LSU Baseball Is Back on Top — And Built for Omaha

Anthony Ranaudo
May 12
3 min read

After a huge series win over Arkansas at The Box, LSU Baseball has made its way back to where it belongs — at the top of the college baseball world.

As of this week, the Tigers have surged to the No. 1 ranking in the country, and they’ve done it the hard way: through elite pitching, timely hitting, and the kind of midseason adjustments that separate contenders from champions.

This team is not only balanced — it’s built for a deep postseason run.

Why LSU Deserves the Top Spot

What makes this team special isn’t just raw talent — it’s development, depth, and discipline.

Offensively, they’ve found their rhythm with a mix of breakout bats, the right platyers stepping up, and players buying into their roles.

Ethan Frey has become a fixture in the heart of the order, batting .359 with 10 home runs and 38 RBIs while slugging nearly .700.
Derek Curiel, the freshman leadoff hitter, has shown remarkable maturity at the plate with elite pitch awareness.
Jared Jones, the power anchor of this lineup, continues to refine his plate approach — cutting down strikeouts while maintaining elite slugging metrics.
Daniel Dickinson, the transfer from Utah State, has provided key gap-to-gap production with 13 doubles and 8 homers.

Jared Jones on March 17, photo courtesy of LSUsports.net

Add in names like Monster Milam, Chris Stanfield, Jake Brown, Michael Braswell, Josh Pearson, and catcher Luis Hernandez, and you get a lineup that isn’t just deep — it’s gritty.

They can score in bunches or grind out late-inning wins.

Everyone knows their role, and embraces it.

An Elite Staff That Can Win It All

The story of the season, though, has been pitching. LSU has two true aces:

Kade Anderson: 124 strikeouts to just 20 walks, over 75 innings pitched. Ace-level stuff with command, looks like a big leaguer on the mound.
Anthony Iyanson: 116 strikeouts, 27 walks — another frontline starter who can dominate any lineup in the country. Been fun to watch his energy on the mound.

Behind them, the bullpen has taken shape:

Zac Cowan has locked down the closer role.
Jaden Noot and William Schmidt have emerged as high-leverage arms with postseason poise.
Chase Shores might be the biggest X-factor down the stretch — his raw stuff could tilt any game.
Add Maverick Rizzy, DJ Primeaux, and Connor Ware to the mix, and you’ve got a pen that’s versatile, powerful, and still developing.

My Bold (but MAYBE grounded) Predictions

I’m not going to say they’ll win the national championship — that’s a different conversation. But they're 100% a legit contender.

But here’s what I will say:

LSU will be a national seed (Top 8) and host a Super Regional in Baton Rouge.
LSU will punch their ticket to Omaha and be one of the eight teams in the 2025 College World Series.
Jared Jones will be a first round pick in June's MLB Draft. His blend of raw power and improved discipline will win over evaluators, and in today's game- I think there is a team that sees him as a first round talent of potentially 35+ homers per year.
Kade Anderson will solidify himself as one of the top college pitchers in the country and a future #1 or #2 starter in the big leagues.