Daniel Dickinson gloved the final batted ball of the 2025 season.
As he did all year, the Utah Valley transfer fielded it cleanly and flipped accurately to Steven Milam covering second. The relay onto first sealed LSU’s eighth national title.
That finale was a perfect representation of the best statistical defense in LSU history. The Tigers fielded .981 and played errorless baseball in 36 games. Only nine times in 68 contests did LSU make multiple errors.
Most of the infield turns over in 2026. Only Milam returns among the Omaha staters from 2025. Dickinson’s loss is significant both offensively and defensively, and at this point it looks like the competition for that spot is still ongoing.
That’s likely to remain the case as the season begins.
WHAT WE KNOW
Seth Dardar, Tanner Reaves and Brayden Simpson have all played some second base in the fall and preseason.
Dardar played 22 games at second base and 15 at first last season at Kansas State. His baseball reference page does not show any time at second over three seasons at Columbia.
Reaves spent 2025 at third base for LSU where his defensive struggles cost him playing time. Ultimately, Michael Braswell won that job hitting .189 for the season because of his defense.
Simpson played first base and third base for High Point a season ago but did log 19 games at second base in 2024.
These guys are bat-first players, but Jay Johnson prioritizes infield defense. He won’t compromise that.
The bats are good.
Here’s the Tanner Reaves homer.
An absolute rocket that landed somewhere by the Marucci Center.
A good moment for Reaves who’s competing for playing time at second base. #LSU pic.twitter.com/vhSmZExZ7w
— John Eads WAFB-TV (@JohnEadsWAFB) January 23, 2026
Simpson had a monster year at High Point hitting .389 with 22 homers and 24 doubles. His OPS was a gaudy 1.295. He’s the only right-handed option here as Reaves and Dardar swing it from the left side.
Dardar caught Johnson’s eye when he homered off Kade Anderson and doubled off Casan Evans in Frisco last year. The Mandeville native went on to lead K-State with a .326 batting average. He also hit 13 home runs.
Dardar grand slam and Kansas State blows this thing open
Mountaineers hosting chances are dead. ‘Cats are back in the at-large picture. What a series in Manhattan 🔥 pic.twitter.com/X1UuTOzDfD
— 11Point7 College Baseball (@11point7) May 11, 2025
Reaves has been on Johnson’s radar for years. He spent two seasons at Blinn CC in Texas and played in 43 games last year for LSU. He was 17-for-65 (.262) with three home runs and three doubles. He’s got some left-handed pop. He hit 28 homers in his two JUCO seasons and drove in 142 runs.
HUNT’S PROJECTION
Dickinson started all 68 games at second base, the last 10 with a broken hand, and hit .315 with 12 home runs. LSU will replace that offensive production with these three options. I’m comfortable saying that.
The defense will not be as good. I’m also comfortable saying that.
LSU opens the season with five games in six days. Dardar, Reaves and Simpson will all get starts over the course of the first week. Simpson has played some first base, and the designated hitter is likely to come from this group quite often.
Reaves has been working with Milam, Trent Caraway and Zach Yorke in scrimmages the most often, so he may be the first option against a right-handed pitcher. Dardar tagged Evans with a long home run last week.
My feeling on the platoon is that Reaves will play second most often against right-handers. Simpson will play against left-handers. Dardar will get some reps and DH. Whoever hits will play, assuming the defense isn’t a significant differentiator.
Fired up for Brayden Simpson in Baton Rouge this spring. Hit .389 with 24 doubles, 22 homers and 78 RBI last season at High Point
Led the Big South in doubles, home runs and total bases. Monster pickup out of the portal for @LSUbaseball pic.twitter.com/T6Zth7Rxof
— Stephen Schoch (@bigdonkey47) December 5, 2025
This is a very, very old group. Dardar and Reaves are fifth-year players, and Simpson is a senior. I think there’s a chance at excellent production from this spot, though I don’t envision one player taking the reins completely. I think the platoon sticks and late-game pinch hitting options will arise based on the handedness of the pitcher.
Of the nine defensive spots, this feels like the only one up for grabs.
