At LSU's baseball media day, outfielders Derek Curiel, Chris Stanfield, and Jake Brown discussed their offseason improvements and positional changes ahead of the 2026 campaign. Meanwhile, the pitching staff gears up without key departures, relying on returning talent and coach Nate Yeskie's expertise. The Tigers open the season Friday against Milwaukee at Alex Box Stadium.
LSU baseball held its media day on Friday, where players shared insights into their preparations for the 2026 season, following an eighth national championship in 2025.
Outfielder Derek Curiel, the team's leading hitter in last year's NCAA Tournament, focused on physical enhancements during the offseason. "Bigger, faster, stronger is the biggest thing for me this offseason," Curiel said. "I wanted to improve my speed. Those are a few things I wanted to improve, and I think we did a great job with that." Now switched to center field—a position he played throughout his youth and aspired to at LSU, inspired by Dylan Crews—Curiel expressed excitement about the move.
Senior Chris Stanfield shifts to left field to accommodate Curiel, embracing the change for added versatility. In July, when he informed head coach Jay Johnson of his return, Johnson assigned him the role, which Stanfield accepted readily. "DC (Derek Curiel), Jake (Brown) and I have great chemistry, and it’s been a lot of fun," Stanfield said. "It’s a different perspective, and I feel like in the future it can help me with a lot of versatility."
Right fielder Jake Brown, a Louisiana native, emphasized a present-focused mindset. "The main focus was being all in on now," Brown said. "What that means is not just all in on this year or reaching a national championship this year. It’s all in on whatever you have to do right now."
On the mound, the Tigers must replace Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson, who entered the MLB Draft after a 2025 staff ERA of 3.73. Pitching coach Nate Yeskie, extended through 2028, remains key, having developed 14 draftees since 2024 and leading the nation in strikeouts those years.
Casan Evans is set for Friday starts, building on his 2025 postseason relief. "Being in those roles kind of helped me deal with the nerves," Evans said. Zac Cowan, with a 2.94 ERA in limited 2025 starts, and transfer Cooper Moore, who had a 3.96 ERA at Kansas, are likely for weekend duties. "We were very lucky to get him back," Johnson said of Cowan. Johnson added of Moore: "He’s going to be at the front of this thing, he’s gonna pitch a lot of innings. He’ll be really successful here."
Johnson adopts a cautious approach to the rotation: "Two and a half weeks is a lifetime, and Game 10 is a lifetime from Game 1." The season begins Friday at 2 p.m. against Milwaukee at Alex Box Stadium.
