Highlights from @GCU_Baseball v Tarleton
Sophomore IF @zach_yorke 💣 Game 3 – 3/17/24:
EV: 97mph
Launch Angle: 29°
Distance: 421’
— Grayson Liebhardt (@GrayLiebhardt) March 18, 2024
Jay Johnson has constructed a roster featuring players from all levels of baseball, each becoming key components in the LSU Tigers’ rise to national prominence.
Daniel Dickinson arrived from Utah Valley, Anthony Eyanson from UC San Diego, Luis Hernandez from Indiana State and Zac Cowan from Wofford to help key the the 2025 national championship run.
So it should come as no surprise that the Tigers continue to add 2026 components from other college programs. The latest are first baseman Zach Yorke from Grand Canyon, third baseman Trent Carraway from Oregon State and right-handed pitcher Dax Dathe from Angelo State.
The Tigers took a hit at first base with the loss of Jared Jones, who was drafted in the ninth round, 263rd overall, by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Jones was a First Team All-American this past season, leading the SEC in RBIs with 76, ranking second in home runs with 22, and third in hits. His 64 career home runs rank third in LSU baseball history, and he was the fastest player in school history to reach 50 career homers—achieving the feat in just 143 games and 147 at-bats.
Thus, the addition of left-handed hitter Yorke is a timely boost.
The 6-foot-2, 295-pound right-handed swinger was one of the most sought-after players in the transfer portal after appearing in 48 games for Grand Canyon this season. He posted a .339 batting average with 10 doubles, 13 home runs, 46 RBIs, a .632 slugging percentage, and a .447 on-base percentage.
Over the past three seasons, Yorke started 162 of a possible 164 games, recording a .328 average with 199 hits, 32 doubles, 32 home runs, 157 RBIs, a .546 slugging percentage, and a .434 OBP. The 2026 campaign will be his final collegiate season.
Carraway hit .267 with a .350 OBP and .470 slugging percentage ithis past season, belting 12 home runs, adding 15 doubles and driving in 47 runs. He earned Corvallis Regional Most Outstanding Player honors, launching an Oregon State-record six postseason homers to help the Beavers reach the College World Series.
At 6-foot-2 and primarily manning third base, Carraway committed 12 errors but his powerful bat made him MLB.com’s 145th ranked prospect in this month’s draft. However, he was not selected, opening the door for the Tigers to add another potential option at either third base or second base with starters Michael Braswell and the aforementioned Dickinson departing.
Dathe, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound right-hander, will be making his fifth stop in seven years of college baseball. Set to play 2026 at the age of 25, he spent time previously at Houston, Texas Tech and Grayson College before the most recent two seasons at Angelo State.
His arsenal features a 93–94 mph fastball and an 83 mph slider with strong arm deception. He could be an impact arm for the Tigers in 2026.
In the 2025 season, Dathe made 15 appearances, including 13 starts, posting a 2.99 ERA with 98 strikeouts in 72.1 innings pitched. He walked 31 batters and held opponents to a .206 batting average. The past two years, Dathe totaled 33 appearances (26 starts), logging 157.2 innings and striking out 208 batters.