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LSU utility Jake Brown (7) runs during an NCAA baseball game against North Alabama on Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo\/Matthew Hinton)(Matthew Hinton | AP)<\/p>\nBATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – LSU Baseball has some challenges to overcome after getting swept in back-to-back series to Ole Miss, then at home to Texas A&M, but the freshmen are already stepping up.<\/p>\n
Now, in what Coach Jay Johnson calls a \u2018gut punch,\u2019 the team must continue without one of their champion starters.<\/p>\n
LSU utility Jake Brown (7) runs during an NCAA baseball game against North Alabama on Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo\/Matthew Hinton)(Matthew Hinton | AP)<\/p>\n
Jake Brown<\/a>, a junior outfielder, is now out for the season thanks to that broken hand requiring surgery, which likely ended his LSU career. Brown is reportedly eligible for the draft.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s easily one of my favorite players of all time,\u201d said Coach Johnson, who called Brown one of the most valuable players on the National Championship team.<\/p>\n Confidence might have been restored after winning against UNO at The Box on Tuesday, April 21, thanks to three freshmen in the starting lineup: Omar Serna<\/a>, Jack Ruckert<\/a>, and William Patrick<\/a>.<\/p>\n Coach Johnson says freshman Patrick has some characteristics similar to those of Brown and Ethan Frey, two players you\u2019d certainly like to be compared to. <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s got all the athletic talent and tools, probably the fastest player I\u2019ve ever had,\u201d the coach said.<\/p>\n “He’s got all the athletic talent and tools probably the fastest player I’ve ever had”<\/p>\n Jay Johnson says William Patrick has some similar characteristics to Jake Brown and Ethan Frey. <\/p>\n Two players you’d certainly like to be comp’d to. #LSU<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/wpqVMuvuEk<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 John Eads WAFB-TV (@JohnEadsWAFB) April 22, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n Brown gave Patrick some fun-loving advice before getting his first career start in right field. <\/p>\n \u201cGet a size shoe a little bit bigger than what you have…you have big shoes to fill,\u201d Brown told him.<\/p>\n Patrick says Brown is a great leader and is glad to look up to him. <\/p>\n “Get a size shoe a little bit bigger than what you have…you have big shoes to fill”<\/p>\n Jake Brown gave William Patrick some fun-loving advice before getting his first career start in right field. <\/p>\n Patrick says Brown is a great leader and is glad to look up to him. #LSU<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Dz4m6CIrGC<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 John Eads WAFB-TV (@JohnEadsWAFB) April 22, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n Ruckert was back in the starting lineup on Tuesday against UNO. The freshman is showing out with a 2-3, 2 RBI night at the plate and steady play in the field. <\/p>\n \u201cI think he\u2019s gonna be one of those guys we know what we can count on.\u201d<\/p>\n Tigers won the game against UNO with a final score of 10-7.<\/p>\n Next, the team heads to Starkville to battle the Mississippi State Bulldogs in a series that kicks off Friday, April 24 at 6 p.m.<\/p>\n Coach Johnson says that LSU needs to be one of the best offensive teams in college baseball.<\/p>\n “We’re gonna get back to that whether that’s this weekend or in 2027”<\/p>\n Jay Johnson says that #LSU<\/a> needs to be one of the best offensive teams in college baseball<\/p>\n An adjustment in practice helped the offense capture some of the flow that’s eluded it for the majority of the year. pic.twitter.com\/kZscx1Zulc<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 John Eads WAFB-TV (@JohnEadsWAFB) April 22, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re gonna get back to that, whether that\u2019s this weekend or in 2027.\u201d<\/p>\n Click here<\/a> to report a typo. Please include the headline.<\/p>\n![\"LSU](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IJMALHSBNBBNXPKWQDYUX6ZWCQ.jpg\")
LSU catcher Omar Serna Jr. (25) bats during an NCAA baseball game on Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo\/Matthew Hinton)(Matthew Hinton | AP)<\/p>\n
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