Photo by LSU Athletics
By Hunt Palmer
When Jay Johnson returned from Omaha last summer, he was planning on replacing Chris Stanfield.
His centerfielder had completed an excellent junior season, and Johnson figured he was bound for professional baseball. No sweat. Derek Curiel was primed to move into that spot, and a newcomer would take over in left field.
The draft came and went, and Stanfield’s name was never called.
Now, LSU returns its starting outfield from the national championship team, and it could be one of the best in school history– offensively and defensively.
All three were named to D1Baseball’s top 150 outfielders. Stanfield came in at No. 81.
WHAT WE KNOW
Well, Johnson knows this. Maybe you, the reader, do too. But you may not.
Stanfield led LSU in hitting during SEC play last year with a .326 batting average over 30 games. His 14 doubles and 25 runs were also tops for the Tigers. Only Daniel Dickinson reached base at a higher clip.
In the NCAA Tournament last year, 11 games worth of action, Stanfield drove in 10 and scored seven times. His two-run single against Coastal in game 2 was part of the four-run fourth that gave LSU complete control.
CLUTCH CHRIS STANFIELD GIVES LSU A 3-1 LEAD WITH A 101MPH ROPE TO LF
This crowd seems to be 80% Tiger fans. Loud as hell pic.twitter.com/ov1Ua5qmDr
— 11Point7 College Baseball (@11point7) June 22, 2025
There is no flash for Stanfield. He has almost zero power and rarely hits the ball the other way. Ironically, his lone home run of the season last year came in the regional and went the opposite way. But he’s got a short, flat swing that produces a lot of hard ground balls and low line drives.
There’s a reason professional teams stayed away. There’s not a lot of upside. But he’s a damn good college player.
HUNT’S PROJECTION
This one is easy. Stanfield is going to hit around .300 with a homer or two. He’s going to play excellent defense in left field, be a phenomenal teammate and help LSU win games without loading up the highlight reel.
Call confirmed: Chris Stanfield is FAST@_chrisstanfield | SECN+ pic.twitter.com/D9xh9qK62N
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) February 15, 2025
This whole ride started when, as a freshman, Stanfield got two hits off Paul Skenes. That caught Johnson’s eye, and two years later Stanfield had shed his orange and blue Tiger stripes for purple and gold.
I suspect he’ll spend the hitting in the bottom third of the lineup. If the matchup or an injury calls for him to climb toward the top, he can do that, too. He’ll just produce.
As far as reserves go, LSU in light in that department.
Daniel Harden is a very interesting name. He is a Catholic High product who went the JUCO route. He really hit the ball hard in the spring and launched a long home run in a scrimmage last week. He’s got good speed and some left-handed pop.
Mason Braun is a future star who can play some corner outfield or first base. He’s more likely a DH candidate on this team.
Stanfield, Curiel and Jake Brown will play every day in the outfield, though. It’s the strength of the team.
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