LSU baseball is looking to go back-to-back in 2026, but it'll have to do so with a new cast of characters.
The top starters, the top power threat, gone. But that's just the reality for the LSU Tigers. But what Jay Johnson's squad does have returning is all three outfield starters in Derek Curiel, Michael Braswell and Jake Brown, who are expected to lead this group in a lot of ways, as the head coach broke down this week on WWL Radio.
"You love that experience," Johnson said while noting that Brown could be a player of the year candidate, "and those guys know what we’re trying to do to win. They know the identity they have as a player and how that translates to LSU being successful, and they have a full season of work when they do that, they see the fruits of their labor. So going to lean on them for production, obviously, and really lean on them for leadership as well.”
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Then there's shortstop Steven Milam, who is stepping into a bigger leadership role in his junior season, as well as catcher Cade Arrambide, who Johnson said has a chance to be the best player on this Tigers roster.
"In a lot of ways I feel like we’re getting another starter back," Johnson said, "because we got him that experience of catching about 10 or 11 SEC games.”
The group will also be led by rising sophomore Casan Evans, who spent last year coming out of the bullpen and played a massive role in LSU finishing the job in Omaha. He'll be a featured starter for this year's roster, with last year's aces Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson departing for the MLB.
“I think [Evans is] one of the most important players I’ve ever recruited in my entire coaching career. ... One or two of my best guys are going to always be in the bullpen and that was Casan last year," Johnson said. "He had the toughness, the competitiveness, the makeup and obviously the stuff to do that and I think it’s all there to transition into the starting rotation. He’s got the pitch mix. He is the elitest of elite competitors, which you have to have to win on Friday or Saturday in the SEC.”
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Johnson also highlighted two newcomers that he expects to have major impacts on this year's roster:
- Zach York, 1B (transfer from Grand Canyon)
“That was obviously going to be a big position to fill with losing Jared Jones, who was one of the best power hitters in LSU baseball history and really clutch for us last year, obviously in the College World Series, and that guy is not falling off the trees, and so we were fortunate that Zach did not sign in the draft and was available. ... It was a pretty easy and natural fit, transition. He’s the exact hitter and player that we need to blend with [the rest of the roster].”
- Cooper Moore, RHP (transfer from Kansas)
“Kind of like Anthony Eyanson previously, as a sophomore had a really successful season of like 90 innnings of starts. Like, he knows what his plan is for the week and how to go about getting himself ready. There’ll be some small adjustments, obviously, adjusting to the SEC, but he had an outstanding fall, so those would be my two that have probably jumped out.”
The Tigers are deep into their prep for the 2026 season, which includes about a dozen inter-squad scrimmages leading up to the season-opener on Feb. 13 against Milwaukee at Alex Box Stadium.
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MORE FROM JOHNSON
On building a winning roster each year
“Anybody can acquire talent, but taking that collection of talent and making it a team, it’s not easy, and there’s challenges with that, especially in baseball, with the Major League Baseball draft. Sometimes you recruit players and they never show up to play for you because the Brewers or the Braves, somebody will draft them and you’ve got to pivot quickly when you lose, you know, some of your players, some of your high school recruits or some of your transfer portal players in the draft and we’ve been able to do that. Last year’s team, obviously, was more than just a collection of talent, it was guys that played their roles outstanding and led to a special season and when you do that, you move, you know, 10 or so on to pro baseball, you start it over and do it again and excited to do that with this 2026 team.”
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On Steven Milam developing as a leader
“I’m really proud of him. I’ve known him since he was in 7th grade and, you know, he just kind of reminds me of Indiana football is the hot topic right now, the national championship and I remember Curt Cignetti say about 18 times … about their recruiting philosophy of production over potential and I immediately think of Steven when I think of that. There’s not a better shortstop in the country. I would not trade him for anybody, and when we need him the most, that’s when he’s at his best and I always feel like that’s a special quality and I would even add to that. He’s taken on more of a leadership role on the field this year and early practices here has really made sure we’re working at a high level. Kind of reminds me a little bit of a Derek Jeter-type in terms of how he’s evolving and I’m proud of him for that, because that was something that he hasn’t had to do for 2 years with older players, but he’s really stepping up, embracing that and I expect him to have an outstanding season. He’s a great player.”
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On the pressure to win in Baton Rouge
“One thing I love about LSU is how much everybody wants us to win and be successful, and the great part about it is it’s like 1/1 billionth the amount that Jay Johnson wants the Tigers to be successful, so think about that and it makes it the best place in the world and our fans are amazing. What they did in the postseason for us last year in the Box and showing up in Omaha and the finals is something I’ll never forget.”