LSU baseball’s No. 8 jersey tradition dates back to the Paul Maneri era, and with the transfer portal active for the 2027 season, fans are beginning to wonder who the next Tigers’ team captain will be.
In 2025 and 2026, the Tigers’ team captain wearing the No. 8 jersey was Gavin Guidry, who is a draft-eligible junior. However, there are several other contenders whose performances suggest they could earn the role.
Pitcher Gavin Guidry
Most LSU baseball players tend to play collegiate ball for three seasons, and Guidry did just that. Despite being a key player as a true freshman during LSU’s 2023 national championship run, he received a medical redshirt for the 2025 season, giving him an extra year of eligibility.
Since he has already played for three seasons, many LSU baseball players in his position would enter the MLB draft, which frees up the No. 8 jersey for another player. However, Guidry has said he is on the fence about leaving LSU after the 2026 season.
“I’ve had a lot of conversations with the coach about seeing what we can do money-wise to come back and also chase another dream of winning a third national championship. Because that’ll put [me] in a completely different realm of LSU baseball players,” Guidry said on the Matt Mascona show after the 2026 season. “I definitely don’t have all my eggs in one basket yet.”
Even though Guidry is undecided on returning in 2027, discussions around the MLB draft have slid several other iconic Tigers into the conversation for next No. 8.
Shortstop Steven Milam
Steven Milam confirmed Friday that he would be coming back to Baton Rouge for his senior year and has officially pulled his name from the MLB draft. With the announcement of his return and the possibility of Guidry’s departure, the No. 8 jersey would find a fitting home on the 5-foot-8 junior.
After starting for the first three years of his career, he has demonstrated the skills necessary to be an effective leader on the field. Anyone who watched this season could tell that the Tigers didn’t gel, and that led to many of the problems on the field. Milam stepping in as an established veteran and leader in 2027 might be the key to returning to Omaha in 2027.
Giving the programs’ coveted jersey number to Milam will set a standard for the incoming freshmen and transfers that Guidry couldn’t bring from the bullpen in 2026. The combination of talent and responsibility makes him a strong contender if Guidry is drafted, but there are a few incoming juniors that also perfectly fit the ideal needs for the captain.
Catcher Cade Arrambide
Cade Arrambide is one of the top contenders for the No. 8 jersey because of his position, skill set and personality. Arrambide’s role as a catcher demonstrates his ability to handle tough situations with his teammates, making him a great option for the role of captain.
Catchers are typically natural leaders on the field as they have to handle the entire pitching staff from 60 feet away while communicating any issues back to the dugout, and Arrambide does just this by handling different pitchers in different situations, all while reading his other teammates to lead them on the field
Traditionally, a recipient of the No. 8 jersey is someone who has been at LSU since his freshman year and has dominated in all aspects of the game.
His hot bat during SEC play has shown his growth in his position, and the leadership expectations that come with being a catcher make him one of the better choices for the No. 8 jersey in 2027.
Pitcher Casan Evans
Much like Guidry, Casan Evans came to LSU to pitch, and he has had success in both his freshman and sophomore years. Evans has grown from where he started in 2025 to where he finished the 2026 season. This growth puts him in the perfect position for the No. 8 jersey in 2027 if Guidry gets drafted.
While it has proven to be difficult to lead the Tigers from the bullpen, Evans’ role as a starting pitcher would allow him to have a much more active role as a team leader during the Tigers’ games. Because of this, he could have a much more productive role on the field and in the dugout, which makes him another standout player.
Evans’ progression of skill on the field as a Friday night starter makes him a strong contender to lead the team in 2027, as his role as a premier starter is to set the tone for the weekend series.
Nonetheless, the No. 8 jersey recipient won’t be named until the final roster is released. Any of the guys that have grown into the role will showcase what head coach Jay Johnson wants for the future of his team.
If Guidry leaves LSU for the MLB, then Johnson’s next choice of captain will reveal a great deal about what fans can expect in 2027.
