re: LSU Baseball 2024 (and beyond) Recruiting Thread OLD THREAD

quote:

---

We'll probably have to go into different types of bears.

Being from California, Harrison would probably be a Brown Bear.

Being giant and pale, Jones would be a polar bear.

---

These are the kind of thoughts I love.

LSU PORTAL TRACKER UPDATE
Uncommitted players that LSU has shown variable interest in.
Ranks are from 64 Analytics Portal Tracker

6/28 Update: Slow couple days but a few names added and removed. New adds in bold below. New players committed elsewhere bolded at bottom.

PITCHERS
Zack Root, LHP, East Carolina, SO, #2
3.56, 68.1 IP, 56H, 21BB, 76K, 1.127 WHIP

Travis Smith, RHP, Kentucky, SO, #9
6.36, 36.2 IP, 38H, 22BB, 31K, 1.636 WHIP

Chase Hungate, RHP, Virginia, JR, #39
3.74, 53 IP, 49H, 13BB, 37K, 1.170 WHIP

Ruger Riojas, RHP, UTSA, SO, #57
3.25, 69.1 IP, 68H, 18BB, 75K, 1.240 WHIP

Adam Mrakitsch, LHP, Central Michigan, JR, #96
4.44, 46.2, 45H, 25BB, 66K, 1.436 WHIP

Jacob Pruitt, RHP, Indiana State, SO, #158
3.67, 41.2 IP, 36H, 23BB, 57K, 1.416 WHIP

Trey Newmann, RHP, Cal, FR, #238
6.13, 61.2 IP, 56H, 35BB, 60K, 1.486 WHIP

Trent Hodgdon, RHP, USC Upstate, JR, #252
7.39, 31.2 IP, 29H, 18BB, 51K, 1.484 WHIP

Alex Canney, RHP, Tampa, JR, #296
3.21, 106.2 IP, 105H, 21BB, 99K, 1.18 WHIP

Ethan Phillips, RHP, Indiana, SO, #321
6.16, 30.2 IP, 33H, 22BB, 33K, 1.821 WHIP

Matthew Dallas, LHP, Tennessee, FR, #335
4.76, 17 IP, 11H, 10BB, 22K, 1.235 WHIP

Jackson Cleveland, RHP, Lamar, SO, #445
3.80, 42.2 IP, 37H, 9BB, 36K, 1.078 WHIP

Packy Bradley-Cooney, RHP, Campbell, JR, #469
6.92, 39 IP, 27H, 28BB, 53K, 1.410 WHIP

Steven Cash, LHP, Louisiana Lafayette, SO, #504
3.79, 19 IP, 13H, 13BB, 21K, 1.368 WHIP

Logan Bevis, RHP, South Florida, FR, #543
4.94, 23.2 IP, 25H, 15BB, 19K, 1.690 WHIP

Jack Hostetler, Whitman, JR, #675
3.38, 24IP, 23H, 6BB, 26K, 1.208 WHIP

Drew Koenen, RHP, Dartmouth, FR, #803
4.38, 24.2 IP, 28H, 7BB, 23K, 1.419 WHIP

Chase Hoover, LHP, TCU, SO, #808
9.74, 20.1 IP, 27H, 13BB, 31K, 1.967 WHIP

Connor Benge, RHP, Dallas Baptist, SO, #936
5.73, 33 IP, 33H, 22BB, 35K, 1.667 WHIP

Blake MacMillian, LHP, Niagra, Grad Transfer, #1355
2.35, 15.1 IP, 6H, 7BB, 15K, 0.848 WHIP

Jacob Gomberg, LHP, Florida, FR, #1539
18.00, 1 IP, 0H, 3BB, 2K, 3.000 WHIP

Matt Gaither, LHP, UNCW, SR, #1693
21.00, 3 IP, 9H, 4BB, 3K, 4.33 WHIP (2024)
7.11, 6.1 IP, 5H, 4BB, 9K, 1.421 WHIP (2024 Summer)

Gerald Hanson, LHP, Cal State Northridge, SO, #2510
4.50, 8 IP, 9H, 4BB, 10K, 1.625 WHIP

Sid Polston, LHP, Campbell, JR, #3786
Medically redshirted in 2024


POSITION PLAYERS
Jace Laviolette, OF, Texas A&M, SO, #1
.307/.453/.736/1.189, 29HR, 64BB, 78K, 7SB

Gavin Grahovac, 3B, Texas A&M, FR, #2
.296/.390/.596/.987, 23HR, 36BB, 94K, 4SB

Gavin Kilen, SS, Louisville, SO, #3
.330/.361/.591/.952, 9HR, 7BB, 22K, 1SB

Gavin Kash, 1B, Texas Tech, JR, #5
.300/.365/.561/.926, 15HR, 23BB, 63K, 3SB

Grant Knipp, C, Campbell, JR, #15
.402/.547/1.029/1.576, 18HR, 27BB, 28K, 7SB

Hayden Schott, OF, Texas A&M, SR, #41
.330/.415/.496/.911, 8HR, 34BB, 58K, 1SB

Ryan Moerman, OF, Illinois, JR, #69
.259/.370/.580/.950, 19HR, 20BB, 48K, 1SB

Bobby Boser, 2B, South Florida, JR, #99
.299/.351/.667/.1.018, 12HR, 10BB, 35K, 6SB

Matt Ryan, 3B, UMBC, SO, #125
.295/.450/.513/.963, 8HR, 45BB, 41K, 10SB

Matt Halbach, 3B, UCSD, Jr, #131
.409/.511/.662/1.173, 3HR, 11BB, 12K, 4SB

Ace Reese, OF/1B, Houston, FR, #140
.278/.395/.506/.901, 7HR, 29BB, 37K, 5SB

Bear Madliak, C, Jacksonville St, SO #156
.328/.400/.488/.888, 5HR, 20BB, 36K, 7SB

Easton Winfield, OF, ULM, FR, #158
.332/.414/.546/.960, 10HR, 24BB, 46K, 18SB

Hayden Jatczak, DH/3B, Saginaw Valley, SR, #163
.468/.551/.827/1.378, 16HR, 43BB, 26K, 8SB

Kade Lewis, 1B, Butler, FR, #200
.377/.436/.618/1.054, 10HR, 18BB, 35K, 3SB

Nick Groves, OF, Niagra, SO, #297
.328.446/.460/.908, 3HR, 34BB, 34K, 19SB

Jacob Hand, SS, WPI, SR, #523
.368/.509/.591/1.100, 4HR, 24BB, 29K, 19SB

Kaeden Kent, 2B/3B, Texas A&M, SO, #638
.330/.419/.500/.919, 4HR, 16BB, 18K, 0SB

Bear Harrison, C, Saint Mary’s, FR, #838
.322/.410/.541/.952, 8HR, 21BB, 32K, 0SB

Max Kaufer, C, Texas A&M, SO, #1679
.250/.516/.500/1.016, 1HR, 8BB, 5K, 0SB (32 PA)


PITCHERS ADDED
Jacob Mayers, RHP, Nicholls, SO, #13
4.58, 70.2 IP, 39H, 76BB, 106K, 1.627 WHIP

Luke Hayden, RHP, Indiana State, SO, #14
3.81, 78 IP, 73H, 47BB, 91K, 1.538 WHIP

Deven Sheerin, RHP, Mount St Mary’s, FR, #25
4.76, 70 IP, 49H, 32BB, 109K, 1.157 WHIP

Zac Cowan, RHP, Woffard, SO, #51
3.68, 110 IP, 102H, 29BB, 124K, 1.19 WHIP

Chandler Dorsey, RHP, USF, #123
3.60, 30 IP, 20H, 16BB, 41K, 1.200 WHIP


POSITION PLAYERS ADDED
Luis Hernandez, 1B/C, JR, #46
.359/.421/.694/1.114 OPS, 23 HR, 17BB, 50K,5SB

Eddie Yamin, 1B/OF/C, SO, #153
.342/.429/.608/.1.037, 13HR, 20BB, 59K, 4SB

Chris Stanfield, OF, SO, #214
.276/.365/.395/.760, 4HR, 24BB, 38K, 9SB


LSU PITCHERS IN PORTAL
Sammy Dutton #31 (Auburn)
5.68, 27.2 IP, 32H, 6BBm 29K, 1.373 WHIP

Cam Johnson #118 (Oklahoma)
12.00, 9 IP, 5H, 16BB, 13K, 2.333 WHIP

Javen Coleman #253
5.19, 26 IP, 20H, 21BB, 28K, 1.577 WHIP

Aiden Moffett #459
5.60, 17.2 IP, 18H, 12BB, 21K, 1.698 WHIP

Nic Bronzini #1123
5.79, 4.2 IP, 5H, 4BB, 8K, 1.929 WHIP

Micah Bucknam #2347 (Dallas Baptist)
7.00, 9 IP, 12H, 3BB, 10K, 1.667 WHIP

MJ Seo #3143


LSU POSITION PLAYERS IN PORTAL
Brady Neal #10
.276/.409./579/.986, 9HR, 20BB, 35K, 0SB

Paxton Kling #186
.222/.409/.318/.727, 1HR, 27BB, 43K, 8SB

Zeb Ruddell #2003 (La Tech)
.200/.429/.600, 1.029, 1HR, 3BB, 3K, 0SB

Austen Roellig #3137 (Utah)
Derrick Mitchell #3154
Dallas Dale #3202


PLAYERS COMMITTED ELSEWHERE
Landon Beidelschies, LHP, Ohio State, SO #3 (Arkansas)
Tommy LaPour, RHP, Wichita St, FR, #8 (TCU)
Logan Maxwell, DH, TCU, JR #19 (Arkansas)
Billy Barlow, RHP, Clemson, SO, #24 (Florida)
Luke Gaffney, 1B/C, Purdue, FR, #104 (Clemson)
Jace Rinehart, PF, USC Upstate, JR, #116, (West Virginia)
Collin Priest, 1B/OF, Michigan, FR, #148 (Clemson)
Kyle Jones, CF, Stetson, SO, #260 (Florida)
Gavin DeVooght, RHP, Ohio State, FR, #297 (Michigan)
Kevin Warunak, LHP, Longwood, JR, #433 (Coast Carolina)
Preston Prince, LHP, Niagara, #1195 (Rutgers)
Alex Valentin, LHP, Nova Southeastern, FR, #3520 (Texas State)


64 ANALYTICS PORTAL RANKS
1. Georgia (14)
2. Kentucky (12)
3. Duke (9)
4. Arkansas (9)
5. LSU (8)

quote:

---

Rumors on sec rant that that laviolette is Tennessee bound.

---

Still have time for things to play out but Tenn isn’t fricking around when it comes to baseball. I think it’s more likely than not they are about to go on a long run

Everyone is guessing. Isn’t he with Team USA tryouts at the moment? Seriously doubt he’s leaning anywhere after no visits and not knowing who A&M has hired yet.

quote:

---

A long run of what? Nobody is dominating modern college baseball, it's way too diversified.

---

Success. CWS at least every other year and a couple more NC’s while Vitello is there wouldn’t surprise me. They have been on arguably one of the best runs over the last 3 years and I don’t see that dropping off much.

Like i stated “rumors”

quote:

---

Having to replace 50+ HRs and a good chunk of their pitching staff will give them a problem they haven’t had to deal with yet.

---

They had to replace a ton after 2022, but they had guys like Moore and Burke splitting time at DH on that team, they just moved into full time roles after that.

They pretty much only return their SS. They will have Peebles, who got some time at C this year, and Bargo, who played little bit everywhere. And then Reese Chapman who could slot into the outfield.

But Dreiling, Ensley, and Tears are likely gone. Amick, Moore, Burke are gone. Stark is out of eligibility. That's 7 of 8 starting position players. And their DH rotation wasn't quite as strong as when Moore and Burke were there as Freshmen.

They are replacing closer to 100+ HRs and could be closer to 120. Can’t remember if Dreiling is draft eligible or not but I thought I saw him ranked in the top 100 this year.

They won’t have many bats in the lineup with SEC experience. I don’t think they will have a drop off like we did this year bc their ballpark will always be offense friendly, but it’s hard to see them back in Omaha next year. Jace would essentially be teaming up with them to pad stats imo. He could be going for a Condon type season and trying to maximize draft stock.

quote:

---

you made it seem like the guy would be unstoppable or something.

---

That wasn’t intentional. I outlined my definition of success in the previous post. I agree that Skip type runs are a thing of the past but I don’t think it’s unreasonable to think Vitello has a chance to get a couple more and keep Tenn in contention most years. I think that’s as good as you can ask for in cbb now. They are also clearly making a huge investment into the program and it’s clear the players and recruits are bought in to what Vitello is doing.

As far as short term goes I think it’s more likely they do drop off next year to continue of the pattern of champs struggling the following year.

And, to be clear, I think Jay gets at the very least one more natty while here as well. I’m very confident and excited that he is our coach. Just seems like Tenn is on a good trajectory as well.