The MLB Draft wrapped up on Sunday, and LSU baseball was well represented among the names called. Another five players from LSU baseball’s 2026 roster were selected, bringing the Tigers’ MLB organization-bound total to eight. In addition, its signees who were draft eligible out of high school avoided selection for the most part, capping a positive draft for the program.
Pitchers Grant Fontenot, Santiago Garcia, Connor Benge, Gavin Guidry and Zac Cowan heard their names called on Sunday. Though their position is the same, LSU’s draftees represent several different paths that ended up in professional baseball via Baton Rouge.
Fontenot went first out of the Tigers on day two. The righty transferred in from Texas after his sophomore season, landing in Austin after a launchpad freshman season in junior college and progressing into a steady hand in the LSU bullpen for his second season. That development earned him a call as the 299th pick in the draft by the Kansas City Royals.
“I am proud of Grant’s development, especially this past year in 2026,” head coach Jay Johnson said in a series of statements following his players’ selections. “Grant has grown a ton here at LSU, and he is ready to take on professional baseball.”
After Fontenot was Garcia, going to the Toronto Blue Jays in the 12th round. Like Fontenot, Garcia started his career in JUCO before landing a power conference spot at Oregon in 2025. After a dominant season in Eugene, he made a move to LSU but took a step back against hitters in college baseball’s best conference.
Still, the Jays see potential in the funky lefty, and they took a shot on him to try and find the magic he had as a Duck.
“I think [Garcia] is going to be a great pro,” Johnson said. “I think the more he pitches and gets a feel for the pro game, he can move quickly through an MLB organization.”
In the next round, Connor Benge got selected by the Miami Marlins. Benge started his career at LSU Eunice, transferred to Dallas Baptist for 2024, but later returned to the LSU system, this time the flagship, in 2025. He posted good, but not great, stats in limited innings in both his seasons in Baton Rouge, pulling together some promising metrics that compelled the Marlins to pull the trigger.
“Connor has an electric arm and has tremendous ability,” Johnson said. “We are excited to see him be a successful MLB pitcher.”
The 16th round saw the New York Mets select Gavin Guidry with the 480th pick. Guidry spent his entire collegiate career at LSU, becoming a fan favorite and carrying the prestigious eight as his jersey number.
After outstanding freshman and sophomore seasons, Guidry missed the entire 2025 season with injuries. He returned this year and found himself in between starting and relief roles, causing his numbers to take a step back. His stuff remained sharp enough to earn a selection, and he leaves Baton Rouge as a fan favorite.
“I am happy for Gavin getting an opportunity to play professional baseball,” Johnson said. “I believe he has a great future in front of him. He will go down as a great winner at LSU as a two-time national champion.”
Zac Cowan was the final Tiger taken during the draft. The Cleveland Guardians selected him in the 19th round. He split his college years between Wofford and LSU, transferring ahead of his junior season.
He was excellent in LSU’s 2025 national championship season, holding down the responsibility of a late-inning, high-leverage reliever. He was entrusted with starts intermittently through the year, along with relief appearances in 2026, but his mileage varied far more in his senior campaign.
“Zac will go down as one of my favorite players of all time,” Johnson said. “I am really excited to see him ascend.”
Senior pitcher Dax Dathe signed with the Blue Jays after going undrafted, bringing the expected total of Tigers turning pro to nine ahead after the season.
Nine is also the number of LSU signees that were selected out of high school. That number is fairly low, meaning a lot of the high school talent recruited by Johnson and his staff will make it on campus for the 2027 season. It also means that the Tigers’ roster will likely need to thin. LSU is expected to carry 42 players into 2027, eight players over the NCAA roster limit.
