When LSU baseball’s newest transfer, Seth Dardar, steps onto the field and into the box, there’s more behind his calm focus than just experience.
Before donning the purple and gold, Dardar balanced the demanding life of an Ivy League student-athlete, earning an engineering degree from Columbia University — a challenge that tested not only his physical endurance but also his mental discipline.
“In high school, I really focused on my academics and getting good grades, good standardized test scores, so it kind of opened up opportunities for me,” Dardar said. “I told myself that when I was going up there that in case I didn’t have baseball, I would get a degree and have a backup plan.”
The Mandeville, Louisiana native took an unconventional route to Baton Rouge. Despite growing up surrounded by LSU fans and SEC baseball, he chose to attend Columbia, drawn by its elite academics and the chance to compete in one of the most unique settings in the country.
While some athletes might view a rigorous engineering degree as incompatible with college athletics, Dardar embraced the challenge.
Days for Dardar often started before sunrise and ended well after midnight. Between early morning lifts, classes in thermodynamics and fluid mechanics and late-night batting practice, time management wasn’t optional — it was necessary for survival.
“I had no time for anything other than school and baseball,” Dardar said. “It was wake up, do homework, study and go to the field for however long, then straight back to studying. When I was doing it, I kept asking myself ‘why,’ but now that it’s over with, I’m glad I got through it.”
Now back home in Louisiana, the background Dardar brings with him to LSU baseball shows that he not only succeeded as a student but also as a student-athlete.
At Columbia in the 2023 season, he started 34 games and batted .299 after 40 hits on 134 at-bats, with 11 doubles, eight home runs and 32 RBIs.
Dardar’s transition from the Ivy League to a powerhouse SEC program brings new opportunities — and challenges. The competition is different and the spotlight is much brighter, but his journey of battling hardships has prepared him for any adversity.
Dardar spent a lot of time in the dugout due to injuries that led to three major surgeries for his elbow, knee and hip over the span of three years, which is not for the mentally weak. He medically redshirted during the 2024 season before transferring to Kansas State for the 2025 season.
“It definitely helps teaching balance, with school and baseball, not only that but going through the injuries I went through,” he said. “I got three major surgeries back to back, so going through that made me mentally stronger and makes me feel like I can get through anything.”
During his time at Kansas State, Dardar crossed paths with LSU. Early in the 2025 season when the Tigers went to the Frisco Classic, he went 2-for-5 at the plate with a home run and a double off of LSU’s superstar pitcher Kade Anderson.
With one season under his belt with the Wildcats, he racked up an impressive .326 batting average, 13 homers and accounted for 39 runs during the season.
At LSU, he’s expected to bring both intelligence and maturity to a seasoned roster. His journey to Baton Rouge gives him a perspective that sets him apart from many athletes who have not experienced the same academic path.
While his focus right now is on helping LSU baseball train for another deep postseason run, Dardar’s engineering degree ensures his future is secure long after he hangs up his glove.
Whether he pursues a professional baseball career or shifts into engineering, he’s already proven he can succeed in both arenas without a doubt.
“Being here at LSU is my dream,” Dardar said. “I’m trying to take in every moment, whether it’s something small or even something a lot of guys don’t want to do. Obviously, Columbia was a little less about baseball and more about school, but coming here has been like a jump up in a way, but a really good jump.”
In an era when athletes are often defined solely by their performance on the field, Dardar is a testament to student-athletes and their ability to balance both school and athletics.
“I want to be someone who just loves to play baseball and [is] super passionate not just for baseball but for LSU and winning a national championship,” Dardar said. “Playing as hard as I can for my team, but for the fans also, this has been the dream.”
