LSU baseball transfer portal needs: Where do the Tigers need help for 2026?
LSU baseball knows how to work the transfer portal. Under head coach Jay Johnson, the Tigers have adapted to the new era of college athletics better than any of their peers. The transfer portal era took off in 2022, and the Tigers have won two of three national titles since.
The 2023 national title team featured star transfers Paul Skenes and Tommy White. In 2024, LSU boasted an elite starting rotation led by transfers Gage Jump and Luke Holman. And in 2025, Anthony Eyanson, Chris Stanfield, and Luis Hernandez played key roles as LSU raced to another national championship.
LSU still develops homegrown talent -- Dylan Crews, Tre Morgan, Jared Jones, Kade Anderson, Derek Curiel -- just to name a few. But LSU doesn't win its pair of recent titles without the production of transfers.
The 2025 transfer portal has been open for weeks. LSU had to multitask, competing in the NCAA Tournament while working the portal. LSU already added two transfers -- infielders Brayden Simpson and Seth Darder. But the work isn't done. With the season over, LSU now turns its full attention to building the 2026 roster.
A few dominoes still need to fall. LSU awaits next month's MLB Draft to determine which draft-eligible Tigers are returning and who is heading pro. Ethan Frey and Zac Cowan both have decisions to make, while guys like Kade Anderson, Daniel Dickinson, and Anthony Eyanson are locks to turn pro.
Here are LSU's biggest transfer portal needs.
Tigers need second base depth
With Daniel Dickinson heading to the next level, LSU will be looking for a new second baseman.
Simpson and Darder both played third base at their previous stops. Simpson, who High Point listed at 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, could be an option with Darder, a more eprotypical third baseman, playing the hot corner. Tanner Reaves also returns after seeing action at third base in 2025 and could be in store for a move up the middle.
But regardless, LSU needs depth. LSU lost a few young infielders to the portal, including David Hogg, who had a chance to compete for ABs in 2026.
A name to watch here is former Cal infielder Jarren Advincula. Per reports, Tennessee and LSU are both contenders for the Second-Team All-ACC player. If LSU lands Advincula, the Tigers are getting a starter, not a depth piece.
LSU could use a starting pitcher
Despite losing Anderson and Eyanson, LSU returns plenty of pitching production, but the Tigers lack a proven SEC starter.
Casan Evans is expected to compete for LSU's Friday night position after dominating as a reliever in his true freshman campaign. Evans earned a few starts late in the year with mixed results. The expectation is that Evans is in line to be LSU's next star pitcher.
Zac Cowan was a starter at Wofford before transferring to LSU. Cowan was one of the SEC's most effective relievers in 2025 and turned in a good start vs. Arkansas in the College World Series. If Cowan returns, he's a strong candidate to be in the rotation.
Jaden Noot, Cooper Williams, and William Schmidt will all get a chance to compete, too.
But nobody on this roster was a bona fide starter in 2025. LSU needs an arm familiar with the grind of the starting rotation.
LSU needs to sure up the bullpen
If LSU doesn't land a premium starter, LSU's top bullpen arms, Evans and Cowan, will be in the rotation. And with Chase Shores likely turning pro, LSU will be in need of high-leverage bullpen options.
LSU's bullpen was shaky down the stretch in 2025 as it was forced to rely on young players like Jaden Noot and Cooper Williams. This roster will always be full of talented arms capable of striking out the SEC's best hitters on any given night, but young talent doesn't always know how to throw strikes.
The Tigers went out and found Cowan last year, and he proved to be critical throughout 2025. Johnson and pitching coach Nate Yeskie need to do it again.
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