Fall ball in Baton Rouge isn’t just about who’s hitting home runs or who’s touching 96 on the radar gun. For LSU head coach Jay Johnson, it’s about building a foundation — not just for the spring, but for the seasons that follow.
Almost two years ago, in 2024, the Tigers’ run ended just shy of Omaha, fresh off this year’s national championship, Johnson is treating fall as not only a reset button but a learning experience.
With a stacked roster that blends 19 returning players and 20 newcomers, he’s piecing together what can be considered “the 2026 blueprint,” which is a vision of success that’s already under construction.
“What I like so far is how our returning players … are leading this team,” Johnson said. “We’re very intentional about what we do, how we do it and then helping players take the next step forward. They’re not allowed in the door if they don’t want to play beyond here.”
Sophomore outfielder Derek Curiel and pitcher Casan Evans are emblematic of the next-wave core that Johnson says could be the anchor for LSU for years. Curiel, shifting into a new primary role in the center field, says the fall is all about earning the position and leading by example.
“There’s obviously a lot of talent on the field … the hitting groups, the pitching groups, it all looks elite,” Curiel said. “Getting to play outfield with Chris Stanfield … I got to learn a lot from him.”
Meanwhile Evans, who delivered a breakout freshman season for LSU, is taking on a more vocal role in the pitching room and mentoring new players.
“I want to be kind of in the same role as Kade Anderson was last year,” Evans said. “We don’t know our positions yet, and we’re still fighting for our spot, but I want to talk to the freshmen as much as I can just to give them information.”
This step up in leadership matters because the Tigers are in a transformational offseason. With so many new faces in the lineup, having someone with experience.
The culture of competition is also something Johnson is very adamant about this fall. This fall is about not settling for anything less than hard work.
“You have to have that burning desire to become the best that you can become to thrive in this dynamic of a program that we have going,” Johnson said.
Johnson also heavily emphasized that roles are not prewritten; they’ll be earned through fall development, intrasquad scrimmage and attitude every day.
The roster of 20 newcomers consists of transfer, JUCO and high school signees. Depth across positions, especially pitching and defense, is a key focus after losing a large number of pitchers to the 2025 MLB Draft this past July.
As the Tigers begin intrasquad scrimmages and fall exhibitions, the work being done over the next six weeks will set the tone for spring and beyond.
For Curiel, this means mastering a new defensive assignment, getting stronger and stepping into a bigger leadership role. For Evans, it means embracing his voice in the clubhouse, helping first-year players adjust and refining his own craft.
For Johnson, it’s about showing the world that Louisiana is the state of baseball and where champions are made. The blueprint of 2026 is simple: strong recruiting, daily development, self-sustaining culture and plenty of depth that can handle the daunting seasons ahead.
As Johnson sees it, you don’t win in June if you don’t build the foundation in October. In Baton Rouge this fall, the bricks for another strong season are being cemented.
