Two years ago, Paul Skenes dazzled fans with his 100 mile per hour plus fastball. It helped the Tigers win their seventh national championship.
On that team there was a freshman named Chase Shores. Just like Skenes, Shores is an imposing figure on the mound at six-foot-eight. Shores would even draw some comparisons to Skenes because of his height.
But after seven appearances in 2023, including four starts, Shores went down with a season ending elbow injury. He underwent Tommy John surgery in April.
The reconstructive surgery on his right elbow forced him to miss the entire 2024 season.
There was a lot of anticipation for Shores return in 2025. It was expected he would be a weekend starter, and he earned the Sunday starter role.
Whether it was rust, confidence, inexperience or trust in his pitches, Shores failed to dominate like Skenes. In fact, he had trouble keeping runners off the bases.
Shores made nine starts to begin the season and threw 38.2 innings, giving up 44 hits, 22 earned runs, 18 walks and 41 strikeouts.
His last start was against Auburn. He lasted just two innings and allowed three runs as the Tigers were swept that weekend. Shores walked off the mound with an ERA of 5.12.
The Midland, Texas native was moved to the bullpen and his first outing in relief was not very good. He allowed three earned runs in 2.2 innings in a loss to Alabama.
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In his next three outings out of the pen, Shores would give up at least one run.
But since the South Carolina series, Shores has made six appearances and has allowed runs in only one of those outings and that was in the loss to Little Rock.
The junior right-hander had the privilege of recording the last out to end the Super Regional series against West Virgina.
Shores says he’s learned to attack the strike zone quickly.
“Coming out of the bullpen you got to be ready from the get-go, so I think that’s kind of helped me,” Shores said. “When I was starting, I was trying to groove into things and feel things out, but coming out of the bullpen you have to be ready first pitch, and the intent has gotten better, strikes have been better too.”
And because Shores is only pitching an inning or two, he’s decided to let it rip and he’s consistently hitting 100 miles per hour on the radar gun.
He’s trying not to look at the scoreboard to see how fast he’s throwing.
“I need to do a better job of not doing that,” Shores said. “My Dad and my advisor told me you got to stop looking at the radar gun, my advisor made a deal with me that I can only look after a strikeout and that’s what I’m going to start doing.”
Shores addition to pen has bolster LSU’s relief corps. LSU goes into the College World Series with the best one-two tandem when it comes to starting pitchers with Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson.
Casan Evans and Zac Cowan have been great out of the bullpen.
But LSU has more than just four pitchers. Shores, Jacob Mayers, Mavrick Rizy, Jaden Noot, DJ Primeaux and freshman Cooper Williams are all capable relievers that give LSU a great chance at winning an eighth national championship.
Shores is just one of three players left from the 2023 national championship team, He’s looking forward to getting the opportunity to pitch in Omaha and entertain the crowd with his 100 mile per hour fastball.