By Hunt Palmer
Baseball season is rapidly approaching. Jay Johnson’s 2025 team is ranked in the top five no matter where you look. The incoming portal class was ranked No. 1 by multiple outlets, and the freshman class earned that honor as well.
The force that was a 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation is gone, and so is the thunderous bat of Tommy White. But some familiar faces return as well, and, as usual, the anticipation around the program is ratcheted up this time of year.
Let’s continue a look around the roster for this 2025 LSU baseball team with third base.
WHO’S GONE: Tommy White (MLB Draft)
WHO’S BACK: Michael Braswell, Steven Milam
WHO’S NEW: John Pearson (Freshman)
Tommy White leaves quite a void. “Tanks” hit 75 collegiate homer which is eighth all-time in college baseball’s history. He led the team in hitting in 2024 with a .330 average on the heels of a 105 RBI season in 2023. He also played an excellent third base.
LSU doesn’t have anyone who is going to replace White at third. He’s probably going to the College Baseball Hall of Fame. Johnson has spoken this winter about the “Moneyball” approach in replacing White in the aggregate. Maybe Braswell and Milam elevate themselves slightly this year, and Daniel Dickinson hits 17 homeruns over at second where the Tigers only got Milam’s eight last year. Add in 20 total homers at catcher between Cade Arrambide and Luis Hernandez where Alex Milazzo hit zero, and you’re starting to make up ground.
Yesterday we waked through Milam’s emergence as a freshman and Braswell’s rocky start and stellar finish. It feels like the “second place finisher” ends up at third, but third base defense is crucial, and one of these guys is going to have to handle it.
As we discussed yesterday, neither player has a huge arm, but both move well enough to play third base. Braswell made a really nice play moving to his left on Sunday of last week. Both guys will be very comfortable charging choppers and bunts. If you can move well enough to play shortstop, you can move well enough to play third base.
John Pearson is an interesting prospect. He’s Josh’s brother, but that’s about where the similarities stop. John is two inches taller and 50 lbs. heavier. He also hits right-handed. If Pearson can show enough mobility to play third base in his time in college, he could be a nice pro prospect. If his profile shrinks to a potential power hitter without a position.
HUNT’S TAKE: Since we pegged Milam at shortstop yesterday, that means this is Braswell’s job. There’s a scenario where Dickinson or Tanner Reaves moves over to third base, but that is going to involve someone getting hurt or slumping hard.
I expect Braswell to play steady defense and get on base. That’s not the prototypical third base profile, but maybe it works for this team.
I’ve always prioritized third base defense in college more than the professional ranks. Bad defense on the hot corner can cost you a lot of outs. Sometimes college coaches try to squeeze a bat in there and are content to deal with those consequences. That’s not the case here. LSU will have a steady set of hands at third. That’s a positive.
Unlike catcher, outfield and pitching, third base isn’t going to make or break this team. It’s a high floor corner of the roster that should shake up much at all throughout the season.
NEXT UP: Left Field
