The 2023 season brought a national championship to LSU baseball, headlined by a stellar roster built of future MLB-level talent. At the forefront of it all was Paul Skenes, an Airforce transfer who helped lead a previously shallow bullpen to complete, elite-level performances. 

The No. 1 MLB Draft pick cemented his legacy into LSU history, but his departure left a gaping hole in the Tigers’ bullpen. 

The upcoming season, however, brings new faces to Baton Rouge. Of these players, 11 are pitchers who hope to make an immediate impact on the bump.

Gage Jump

The left-handed pitcher comes to Baton Rouge after spending two seasons in California at UCLA. 

Jump saw action as a true freshman for the Bruins. He made seven appearances, including three starts, and finished the year with a 3.86 ERA. His opponents had a batting average of 0.172, and he clocked 22 strikeouts in just over 16 innings. 

The California native missed out on his sophomore season after undergoing Tommy John surgery at the end of 2022.

Before beginning his college career, Jump was selected in the 18th round of the 2021 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the San Diego Padres. He was a highly sought-after prospect, ranked the No.1 left-handed pitcher in California and the No. 5 ranked left-handed pitcher nationally. 

Jump brings aggressiveness to LSU’s bullpen and finds success with his curveball, slider and changeup. 

Cam Johnson 

Johnson’s college career is just beginning, and for him, there was no better place to hone his craft than LSU.  

The Maryland native graduated from IMG Academy and was ranked the No. 1 left-handed pitcher in Florida. Nationally, he was ranked No. 2, sitting right behind left-handed pitcher Thomas White, who was drafted by the Marlins. 

At a national showcase in 2022, Johnson’s strength and physicality was put on full display. His fastball reached the mid-90’s, and his sinking ball left opponents walking away from the box just as fast as they had approached it. 

The 6-foot-5 strongarm brings intensity to the Tigers’ bullpen, and he’s expected to make an impact early. 

Luke Holman

The Pennsylvania native comes from Alabama as a transfer, where he was a critical piece to the Crimson Tide’s bullpen. 

The right-handed pitcher spent two seasons there, noting a 4.05 ERA with 111 strikeouts across 100 innings. He was Alabama’s Friday night guy in the 2023 season, recording a 3.67 ERA with 87 strikeouts in 81 innings. 

Holman’s WHIP in the 2023 season, at 1.05, was ranked No. 2 in the league, and his opponents recorded a batting average of 0.186. 

The junior pitcher brings experience to the roster, which is a crucial component to a bullpen trying to withstand a conference as daunting as the SEC. 

Justin Loer

Loer comes to LSU from Ohio, where he spent two seasons as a reliever for Xavier’s bullpen. He has four main pitches in his arsenal: a sinker, slider, changeup and fastball. Since arriving to Baton Rouge, Loer has been working closely with Nate Yeskie, LSU’s pitching coach, to also develop his curveball. 

The left-handed pitcher offered up 29 appearances in the 2023 season, including one start. He noted a 1.89 ERA with seven saves across 57 innings. He struck out 63 batters, and his opponents recorded a batting average of 0.182. 

The junior earned 2023 Second-Team All-Big East honors and helped pioneer Xavier’s success in clutching a Big East Conference Tournament title along with a NCAA Tournament bid. 

Throughout his time at Xavier, Loer had the opportunity to grow into his body, similar to Skenes when he came to LSU from Air Force. Like Johnson, Loer’s 6-foot-5, 214-pound build adds strength and power to the Tiger’s bullpen.  

Jake Brown

A Louisiana product, Brown comes to LSU with quite a bit to give. It’s possible for the freshman to see time on the rubber, as he was ranked the No. 18 left-handed pitcher in the nation by Perfect Game. In high school, he boasted an ERA of 1.71 over the course of 73.2 innings, striking out 118 batters and only surrendering 39 hits. 

Brown is a true two-way player, noting a .336 batting average with seven home runs, 26 RBI and 20 stolen bases. 

Though Brown shows promise in the bullpen, as the No. 1 ranked overall player in Louisiana, according to Perfect Game, he could also be used in the starting nine as a first baseman or outfielder. 

Overall, Brown’s versatility as a player brings an immense amount of depth to LSU’s roster. 

Kade Woods 

Holman isn’t the only Alabama player who made his way to Baton Rouge. Woods, a redshirt sophomore spent two seasons in Tuscaloosa, where he made 17 appearances on the bump. A native of Monroe, Louisiana, Woods didn’t get the opportunity to perform his freshman year after sustaining an injury. 

In his sophomore season, the right-handed pitcher noted one start in 17 appearances. He limited his opponents to a .219 batting average and recorded a 5.52 ERA with 38 strikeouts over 29 innings. 

At the end of his high school career, Woods was ranked as the No. 3 overall prospect and as the No. 2 right-handed pitcher in Louisiana by Perfect Game. 

The pitcher’s prior Alabama tenure brings even more SEC experience to what appears to be an already stacked LSU bullpen. 

Trenton Lape 

Lape, a Bossier City native, seems to be a jack of all trades. In high school, however, the double threat underwent two surgeries to fix an ulnar collateral ligament injury. The first surgery was to fix what was believed to be bone spurs, but after a lengthy and unsuccessful recovery, Lape was forced to go under the knife once more. 

The injury halted what was a pretty successful pitching career. As a sophomore, the true freshman sat down 68 batters in 41 innings, recording an ERA of 1.85. His fastball was clocked in at 92 mph. 

Lape’s absence on the mound, however, allowed him to develop into a stronger middle infielder. According to Perfect Game, he was the No. 1 ranked third baseman in the state of Louisiana and the No. 5 ranked third baseman in the nation. 

It’s unclear as to whether or not the coaching staff at LSU will utilize him more on the rubber or in the infield. Either way, the right-handed pitcher’s speed, agility and strong bat further strengthen the Tigers’ roster. 

Kade Anderson 

This lefty is a true freshman from Madisonville, Louisiana. Anderson was noted as the No. 2 overall player in Louisiana and the No. 19 left-handed pitcher in the nation, according to Perfect Game. 

Throughout his high school career at St. Paul’s, he saw consistent growth on the bump. His strength has garnered a fastball that hits 91 mph. Anderson is smaller in stature but will have ample resources to continue developing at LSU. 

Fidel Ulloa 

Ulloa transferred to LSU from San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, California. The junior spent two seasons there, appearing in 15 games, 11 of which he earned the start. He posted a 4.09 ERA in the 2023 season, tallying 75 strikeouts in 55 innings. 

The right-handed pitcher doesn’t have many stats noted but has the potential to further develop in Baton Rouge. 

MJ Seo 

The true freshman comes to LSU as a multi-faceted player. He’s listed as a right-handed pitcher but has also seen a substantial amount of time as a middle infielder. 

Seo was ranked the No. 2 shortstop and No. 16 overall player in the state of Texas, according to Perfect Game. Nationally, he was ranked the No. 40 shortstop. 

In 2022, his fastball clocked in at 94 mph. 

Dylan Thompson 

Thompson will be able to contribute as a Tiger in multiple ways, as he’s listed on their roster as a right-handed pitcher and an infielder. 

Out of Moss Bluff, Louisiana, the true freshman was the No. 3 ranked shortstop and No. 11 ranked overall player in the state, according to Perfect Game. 

Thompson’s fastball has been clocked in at 89 mph. If needed, he’s also able to work in a high 11-to-5 shaped curveball.