The MLB Draft took on a new feel this summer.
Day 1 was a four-round exercise. That put the regroup session after the fourth round instead of after round two. Sunday was a marathon of 16 rounds, but LSU managed to come out in a very good spot with the Class of 2026.
A massive influx of talent is headed to Baton Rouge, and it covers the entire roster from the mound to the outfield and all over the infield. Jay Johnson lamented the way the 2025 draft played out. This time, he was prepared and got the results he had to be looking for.
STARS SHINE
We spent the whole weekend discussing the signing class, but it was also a life-changer for Derek Curiel and Jake Brown. Those two followed the ideal path for high schoolers who do turn down the draft to get to school. Both were draftable prospects coming out of prep baseball, but both decided to take the college route.
Curiel led LSU in hitting in back-to-back seasons, put on a little bit of weight, proved he could play centerfield and is going to sign for more than $8 million with a national championship ring on his finger.
Brown dropped pitching and focused on the bat. He became a prodigious power hitter and a strong outfielder. Remember, his freshman season ended with a misplay in right field. He may even get a look at centerfield in pro baseball. He’ll join his high school classmate Kade Anderson in the Mariners system, and hopefully those Louisiana boys can play together in the Pacific Northwest soon. Both signed for big bucks as College World Series champs.
Rarely does a plan work out nearly perfectly, but Brown and Curiel probably don’t have many regrets about the way their college careers played out. Every July we talk about incoming freshmen and say, “he could come to LSU and play his way into X-amount of dollars.” Those two lived that out.
RUN, FRESHMEN RUN
LSU’s 2027 lineup looks like a very veteran group. If a freshman is going to crack the starting nine, he’s going to have to beat out a proven college player.
The Tiger outfield figures to boast All-ACC left fielder Bino Watters, two-year starter from Tulane Jason Wachs and All-Big 10 freshman Angel Laya. I’m not sure Malachi Washington or Nate Davis is ready to do break into that mix. What those two freshmen can do is defend. And they probably do a little bit better than Watters and Wachs.
I can see a late-inning defensive role as a possibility for both with William Patrick in that mix, as well. Those reserve outfielders can really, really run. Defense and baserunning may be their role early on because of the polished and productive bats in front of them.
SOUTHPAW SUPPLY
LSU’s projected 2027 pitching staff felt a little bit right-handed entering the draft.
None of the projected starters are left-handed, and the Tigers didn’t add one in the portal. All three transfers are right-handed. Santiago Garcia figured to be chosen, and he was. DJ Primeaux transferred.
Now that the dust has settled, LSU does have some left-handed help coming.
Lucas Nawrocki has an electric left arm that features a devastating slider. He can be a bullpen option as a freshman. Braxton Beaty pulled his name out of the draft. He’s got some left-handed starter traits that the program can develop. Bradyn Cupit made it to campus out of West Monroe. He’s got a low 90s fastball from the left side.
Cooper Williams and Ethan Plog are slated to return. Both really need to take a step forward this fall. The same can be said for Danny Lachenmayer.
I wouldn’t go as far as to say that LSU is “loaded” with lefties, but if Plog, Williams, Lachenmayer and Nawrocki can be the four primary southpaws, that gives you enough out of the bullpen to play the matchups Jay Johnson always likes to play.
Cupit, Beaty and Jonah Aase become the program depth to develop for 2028, and you feel like the numbers are good. Now, it’s about the development.
