ICYMI: The time is now for LSU Baseball
03/09/2025
By Chris Marler
Turn off your cell phone. Well, not if you’re reading this on your phone. I mean metaphorically turn it off. Silence your phone, grab some popcorn, get yourself an $11 64-ounce Cherry Coke, and strap in. The previews are over. It’s time for the feature film also known as – SEC Baseball Conference play.
As a side note, does anyone drink Cherry Coke in non-movie theater settings? Nevermind. I digress. Here’s everything you may have missed this weekend in SEC baseball, the final tune up before conference play.
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Tennessee is on another level right now
It’s early. The competition has been subpar. However, it’s impossible to not be impressed with what Tennessee has done this season.
I mean, what do you want to look at in terms of how they’ve performed this season?
Their overall record? They’re 16-0 and one of two undefeated teams left in all of college baseball.
The way they’ve won games? They’ve run-ruled their opponent in 11 of their 16 games.
Their offense? They’ve hit 49 home runs and are on pace to break the infamous 1997 LSU “Gorilla Ball” team’s NCAA record for home runs in a season (188). Oh, and for good measure, the NCAA record for grand slams in a season is 14. The Vols have hit eight in 16 games.
Pitching? They have that, too. They even threw a combined team no hitter on Friday against St. Bonaventure.
The NCAA record for grand slams in a season is 14. Tennessee just hit their 8th in 15 gamespic.twitter.com/8JtpVGoDtu
— Stephen Schoch (@bigdonkey47) March 9, 2025
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The time is now for LSU
The excitement for the next part of the LSU baseball season is beyond palpable. However, there has to be a little apprehension from the LSU fan base, if we are being honest.
This LSU team may be the most talented team in the country. That’s been the case the last several years. So, what sets this team apart? The answer won’t come from the first 17 games—it will be determined by the next 17, the most crucial stretch of the season.
LSU has started the 2025 season 16-1. They started the 2024 season 15-2. However, their next 17 games finished with a record of 7-10. That included four straight series losses in SEC play and a home loss in the midweek to Southern. This LSU team feels different and has all the pieces to make a run to Omaha. However, we will find out just how real that “feels” over the next four weeks.
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Lebron doing MJ things
This feels like it’s going to be a weekly thing, but Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron is unreal. It seems more and more clear that he is a one-of-one level prospect. He’s not just a first rounder. He’s a potential first overall pick in next year’s draft. He legitimately could be the first overall pick in this year’s draft, if he was eligible.
Dude is unstoppable.
Justin Lebron with his 11th homer of the season — a solo shot to put the Tide up 1-0 here in the bottom of the 1st. pic.twitter.com/O78oxSrkHZ
— Ryan Phillips (@JournoRyan) March 9, 2025
At the end of last week, we marveled at the fact that he already had eight home runs with 28 RBIs through 12 games. Fast forward to this week where in five games he hit .421 (8-of-19), while adding three more home runs and a ridiculous 15 RBIs.
On the season he’s hitting .394 with 11 home runs, 43 RBIs, a slugging percentage of 1.000%, and an OPS of 1.506. I don’t care who Alabama has played because that is unreal.
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Bear Jones isn’t human
Last week Bear Jones did something I’d never seen before. In a span of 19 at bats, he hit nine baseballs over 100 miles per hour. This week Bear Jones, once again, did something I’ve never seen before. He hit a home run with a 43 degree launch angle.
I got a C in Physics, so logistically speaking, I cannot fully explain how absurd that is. I can tell you it is something that rarely happens. Like almost ever.
Never seen a 43 degree launch angle HR before 😂
Bear Jones is one strong fella pic.twitter.com/cG9WwqsywH
— 11Point7 College Baseball (@11point7) March 9, 2025
The SEC seems to always have a handful of guys that feel like “must-see television” whenever they toe the rubber or step into the box. Bear Jones is in that group. He’s leading the Tigers in hitting with a .429 average and has already hit six home runs. That’s not leading the nation, or even the league, but he arguably has more power than any other player in America.
Check out more SEC coverage here.