Twelve months ago, the 2025 Tigers etched their names in program lore.
They swept through Omaha for the first time since the 2000 championship team and hoisted the eighth national title trophy in LSU history. Three weeks later, the MLB Draft came and went, and nine players heard their names called.
Now, that group has played a few months of minor league ball, and a few have really made an impression on their organizations. Let’s check in on the reigning champs before they’re officially dethroned in Omaha this month.
Kade Anderson (Mariners) – Anderson has quickly become one of the top prospects in baseball. He’s torching the minor leagues. In nine AA starts, he’s thrown 44 innings and pitched to a 1.43 ERA with 67 strikeouts and 7 walks. He’s likely to join the big league club at some point this year.
Anthony Eyanson (Red Sox) – Eyanson only lasted five started in high-A. He’s now in AA. Over eight starts between the two stops, he’s got a sparkling 1.35 ERA with 60 strikeouts and nine walks. He’s added a couple of mph to his fastball and is pitching closer to 96-97. He’s also touched 100. Eyanson is also on the fast track to the big leagues. Unlike first place Seattle where Anderson is headed, Boston is in last, so the Red Sox might not be in a hurry to start Eyanson’s clock this year.
Jared Jones (Pirates) – Jones got on the field last year and played 15 games in High-A. In 43 games back in Greensboro this year, Jones is hitting .322 with seven homers and 26 RBI. As was his profile at LSU, he’s struck out 55 times, but the power and contact have been great. Jones is off to a great start.
Luis Hernandez (Twins) – huge news for Luis Hernandez as he was promoted to AAA St. Paul on Tuesday. Statistically, it doesn’t make a ton of sense. Hernandez is hitting 3-for-30 (.100) in High-A. He had 10 strikeouts. I can’t speak to every level of the Twins’ system, but Hernandez going from undrafted to AAA in sa year is great news.
Daniel Dickinson (Brewers) – The former Tiger second baseman is in High-A with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. In 42 games, he’s hitting .205, but his on base is .384 thanks to 35 walks and 4 HBPs. He’s played both middle infield spots and has surprisingly been tagged with 11 errors.
Chase Shores (Angels) – Shores has been a starter early on. He’s made four starts working 16 innings with 23 strikeouts and nine walks. His ERA is 5.06, and he has not allowed a home run.
Ethan Frey (Astros) – Frey played for the Astros’ A affiliate in Fayetteville last summer. He’s in High-A this year. Frey is hitting .255 with five homers and 31 driven in in 46 games. He’s played all three outfield positions including 22 games in center field which is the highest total of any position. That tells me the Astros think very highly of his athleticism. Not bad for LSU’s DH from last year.
Jacob Mayers (Red Sox) – Mayers is in Single-A. He’s made four starts in eight appearances. The stats won’t shock you. Once again, he’s racking up strikeouts, 31 in 25 innings. The 21 walks are the problem. He hasn’t given up a home run and is pitching to a 2.16 ERA even with the huge free pass numbers.
Conner Ware (Mets) – Ware was hurt last year. I really think he could have helped the Tigers a little more at full strength. In Port St. Lucie, he’s thrown 31 innings and allowed 20 earned runs, a 5.81 ERA. He’s got 34 strikeouts against 14 walks. The seven homers allowed has been an issue.
Kade Woods (Braves) – Woods is in A ball. He’s been hit hard. In 6.1 innings, the right-hander has allowed 11 runs, eight earned, on 10 hits.
