LSU has a problem that it is starting to try and solve.
Zach Yorke has been manning first base for practically the entire year, but has struggled to keep up in SEC play. In the Tennessee series, his bat fell flat as he went 0-9 with three strikeouts.
His defense almost lost LSU the series, as errors in the second and third games gave Tennessee an early lead. All five of the Volunteers’ runs in the third game came in the third inning, which was extended from an error Yorke committed.
A change, even though it might be temporary, was made Tuesday against Bethune-Cookman with the lingering dilemma of how much longer to keep the portal star on the field.
Here are four players who could all see increased playing time at first base.
Mason Braun
Braun got the start at first on Tuesday. Though it was his first collegiate start at that spot, he’s played there sparingly this year. Most of his playing time has come at DH or in left field, as it seems head coach Jay Johnson wants to develop him as a corner outfielder.
“I played outfield my whole high school career,” Braun said. “First base is just what’s listed online and everything. But I basically played outfield my whole life, too.”
In Tuesday’s game, he looked solid for the most part, making a couple stretch plays but missing a pick and letting a pickoff get away from him.
“I thought he was fine,” Johnson said.
Johnson mainly touched on what went wrong at first base, something to be expected after a tough loss. Braun also got on base three times, including a single and a run scored in the second inning.
Eddie Yamin
Yamin has emerged as an extra-base hit machine, with three of his five hits going for at least two bases. The sample size is small, but that’s because he has only started two games, though he has gotten his chance as a pinch hitter.
The redshirt junior came in as catcher when Omar Serna took a hit to the head on the finale of the Tennessee series, and got a single and a double in his five at-bats. He hasn’t made any errors this season.
“He hasn’t probably played as much as he would like to,” catcher Cade Arrambide said. “But every single day, he shows up and he works hard. And he is one of the best guys that you could have pushing for you.”
Yamin has been solid behind the dish. But the other two catchers have given Jay Johnson reason to keep them in the lineup every day with their hot bats.
This could give Yamin his place in the lineup if Arrambide and Serna rotate at catcher and designated hitter. He’s proved through his time on the field so far that he can compete in the SEC.
Omar Serna
Serna was the No. 4-ranked catcher in the country before he came to Baton Rouge, and Johnson has been giving him every opportunity.
“He’s not coming out of the lineup,” Johnson said after Serna’s lone start at first base on March 21. “You have to be creative, maybe a little bit, to do that, and that was our way today.”
He has been a viable option and is starting to find better at-bats against SEC pitching, batting .272 with three home runs and 20 RBI.
Serna has also come into multiple games at first base as a substitute. He has made five errors so far this season, but most of them have been at catcher. Serna is more than a viable option to share playing time at first if a change is to be made.
John Pearson
Pearson has played at first base in 2026, but has found his way into the starting lineup at third base.
Trent Caraway hasn’t been producing offensively, so Pearson’s hot bat has taken his spot. His improvement from 2025 to 2026 has been monumental, and his OPS stands at 1.029 with six homers over 23 games.
His movement to the opposite corner of the infield would require an offensive upstart from Caraway, who is batting .250 this year. Pearson’s defense has also been great as of late, making his case stronger to just stay at third.
But like Johnson said, you have to get creative to keep all these strong bats in the lineup. There’s still time, though fleeting, to find the perfect nine guys to have ready each game day.
