By Hunt Palmer
Josh Pearson leaves LSU a two-time national champion and a significant contributor to both titles.
He was never the biggest, strongest or fastest, but provided a good glove and a bat that tended to rise to the occasion when the moment called for it.
He was an All-Regional selection in 2022, 2023 and 2024 and finished his career with 27 homers and 129 runs driven in. His most indelible moment was retreating to leap and snare a missile off the bat of Florida’s Wyatt Langford in Game 1 of the 2023 title series. If it gets over his head, Florida wins game one and likely the College World Series. Instead, he made the jumping catch to allow Cade Beloso’s later heroics to win it.
Pearson’s playing time as a senior came at the expense of Jake Brown‘s in right field.
Brown struggled to deal with left-handed breaking ball, and Pearson generally provided a better option against tough southpaws.
Now that Pearson has moved on, it’s Brown’s time to play every day.
WHAT WE KNOW
Brown is a huge talent. He’s got big power in his bat, good speed and a cannon of a throwing arm that he used to dominate Louisiana high schoolers from the mound.
Bon Voyage 💣@JakeBrown_14 | SECN pic.twitter.com/BqSU4sozM4
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) April 27, 2025
He started 44 games in right field last year and hit .320 with eight homers and nine doubles. He had 100 less at bats than Jared Jones who played all 68 games. Brown added 11 steals to lead the Tigers, so that’s in his arsenal, as well.
William Patrick is a freshman outfielder from Monroe, and he’s the best athlete on the team. He was a three-time All-State football player at St. Frederick High School playing wide receiver, free safety and punter. He also won the state championship in the long jump and ran on a second place 4×100 relay team.
Now it’s time for him to focus on baseball where he hit .472 with five homers and 27 steals as a senior.
HUNT’S PROJECTION
Brown could explode as an SEC Player of the Year candidate. That’s possible. It’s also possible that he can’t figure out left handers and posts worse overall numbers this year because he faces them far more.
Brown probably hits third on opening day against a right hander, and I think he’ll find his way against lefties to a certain extent while mashing righties.
Jake delivers the first run with an RBI single!
📺 SECN pic.twitter.com/IjX93XKcGZ
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) May 31, 2025
I think he leads the team in steals again and hits just above .300 with about 15 homers with this extra 75-ish at bats he’ll get as a junior. He very well may lead the team in that category as well.
I’m expecting a huge season from Brown.
As far as Patrick goes, he’s going to be the runner for Zach Yorke, Cade Arrambide and Seth Dardar late in games. And he can absolutely fly. That’s an asset to have off the bench.
I don’t think he’s ready to hit at this level yet, but all three outfielders from this roster will be gone after this year. Plenty of playing time is there to be had in 2027.
More Top Stories
