LSU Baseball
By Hunt Palmer
Not all hitless nights are created equal.
On Friday, Zach Yorke wore the Golden Sombrero against Oklahoma. That may sound flattering, but in baseball terms, it’s a four strikeout night. He’d never had one of those in 182 career college games between Grand Canyon and LSU.
Head Coach Jay Johnson, who has known Yorke since his childhood days from recruiting older brother Nick who was a first round pick of the Red Sox in 2020, knew he needed to step in.
“I had a good meeting with Coach after Friday night which was probably the worst night of my life or game of my life,” Yorke said. “He texted me at 1:00 a.m. that night and was like, ‘Stay positive. Teammates love you. I love you.’ Then had a good meeting with him the next morning, and he just said to get with our mental strength coach and figure out a way to stay positive. Leave bad at bats in the past and stay focused on good ones…Got lunch with (Coach Marc Wanaka) yesterday which was good. He’s really helpful for me. Getting back to good things. Watching my good swings and not focusing on the bad ones or bad at bats, so, staying positive.”
That can be a challenge.
Yorke was just 9-for-42 (.214) over a 15-game stretch. His strikeout totals are up, and the power he showed early on with four home runs in the first nine Tiger games had dried up.
“I’m pretty hard on myself struggling,” Yorke said. “I wish I could get over some struggles better. I think it’s trying to do too much, trying to make one swing get you out of a slump. Trying to do too much and getting out of my plan which is to hit a low line drive. Obviously popping up isn’t good.”
Yorke got the day off on Saturday.
“It probably helped just sitting there and being with my teammates and being a good teammate and cheering the guys on,” Yorke said. “Obviously I want to be in there every chance I get and help my team win, but it was good to be with my teammates and be in the dugout and bring energy in there on Saturday.”
That’s Yorke’s nature, to be energetic at times humorous. He shows it in press conferences and non-game settings. That’s hard to do when mired in a slump.
Tuesday may have been the first step out. The hulking first baseman mashed two mammoth home runs against Louisiana Tech.
Solo Shot For Big Poppa 🚀@zach_yorke | SECN+ pic.twitter.com/eUgkBaR4cA
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) March 25, 2026
Was that a relief?
“Yeah, it definitely is just like however many fans we have watching the game off my back, and my teammates know that I’ve been pressing a little bit,” Yorke said. “I wish I could tell you I wasn’t, but we’ll see. I’ve just got to take it day-by-day, at bat-by-at bat, keep being positive and keep trying to hit the ball hard.”
Johnson says the work hasn’t been the problem.
“‘I’m happy for him. I’m proud of him for persevering and sticking through failure. He hasn’t stopped working, and he’s remained engaged in what he needs to do. I heard a quote from I think it was Derek Jeter the other day. ‘Baseball has humbled you or will humble you.’ We’ve got a few guys going through that, and he’s certainly one of them. But I’m proud of the response and hopefully the start of good things to come for him.”
Yorke’s season stat line is relatively strong. His .275 batting average is fourth among players with 20 starts. LSU only has two regulars over .300 on the year. What amplifies the struggles is LSU’s as a team and the fact that Yorke has spent much of the season right in the heart of the order.
Perhaps a late night text message and a couple of pure swings can change his course moving forward.
“We’ll see,” Yorke said. “I really hope so.”
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