The LSU Tigers will return a good core of players in 2026 that will put them in position to make a run for a ninth national championship.
Here’s a positional breakdown.
Pitchers
The three pitchers who threw in the championship series against Coastal Carolina will likely turn pro. Kade Anderson is expected to be a top three overall pick. Anthony Eyanson should go in the first round. Chase Shores and his 101 miles per hour fastball is also expected to be a high draft pick.
Coach Jay Johnson said on Sunday that he expects all three will pitch in a major league stadium within 18 months.
Despite these departures, LSU should not have trouble putting together a weekend rotation next season.
Casan Evans is your likely Friday night starter. It would be shocking if William Schmidt was not in the weekend rotation, considering the stuff he possesses. Jaden Noot is another candidate as a weekend starter. If Jay Johnson wants a left-hander in the rotation, Cooper Williams is a good candidate.
The 2026 recruiting class features three left-handers, including West Monroe’s Brady Cupit, who could be picked early in the Major League Baseball draft.
I would expect Johnson will grab a southpaw or two out of the transfer portal.
Six-foot-five right-hander Deven Sheerin will also be in the mix. He transferred in from Mount St. Mary’s last offseason. During his freshman season at Mount St. Mary’, he struck out 108 in 70 innings and was listed as the eighth best player in the 2025 transfer portal class. Sherrin did not pitch this season, because he was recovering from a torn ACL suffered last summer.
LSU also returns a good group of relievers in Mavrick Rizy, Jacob Mayers, Connor Benge and Grant Fontenot.
Zac Cowan also has another year of eligibility and Gavin Guidry will come back after missing 2025 with a back injury.
Catcher
Luis Hernandez is out of eligibility. But Cade Arrambide is ready to become the number one catcher next season. He’s a pro prospect. Eddie Yamin IV redshirted this season after transferring in from Dayton. He could be the primary back-up and he’s also a power hitter. Designated hitter is another possibility for Yamin.
Infield
The infield will see the most changes. Third baseman Michael Braswell is out of eligibility. Tanner Reaves appeared in 43 games this past season and made several starts at third base. He could also play second base.
So far LSU has added two players in the transfer portal, Brayden Simpson from High Point University out of the Big South. Simpson hit 22 home runs for the Panthers this past season.
John Pearson is another possibility at third base next season.
The other transfer portal addition is former Holy Cross star Seth Dardar. The Louisiana native had a good season at Kansas State this past season. Dardar hit .326 with 13 home runs and 45 RBIs.
Dardar could be the starting second baseman next season as Daniel Dickinson is expected to turn pro, along with first baseman Jared Jones.
Related
Ethan Frey has a decision to make, but he may want to show Major League teams that he can play the field and starting at first base for the Tigers could be an option.
LSU’s 2026 recruiting class features a couple of talented left-handed first basemen, Dylan Minnatee and Will Adams.
Steven Milam will be LSU’s starting shortstop next season.
Outfield
Josh Pearson is out of eligibility.
Chris Stanfield could return. If he doesn’t, Derek Curiel is the starting centerfielder.
Ashton Larson, who took a back seat this season after having a solid freshman campaign, will have a chance to start in right field. Jake Brown is also back.
If Stanfield returns, the outfield is really crowded again with Curiel, Stanfield, Brown and Larson.
Two of LSU’s best 2026 signees are also outfielders, Anthony Murphy and Nate Davis.