Last year’s national champions return to Alex Box on Feb. 13. One week out, the LSU baseball team enters the season positioned for success behind returning stars and a talented group of newcomers.
Fresh off a victorious run in Omaha, LSU returns with a blend of veterans and exciting new talent. Even with some stars moving onto the big leagues, the Tigers’ roster — boosted by transfers and freshmen — is warming up to defend their crown and place another banner in the stadium.
Nine players were selected in last year’s MLB draft, including left-handed pitcher Kade Anderson in the first round, right-handed pitchers Chase Shores and Anthony Eyanson, second baseman Daniel Dickinson and first baseman Jared Jones.
Last season, these all-star players helped lead the team to Omaha, becoming one of the few baseball programs to have eight national championship titles.
Immediately after the post-season, head coach Jay Johnson and his recruiting staff quickly got to work. They signed 20 new players, with at least six of them being transfers on the top 100 College Transfers list from Baseball America.
At third base, Trent Caraway from Oregon State is ranked No. 30 with a batting average of .281 across two seasons. Over on first base, Zach Yorke from Grand Canyon University joined the Tigers this season, hitting 32 home runs in three seasons with the Antelopes.
The infield additions continue the strong batting presence — with senior Brayden Simpson, who played at High Point, having 32 home runs under his belt in three seasons. Seth Dardar from Kansas State adds to the talent, with a batting average of .326, 18 doubles and 13 home runs last season.
On D1 Baseball’s Top 50 Transfer Hitters list for the upcoming season, Simpson was listed at No. 9 and Dardar placed No. 23.
The Tigers see new strength on the pitching mound, with Division II transfer and right-handed pitcher Dax Dathe, left-handed pitcher Santiago Garcia from Oregon, left-handed pitcher Danny Lachenmayer from North Dakota State and right-handed pitcher Cooper Moore from Kansas.
With the Ducks, Garcia recorded 40 strikeouts over 30 innings last season. In his 11 appearances in Big Ten games, he limited opposing hitters to a .171 batting average.
At Division II’s Angelo State, Darthe put up impressive numbers last season, with 98 strikeouts in 72.1 innings. His performance named his First-Team All-Lone Star Conference twice.
Lachenmayer was also named First-Team All-Summit League last year, and ranked No. 21 in this year’s D1 Baseball Top 50 Transfer Pitchers.
Moore, expected to sit behind right-handed pitcher Casan Evans in the pitching rotation, was ranked No. 6 in the same list after striking out 85 batters in 88.2 innings during the 2025 season.
While the Tigers are loaded with incoming talent, top performers return at key spots: Steven Milam in the field, and Chris Stanfield, Jake Brown and Derek Curiel in the outfield, giving fans hope for another successful season with familiar faces.
These notable players showed up in the field and at the plate throughout the season and were recognized for it. Milam was named to the College World Series All-Tournament Team and Brown ranked No. 55 on Perfect Game’s Top 100 Collegiate Juniors list heading into this season.
On the mound, right-handed pitcher returners Evans, Zac Cowan, Gavin Guidry and Connor Benge are expected to shine this season, providing veteran experience, strikeout ability and consistent weekend rotation.
There’s no doubt the Tigers are continuing their strength offensively and defensively, and an Omaha-experienced team will show no struggle adapting to a new roster.
Others see it too.
LSU ranked No. 2 in the D1 Baseball preseason top 25, closely behind the UCLA Bruins.
The Tigers are projected to put up a 49-7 overall record this season, going 23-7 in SEC play, which closely mimics their 53-15 record from last season. Their schedule features more than half of its games against teams that made the NCAA tournament last year.
They will open the season at home, hosting Milwaukee next weekend. The Tigers will face their first preseason-ranked opponent in March, playing the No. 23 Vanderbilt Commodores in Nashville.
They are set to face tough SEC foes, like No. 14 Tennessee and Ole Miss on the road mid-season. Not long after, they will continue conference matchups, hosting the Texas A&M Aggies, ranked No. 25 in the preseason. The following weekend, the Tigers will travel to Starkville to meet No. 4 Mississippi State.
May brings a thriller, as the Florida Gators will return to Alex Box for a rematch of the 2023 College World Series championship game, when LSU claimed the title.
After being named D1 Baseball National Coach of the Year last season, Johnson returns with his strategic coaching tactics, building legends for the baseball program and attracting more talented players year after year.
Johnson, his staff, players and fans are hopeful for another appearance in Omaha this June, and to bring home the program’s ninth College World Series championship.
