Fear not, Tiger fans. The purple and gold are officially just days away from hitting the diamond for the first time since winning the 2023 College Baseball World Series. Notably, as the day rapidly approaches, LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson has revealed the 2024 opening weekend starters, including a heavy dose of Thatcher Hurd on Friday.
LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson reveals 2024 opening weekend starters
When LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson finally feels comfortable revealing the day one starters on the pitching mound, you know the season is nearly here.
After some of the longest eight months Tiger fans have seen in quite some time, the wait is finally over as Tiger baseball will make its long awaited return this weekend. Things will get going Friday afternoon, as the purple and gold welcome VMI into Alex Box Stadium for a 2:00 p.m. CST matchup.
The weekend will feature three other games, as LSU will then face off against Central Arkansas on Saturday at 1:00 p.m., VMI again on Sunday at 1:00 p.m., and Central Arkansas to finish things off on Monday at 2:00 p.m..
Notably, despite having not made his final decision on the opening weekend starters the last time he spoke with the media, it appears as though the debate has come to a close. For opening day, junior right-handed pitcher Thatcher Hurd got the nod and will get the 2024 season started.
Furthermore, it appears as though he made his decision for day two, as elite right-handed transfer portal addition Luke Holman got the nod for Saturday.
“Hurd will throw Friday, Holman will throw Saturday, and then we’ll play it by ear from there,” the Tiger head coach said when asked about the expected starters on the mound. “With four games, there’s too much to get through in the first two games.”
In many ways, the pair of juniors could end up switching up starting duties as the year goes on, with both featuring starting caliber arms.
Interestingly enough, even though the Tigers lost stellar MLB prospect Paul Skenes to the draft last year, this year’s team has something last year’s team struggled with mightily. The current version of LSU has some of the best depth among pitchers that you’ll find throughout college baseball, and this weekend should reflect it perfectly.
Thatcher Hurd has been building to this moment
What a run junior Thatcher Hurd had in his last three appearances during the 2023 season. After a largely up and down sophomore year, coach Jay Johnson put his trust in the former UCLA transfer, and it paid off in a major way.
With a College World Series on the line, Hurd saw 12 innings of action in the last three games combined – including six innings in the final game of the season against Florida – and recording a 2.25 ERA and an impressive 13 strikeouts.
Now, as a junior, he’s set to run it back and will do it as the opening day starter.
When asked about the talented right-handed pitcher, coach Johnson was excited to have him back, saying, “It’s very rare – one guy pitches the last game of the season and you win, then pitches the first game.”
With eight wins under his belt as a Tiger, Hurd has plenty of big game experience and will likely be relied upon heavily throughout the 2024 season.
“We’re happy to have him pitching,” LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson said about the return of Thatcher Hurd from last season. “If you look at the improvement at the end of last season from mid-May through the College World Series, he showed pitch ability, he showed the ability to manage the game.”
“And if you’re going to pitch on Friday – and it just happens to be this Friday – the expectations are giving your team a quality start and a chance to win. I think he has the ability and the mental disposition to do that, and he proved that time and again at the end of last season.”
Luke Holman brings a ton of talent over from in-conference Alabama
It’s not often you see players transferring to an in-conference rival, but that’s exactly the case with junior right-handed pitcher Luke Holman, who’s making his way to Baton Rouge in 2024 after two stellar seasons in Tuscaloosa, AL.
Luckily for the Tiger baseball program, this could end up being an excellent addition all around, as Jay Johnson had plenty of time to scout him from an opposing team point of view.
“I love Luke (Holman),” the Tiger head coach said about the transfer portal addition. “As we were preparing to play them (Alabama) last year – we prepare a lot, watching the previous few outings, and looking at what he does in terms of flooding the strike zone with multiple pitches, he’s a great athlete, he fields his position, he’s quick to the plate, he’s got a low heartbeat. He can strike people out, can get weak contact and is such a key part of what we’re doing.”
In two seasons with the Alabama Crimson Tide, Holman made 31 total appearances, which included 15 starts. Recording a 4.05 ERA to go along with an eye-popping 111 strikeouts in 81 innings pitched, experience certainly isn’t a concern.
Additionally, it’s not just the talent that coach Johnson is especially excited for, saying, “He’s been what I thought he would be. He’s a phenomenal human being too; it’s exactly what you want to have in the program.”
The Tiger 2024 season will open with a matchup against VMI on Friday at 2:00 p.m. CST. Additionally, an opening day Fan Fest will take place from 11:00 a.m. until game time, and will feature food, drink, photo opportunities and plenty of family friendly activities. The game will be available to watch live on SEC Network+.
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