After losing talent to draft, LSU has responded. The transfers it added this week, how they fit in

By Ross Abboud, Reveille Deputy Sports Editor

July 19, 2025

LSU baseball head coach Jay Johnson speaks to the media after Chris Stanfield was named the inaugural Tony Gwynn Community Service Trophy winner during a press conference for the Men’s College World Series Friday, June 13, 2025, at Charles Schwab Field on Mike Fahey Street in Omaha, Ne.

Baseball America named LSU a loser from the 2025 MLB Draft because the program saw nine players and eight high school signees get picked.

Players like Chase Shores and Jacob Mayers were selected higher than projected, almost guaranteeing they wouldn’t decline their contracts and return to LSU.

However, head coach Jay Johnson made sure the holes were filled in the two days after the draft by hitting the transfer portal.

Though the team landed three left-handed pitchers earlier in the offseason, it lost two right-handed pitchers in Shores and Mayers. So LSU went and picked up two right-handed pitchers in Dax Dathe and Cooper Moore.

LSU also has some holes on defense to fill from Jared Jones getting drafted and third baseman Michael Braswell running out of eligibility, so Johnson went out and picked up first baseman Zack Yorke and infielder Trent Caraway.

Here’s what to know about these new transfers and how they fit in with the Tigers.

Dax Dathe

Dathe came from Angelo State, a Division II program, where he recorded a 2.99 ERA in 72.1 innings with 12.2 strikeout per nine innings.

Dathe started his collegiate career at Houston before transferring to Grayson College, a JUCO program. After two seasons there, he spent a season at Texas Tech before finally transferring to Angelo State. His season at LSU will be his last season of eligibility.

Dathe is a right-handed pitcher that stands at 6 feet 3 inches. He has a mid-90s fastball and a deceptive slider.

Cooper Moore

Moore is transferring from Kansas, where he started 14 games this past season with a 3.96 ERA in 88.2 innings with 85 strikeouts.

Moore could compete for a starting position in the weekend rotation next season, with LSU losing starters Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson to the draft.

Moore commands the strike zone with a fast ball that sits at 94 to 96 miles an hour with a curveball to get hitters to chase.

Zach Yorke

Yorke is a first baseman transferring from Grand Canyon University who has only been struck out 91 times while walking 127 times in his college career.

He swings a powerful bat with 32 doubles, 32 home runs and 157 RBI over three years, but he’s also very disciplined with a .328 career batting average and a .434 on-base percentage.

Trent Caraway

Caraway is transferring from Oregon State after appearing in 64 games in 2025.

He started 63 of the 64 games, recording a .268 batting average with 15 doubles, 12 home runs, 47 RBI and 30 walks.
Caraway took a major step in the NCAA postseason where he hit six home runs and had a hit in each of the Beavers’ games in Omaha.

Caraway is a third baseman who brings College World Series experience to a team looking to win back-to-back championships.

Why does LSU need large portal classes?

The hardest part of winning a national championship and having a high ranked recruiting class is the draft will consistently take a lot of players from your team.

LSU had starters and signees going off the board in the draft on Sunday and Monday, but Johnson’s ability to recruit from the portal and convince a few players to forgo the draft out of high school will help LSU on their quest to repeat championships.

Now the Tigers have a rebuilt offense with depth and a deep pitching staff with versatile weapons.

About the Contributors

Ross Abboud, Reveille Deputy Sports Editor

Why did you join the Reveille?

Ever since I was young, I’ve grabbed Reveilles, admittedly for the crosswords, but when I learned it was possible that I could write about sports at LSU for the Reveille, I couldn’t pass it up.

What do you hope to do after graduation?

I want to pursue a career in either athletic communications for a college, or become a sports journalist covering college athletics.

Payton Prichard, Reveille Multimedia Editor

Why did you join the Reveille?

I joined to have a creative outlet and explore sides of photography I never had before. I’m glad I did because I found my passion (and changed my major to Journalism).

What positions have you held at the Reveille?

I was a photographer for one year and I’m now the Multimedia Editor!

What’s your favorite thing about working at the Reveille?

Traveling with our Sports staff for away games. Not only have I gotten to make lasting friendships with my coworkers, I’ve also had the chance to see an LSU championship or two!

What’s your favorite story that you’ve worked on so far?

My favorite assignment was when I covered the 2025 Men’s College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. I was there for a little shy of two weeks and had the chance to shoot eight strong teams fighting for a championship title. I’m very proud of the content I produced from my time there and very happy the Tigers finished on top!

What do you hope to do after graduation?

If I get my way, I’ll be a Creative Content Producer or Team Photographer for a National Hockey League (NHL) team! Traveling with the Carolina Hurricanes or the New Jersey Devils for a literal job would be a dream come true.