The cavalry is coming.
That’s dramatic, but LSU held on to some serious talent this weekend from a signing class ripe for the MLB picking.
Nine signees were drafted. It would be a surprise if any of the first six ends up on campus. The last three will have to make decisions. Losing six or seven would be a couple short of what LSU feared.
Logan Schmidt, Jensen Hirschkorn, Wessley Roberson and Dylan Blomker went in the first 10 rounds, so they are virtual locks to sign. The signing rate in the top 10 rounds is over 98 percent. After a one-hour break between the slotted rounds and rounds 11-20, two more Tiger signees were selected in the 11th round.
Spencer Evans went to the Pirates, and Will Adams went to the Tigers. It’s very likely both organizations saved enough money in the slotted rounds to make significant offers to both players. They would have had those conversations during that break and targeted players willing to accept their offers.
Evans is a talented southpaw hurler. Adams is a fantastic left-handed hitter who can also pitch. But the bat is the tool. Consider them longshots to play for LSU.
Anthony Murphy went to Washington in the 16th round. He was considered a strong lean to sign professionally before the draft, but the Nationals will have to scrape some cash together to get a 16th rounder with fourth or fifth round talent signed. Baseball America ranked him No. 159 in their draft rankings.
Malachi Washington went in the 18th round to the Pirates who absolutely cannot afford to pay Evans and Washington what they’re worth. Washington posted a photo on Instagram in his LSU uniform with the caption “LEHH DOO ITT” which would indicate he has every intention of coming to school.
Dominic Santarelli was selected in the 18th round by Seattle. He’s also more likely than not to get to campus. But it’s not a sure thing. The Mariners did not take a high schooler in the first 10 rounds which saves the team some money, but they also did not take a college senior where organizations can find significant savings. If Santarelli signs, that will be a sour ending to a really positive draft from LSU’s perspective. His power is not something a program can easily replace. He did post a picture on Instagram with his LSU uniform on. That’s not binding, but it’s a good indication.
Ultimately, LSU kept a stellar group largely intact.
In total, LSU will bring seven pitchers in from this class, four right-handed and three lefties. Five infielders and at least three outfielders are in the class that also includes a catcher. It’s an ideal blend of positional players.
BEST IN CLASS
The steals here are likely Washington, Santarelli, Cooper Sides, Lucas Nawrocki and Kolby Stringer.
Washington is an elite athlete with top end speed, serious power and a strong throwing arm. He comes from one of the best high school baseball programs in the country in Stone Mountain, GA. His profile is similar to Dylan Crews just not quite at that level of hitter. He’s strong, fast, can run the ball down in the outfield and produce big exit velocities. He’s just not overly tall though he is taller than Crews.
Murphy is raw but extremely toolsy. He’s got plus speed, a huge arm and can hit for power. He does swing and miss a lot. Add Nate Davis to that group, and a Davis-Murphy-Washington outfield is about as talented as I could come up with at LSU. Even if Murphy signs, the Washington-Davis nucleus with Nawrocki as a potential outfielder is a fantastic haul.
Santarelli is in the power class of Jared Jones and Omar Serna in terms of Jay Johnson signees at LSU. He’s already 230 pounds as a prep senior.
Sides and Stringer both top 95 mph from the right side and have Friday-night starter traits. Sides is smooth in his delivery and already has four pitches. He’s pretty polished. Stringer is on the raw side but dripping with potential after a monster senior season in high school.
PITCHING PRODUCTS
Brayden Wisener is another right hander at 6-foot-2 who has touched 97. Major Osbolt was thought to be a significant risk, but he went undrafted as a right-hander with a 95 mph fastball from the JUCO ranks.
Coleton Brady is another hard-throwing right-hander with a silky-smooth delivery and a sharp slider. He’s also got a starter’s profile.
From the left side, LSU brings in Nawrocki who pulled his name out of the draft on Friday. He’s got one of the best sliders in his class and can touch the mid 90s. Consider him a likely left-handed bullpen option as a freshman. He also hits. Braxton Beaty brings a clean, polished delivery with a low 90s fastball. Brayden Cupit is a West Monroe product with a low 90s fastball.
Beaty and Cupit may be developmental pieces, but they’ve got real ability.
INFIELD ADDITIONS
LSU had to get at least one of the three infielders. Two would have been nice. They’re getting all three.
Parker Loew comes in with a powerful bat and soft defensive hands. Luke Tucker is 6-foot-4 and profiles as the classic power hitting third baseman. It helps that he hits from the left side. Jordan Martinez is probably the most classic shortstop in the trio, and he’s got a quick swing.
With Steven Milam, Cade Kurland and Dawson Park moving on after next year, these three join Jack Ruckert in the mix to fill the infield. That’s a comfortable spot to be in after so many infield defections over the last three years.
ROSTER NUMBERS
I think LSU is in good shape here. There was a point where it looked like Johnson was going to have to shed some numbers.
I’m not so sure of that now.
Santiago Garcia, Conner Benge and Gavin Guidry move on. That leaves 16 from the 2026 roster. Eight are transferring in. That’s 24. Assuming Evans and Adams sign, add 15 freshmen and Osbolt from the JUCO ranks to that number, and you’re at 40. The limit is 34, and LSU is going to have “designated student-athletes”. There might be a name or two that look elsewhere, perhaps junior college. But maybe not.
That’s all assuming Murphy, Washington and Santarelli spurn those late picks and come to school. If one or more of those don’t, there’s less of an issue.
This is not sourced. It’s just an immediate reaction. I think Santarelli comes to campus. I’m less convinced on Murphy. He’s felt like a pro for a few months.
I will make some calls now that the draft dust has settled to see just how that all shakes out.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
We could look back at this draft and sense it was a program-shifter.
It’s not just the top-end talent LSU held onto, it’s the amount. Even if a couple of these guys don’t pan out, there are five or six more destined to be pillars of the program.
The fall is going to be fascinating as the portal players we felt like had a spot locked up are now likely to have to fight off some serious talent.
It’s very, very likely that LSU’s 2027 bullpen features significant freshman impact. One of these talented preps could fill the Casan Evans role from 2025.
The outfield and infield shelves are very likely restocked. There’s some left-handed pitching help, too.
Last year Johnson was disheartened by the draft losses. This time around I would think he’d be ecstatic.
