re: LSU Baseball 2022 (and beyond) Recruiting Thread (OLD THREAD, PLEASE STICKY NEW ONE)

quote:

---

I kind of wish they would limit how often they do this.

---

I agree. I don't usually pay much attention to it unless it is a big change like Neal and 31 spot drop. That seems a bit more than just a shake up in rankings.

I know it is too early to read much about the rankings but I don't mind Neal dropping. I might be trying too hard to get in a players head but I have a theory. If a players value drops getting closer to the draft, they will probably be disappointed that they are getting less money than they thought they would. They could feel slighted enough to go to campus and prove the naysayers wrong.

A player that is rising will probably feel just the opposite. They might have the same draft value but feel completely different about it.

Perfect Game will be broadcasting a game between Orange Lutheran and St John Bosco this evening. You will have the opportunity to see Mikey Romero and Derek Curiel.

Perfect Game

Who are the 11 players? I've done two posts in this thread so far breaking down the class by position. Those posts talk about the individuals and the position groups. I will eventually get to all the position groups but I've covered Infielders and Catchers so far.

I've touched on 5 of those guys in my previous posts.

The sites I look at are Perfect Game, PBR, FanGraphs, MLB.com, Prospects Live, ESPN, Baseball America, and The Athletic. Most of it is more MLB draft related moreso than recruiting related.

I listen to podcasts from most of those publications as well.

LINK

I ran across this earlier today. I like how they took multiple rankings and made a top 100 averaging those multiple rankings.

Another positional breakdown for the recruiting class:

Left handed pitchers. I've touched on these guys a couple times on the rant in shorter posts, hopefully I'll be able to expand here.

There are 6 LHPs in the class 5 HS and 1 JC. I think there is a decent chance we get all 6 to campus. I'd be very surprised if we got less than 4 to campus.

Nate Ackenhausen - JUCO pitcher from Eastern Oklahoma State. He's a JUCO starter with big strikeout numbers. He's not really on the radar of the scouting publications for the draft, but I'd imagine he's on some team radars. He didn't start for them last year because they had 3 legit draft prospects, one of which signed pro, one went to Mississippi State, and one went to Oklahoma. That those guys were very good last year for EOSC and aren't able to start for their D1 teams has me tempering expectations a bit on the kind of impact Ackenhausen may have at LSU. But he's going deeper into games each time out and still striking out a ton of guys. I think he makes it to campus and I think he's a potential starter next season. He played summer ball with Jobert last summer.

Michael Kennedy - 5 rankings, 102.8 average. Draft risk, but seems to want to get to campus. Long term outlook on him is starter. He's a former Team USA guy, so he's been seen by everyone. Probably 1a or 1b as far as pro prospects in this position group.

Robbie Snelling - One of Johnson's first few commits here. He wasn't a flip from Arizona, Kelly actually sealed the deal to get him here. Hard nosed guy, I think his dad is a JUCO football coach maybe. He was his HS team's QB and highly rated OLB recruit. He will not be playing football at LSU though. He's got big velo from the left side and his secondary pitches seem to be coming along well according to recent reports. He's up there with Kennedy as far as draft prospects go. He's another guy with long term starter potential. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets to campus and I wouldn't be surprised if he signs. His stock is rising currently but he's only ranked by a couple publications (average 117).

Griffin Herring - Another potential starter that can throw three pitches for strikes per guys on the board who have seen him in person. Somewhat of a draft risk, but I feel good about him getting to campus.

Nic Bronzini - Another early Jay Johnson commit. Big kid out of California. Perfect Game rates himo 204 ut of 300 on their list. I feel good about him getting to campus. I don't know enough about him to know if he projects as a starter or bullpen arm.

DJ Primeaux - One of only a couple Louisiana guys in the class. Committed to the previous staff (as did Kennedy and Herring). He will make it to campus and likely contribute out of the bullpen in his career. Quality local arm and definitely all name team contender. Pitches at Central, with another LSU commit in a future class. 5A baseball in the Baton Rouge area is pretty strong (I think 5A baseball in Louisiana it pretty strong overall).

As I said, I can see anywhere from 4-6 out of 6 making it to campus. We needed a big boost to the LHP group on the roster. I don't think we're necessarily done recruiting this group for the class though. Carson Dorsey from Gulf Coast St CC in Florida is on our (and everyone else's) radar. I don't think we're after him because we don't like what we have already, but more because you can never have enough good pitching. I don't think we have to add to this position group in this class, but I don't think we will pass up a guy if we feels he can help. Even if we only get 4 guys, I think it puts us in a good spot, because that would mean we got two of Ackenhausen, Snelling, Kennedy, and Herring.

If Kennedy and Snelling get to campus I will be so pumped. That will be crazy good. Especially if we end up landing a few top position players. If that starts to happen we will really see the biggest reason I'm excited about Jay being coach. His ability to recruit. That is what makes Vitello and the Vols what they are right now.

I'm really enjoying these post. I think I enjoy recruiting as much as the games.

We have a big class signed and a lot of guys that can return on the present team. I'm not sure about the roster management but what are your thoughts on the portal? Johnson mentioned in one of his interviews that he preferred to build through HS kids but the portal can be a big advantage for a school like LSU.

Someone mentioned the Catholic League and Brother Martin. Has anyone watched Reece Roussel play at Brother Martin as a freshman? Was wondering how he has developed since the Little League World Series fame.