Tyler Nettuno
June 10, 2024 1:38 pm CT
LSU’s season came to an end last weekend in the Chapel Hill Regional.
Despite taking Game 1 of the regional final against host and top-four national seed North Carolina, the Tigers couldn’t finish the job in the decisive regional Game 7 as they were eliminated in the regional after winning the national title last season.
Unsurprisingly, we’ve seen quite a bit of attrition via the transfer portal since the season ended, with several young players opting to move on after short stints in Baton Rouge.
Here’s a rundown of every LSU baseball player in the transfer portal. We’ll update this post as more players announce their intentions.
LHP Cam Johnson
Huge loss.
Uber-talented and highly-ranked freshman Cam Johnson is entering the transfer portal. He’s one of the highest ranked players in recent memory. Massive blow to the Tigers. pic.twitter.com/aGJvQ98HQK
— Tiger Vibes (@Tiger__Vibes) June 9, 2024
The No. 11 player nationally and No. 2 left-handed pitcher coming out of high school, there were high expectations for Johnson when he reached campus. However, he only pitched nine innings in 13 appearances with a bloated 12.00 ERA as a true freshman. He’ll be moving on as he looks to realize his potential elsewhere.
RHP Aiden Moffett
Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports
Moffett was the No. 1 right-handed pitcher in Mississippi coming out of high school, and after making just one appearance as a freshman, he saw action in 16 games out of the bullpen in 2024. He had a 5.60 ERA in 17.2 innings pitched.
RHP Micah Bucknam
Thankful and Blessed. The Lord is at work. pic.twitter.com/VU7I0VzMFZ
— Micah Bucknam (@BucknamMicah) June 4, 2024
A sophom*ore from Canada, Bucknam appeared in eight games in each of his first two seasons out of the bullpen. After posting an 11.57 ERA as a true freshman, he got that number down to 7.00 this year. He last appeared in a game on April 20.
OF Zeb Ruddell
Transfer Portal News: @LSUbaseball OF Zeb Ruddell has entered the transfer portal. Ruddell has a very interesting combination of athleticism and skills to match, and will be a big get for someone. #NCAABaseball
— Jeremy Booth (@_JeremyBooth) June 9, 2024
Ruddell, the top outfielder prospect in Louisiana for the 2022 class, redshirted as a true freshman in 2023. He made 15 appearances in 2024 but took just 10 at-bats with just a .200 average, a double, a home run and four RBI. There was a lot of hype about Ruddell coming into LSU, but he’ll move on without making much of an impact.
OF Derrick Mitchell
So far, looks like Austen Roellig, Derrick Mitchell and Micah Bucknam have entered the transfer portal #LSU
— Blake Prest (@B_Prest4) June 4, 2024
Mitchell, the No. 33 outfielder in the nation in the 2023 class, didn’t appear in a game as a true freshman and took a redshirt year.
LHP Nic Bronzini
Officially in the transfer portal from LSU
3 years of eligibility left
6’4
250FB 89-92
SL 79-82
CH 82-85 pic.twitter.com/rj7iLJ78Zb— Nic Bronzini (@NicBronzini) June 9, 2024
After redshirting as a true freshman in 2023, Bronzini — the No. 2 left-handed pitcher from California in the 2022 class — appeared in just six games in 2024. In just 4.2 innings pitched, he posted a 5.79 ERA with eight strikeouts to four walks.
INF Austen Roellig
So far, looks like Austen Roellig, Derrick Mitchell and Micah Bucknam have entered the transfer portal #LSU
— Blake Prest (@B_Prest4) June 4, 2024
A true freshman from California, Roellig ranked as the No. 11 shortstop and No. 37 overall player in the state in the 2023 signing class. He made no appearances as he redshirted this season.
RHP Samuel Dutton
Jeffrey Camarati-USA TODAY Sports
A weekend starter for most of his true freshman season in 2022, Dutton occupied a bullpen role for most of the last two seasons. In three years, the junior appeared in 57 games with 15 starts. His career ERA is 6.02 in 86.2 innings pitched as he’s struck out 76 batters while walking 25.
OF Paxton Kling
Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports
Kling had a big true freshman season on LSU’s national title team, appearing in 57 games with 22 starts while batting .289 and hitting four home runs. But while he appeared in 61 games with even more at-bats as a regular starter for most of the 2024 season, his production dropped markedly. He was just .222 at the plate this season, hitting one home run with 21 RBI. He’ll have two remaining seasons of eligibility at his next stop.
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