stellar start to 2025, Jump is the A’s No. 1-ranked prospect.
Jump began his collegiate career at UCLA in 2022, but an injury forced the lefty to miss the entire 2023 season. Jump transferred to LSU and spent one year in Baton Rouge, serving as the Tigers’ ace. In his lone year with LSU, Jump tossed 83 innings with a 3.47 ERA. He struck out 101 and walked 22.
LSU was sent home in the regional round in 2024 as LSU’s lineup struggled to replace the lost production from 2023, but with Jump on the mound, the pitching wasn’t an issue.
Jump didn’t pitch in the minors at all in 2024, but through 78.1 innings in 2025, Jump owns a 2.07 ERA with 94 strikeouts. Opposing batters are hitting just .186 vs Jump.
Here’s what MLB.com says in its latest scouting report of Jump:
“Jump’s fastball is difficult for opposing hitters to pick up with an arm angle that creates some deception. The heater sits about 92-94 mph and can reach up to 97 with good carry up in the zone. His upper-70s curveball has significant downer break, and his low-80s slider has cutting action…The ceiling of a mid-rotation starter is there, though some scouts believe he might be better suited in a bullpen role. To start out, the A’s will develop him as a starter and look to see him maintain good health and strike-throwing ability.”
If Jump keeps pitching like this, he will remain in a starting role and be at the MLB level sooner rather than later. Jump isn’t the only former Tiger in the A’s organization. He’s joined by Tommy White, who remains with the A’s High-A team.