The MLB Draft is starting soon, and players of all ages could soon have their lives changed.
Many of those players are LSU Tigers, as the baseball program has once again produced a class of athletes who will garner consideration from MLB teams.
The MLB Draft will begin on July 14 with the first two rounds (first 74 picks) starting at 6 p.m. on ESPN.
The next day, rounds three through 10 will take place starting at 1 p.m. On July 16, the draft will wrap up with rounds 11 to 20 starting at 1 p.m. The second and third days will be streamed on MLB.com.
That represents the beginning of an exciting time for former LSU athletes as they have their dreams realized.
However, it’s also a pivotal time: many of the players will have to weigh beginning a career in the minor leagues or using the rest of their eligibility with LSU to potentially raise their draft stock in the future.
“They all have an open door here,” head coach Jay Johnson said in June.
Those decisions will have major implications on LSU’s team next season.
The biggest decisions to watch
The MLB’s eligibility rules for the draft say that any player that’s either older than 21 or has finished their junior year of college can be in the draft.
That means a select few sophomores who are already 21 before their junior year are eligible, and for LSU, that’s created some pivotal decisions.
Both pitcher Griffin Herring and first baseman Jared Jones fall into this category.
Herring was LSU’s most trusted arm out of the bullpen, putting up an ERA of 1.79 with 12 strikeouts per nine innings and being named a second team All-American.
If Herring returns, Johnson has said he’ll be a starting pitcher, something Herring is clearly ready to handle after an outstanding sophomore year.
It’s obvious that Herring is a special player, but it remains to be seen if he wishes to prove that even more with another year with the Tigers or if he feels he’s done enough already to earn himself a legitimate shot in the MLB.
Jones has also been astoundingly productive in just two years in college, and this past year he had 28 home runs and a batting average of .301.
He could be the leader of LSU’s offense if he returns, and he could also work on becoming a more well-rounded batter.
“The value they could create for themselves next year is really high,” Johnson said. “And they have a platform here to do that.”
Both decisions will be incredibly important for determining the ceiling of next season’s LSU squad.
Fidel Ulloa, Josh Pearson and Michael Braswell are other players Johnson highlighted as having important swing decisions.
READ MORE: Former LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri expected to take job at South Carolina
The full list of LSU’s likely draftees
Head coach Johnson said in his final press conference of the season that LSU could have anywhere between five to 11 players drafted.
Players that were among the 319 invited to the MLB Draft Combine in June are indicated by an asterisk (*).
3B Tommy White—Ranked No. 20 by MLB.com *
White’s two years at LSU were legendary, and there’s no doubt his power at the plate and growing defensive skills will earn him a look in the first round.
P Luke Holman—Ranked No. 45 by MLB.com *
Holman developed into an ace pitcher after transferring from Alabama, and now he’ll depart for a professional career.
P Gage Jump—Ranked No. 62 by MLB.com *
Jump was likewise an instant impact transfer after coming from UCLA and will now deservedly get a shot at the next level.
1B Jared Jones—Ranked 119 by MLB.com *
Having only played two years of college, Jones has a big decision on his hands. He has strength and power at first base that few can dream of, and his impressive combine performance will no doubt entice some teams. He could be drafted higher than expected.
However, Jones could also potentially benefit from returning to college, as he showed difficulty with off-speed pitches. Another year at LSU could turn him into a complete star.
OF Chris Stanfield—Ranked No. 128 by Perfect Game *
Stanfield transferred to LSU from Auburn this offseason and is known for his defensive abilities. It’s expected he’ll eventually choose the Tigers rather than an MLB opportunity, but he was invited to the combine and will likely be drafted.
P Griffin Herring—Ranked No. 157 by MLB.com *
Herring has incredible composure on the mound and genuinely has the potential to develop into a first-round level pitcher. It’s just a matter of whether he’d like to bet on himself now or later.
SS Michael Braswell—Ranked No. 204 by Perfect Game *
Braswell had an up-and-down junior year with LSU after coming from South Carolina, but he was a clear leader for the team. He’s a player that could potentially return to Baton Rouge, especially with the team having no veteran replacement at shortstop.
P Luke Hayden—Ranked No. 248 by Perfect Game *
Hayden transferred from Indiana State to LSU this offseason, but he’ll have to make a choice on if he’ll go to the MLB or stay with his commitment to the Tigers. If he sticks with LSU, he’ll make an instant impact either in the bullpen or the starting rotation.
P Fidel Ulloa—Ranked No. 366 by Perfect Game
Ulloa could also return to LSU for his final year of eligibility, but the relief pitcher showed enough during the season for an MLB team to consider drafting him.
P Christian Little—Ranked No. 420 by Perfect Game *
Little was drafted last year in the 19th round, and it’d seem he’s improved his stock after a better year in his final year of eligibility with the Tigers.
P Gavin Guidry—Ranked No. 484 by Perfect Game
Guidry is another sophomore that’s eligible to enter the draft because of his age. As one of the team’s most-used relievers, he’d be a significant loss, although not one that LSU isn’t prepared to supplement with who it’s gotten in the transfer portal.
OF Josh Pearson—Unranked
Pearson wasn’t listed by any draft ranking service, but he could be picked in the draft’s later rounds. However, with his brother John committed to LSU, he’ll mull returning to the school.
(Not listed are former Tigers Paxton Kling, Javen Coleman, Justin Loer and Thatcher Hurd who will likely be drafted but entered the transfer portal this offseason.)
LSU’s high school commits who could be drafted
Each year, most of the top high school graduates forego college to go straight to the professional level. It’s rare that the top college commits make it on campus.
LSU is guaranteed to have at least three members of its No. 2-ranked recruiting class honor their commitments, as pitcher William Schmidt out of Catholic High School in Baton Rouge, outfielder Derek Curiel and catcher Cade Arrambide announced in they’d be withdrawing from the draft.
Schmidt was the No. 5 prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, per Perfect Game, and was ranked the No. 16 draft prospect by MLB.com. Curiel is the No. 10 recruit and the No. 117 draft prospect, while Arrambide was No. 13 and No. 115, respectively, so all of them are huge pulls for the Tigers.
However, the other commits who could be drafted each have decisions to make, and it’s expected that many of the top names will opt for the MLB.
Here is the full list:
OF Konnor Griffin—Ranked No. 9 by MLB.com *
P Cam Caminiti—Ranked No. 15 by MLB.com *
P Boston Bateman—Ranked No. 57 by MLB.com *
3B Kale Fountain—Ranked No. 121 by MLB.com *
SS Michael Ryan—Ranked No. 202 by MLB.com *
P Mavrick Rizy—Ranked No. 244 by MLB.com *
P Casan Evans—Ranked No. 296 by Perfect Game *
SS David Hogg—Ranked No. 374 by Perfect Game *
1B Ryan Costello—Ranked No. 389 by Perfect Game
3B Daniel Arambula—Ranked No. 418 by Perfect Game
