They also scored a big-time add in former Oregon State infielder Trent Caraway, who was an intriguing name for the 2025 MLB Draft.
You’d think that with losing Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson, your pitching staff would naturally take a step back. But LSU looks to be locked and loaded with a lot of returning arms.
Gavin Guidry, who’s been a massive piece for them in the past but missed last year with an injury, is back and should hopefully be healthy for 2026. Casan Evans really broke out as a freshman, posting a 2.05 ERA while striking out 71 in 52.2 innings. Another highly-touted freshman last year, William Schmidt, will be looking to have a breakout sophomore campaign.
You’ve also got right-handers Zac Cowan, Mavrick Rizy, and Cooper Moore, and Jaden Noot, who could make some noise on the mound as well as new lefties Santiago Garcia from Oregon and Danny Lachenmayer from North Dakota State.
While LSU’s 2025 championship team relied heavily on veteran star power, this version may be more balanced, a younger offense with a pitching staff that could quietly become one of the SEC’s best by May.
Jay Johnson has built a dynasty in Baton Rouge by mastering roster turnover, and 2026 represents the next iteration of that formula. The faces have changed, but the expectations haven’t: LSU is still built to win in Omaha, with Milam, Brown, and Curiel forming the next great core of Tiger baseball.