Another day, another commitment to coach Jay Johnson and the 2025 LSU baseball roster. Earlier today, the Tigers landed their sixth transfer portal commitment of the offseason, as former Auburn outfielder Chris Stanfield will now make his way over to Baton Rouge to play for the purple and gold.
Former Auburn outfielder Chris Stanfield announces commitment to join LSU baseball in 2025
Once again, coach Jay Johnson has landed a commitment from a former opponent, as most recent transfer portal pledge Chris Stanfield actually faced off against the Bayou Bengals three times this past season.
For the Tiger head coach, this is nothing new, as just last offseason, multiple SEC foes ended up making their way to the purple and gold, with Luke Holman (Alabama) and Michael Braswell III (South Carolina) making the transition, and notably leaving an immediate impact with the Tigers.
While it’s yet to be seen how much of an impact the talented former Auburn outfielder is able to make with his new team, it’s not hard to at least see the upside for both parties. Since the end of the 2024 season, LSU baseball has already lost two centerfielders, as transfer addition Mac Bingham has run out of eligibility while rising junior Paxton Kling elected for the transfer portal himself.
In turn, that lost productivity is going to need to come from somewhere, and coach Jay Johnson is likely hoping today’s transfer portal commitment can play a role in making that happen.
Officially listed at 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, Stanfield was an elite centerfielder for Auburn each of the past two seasons, consistently making fantastic hustle plays all throughout the outfield. His speed and glove work are capable of rivaling just about anyone in the country, and he’s shown some upside on the offensive side of things as well.
As a sophomore in 2024, the Tallahassee, FL, product recorded an impressive 103 putouts, while adding a solid .276 batting average from the batter’s box.
It’s hard to immediately say where the new Tiger outfielder will fit into the defense, but with his speed and overall skill as a defender, as well as his experience in a tough Southeastern Conference, he will at the very least come in and immediately compete for the starting centerfield spot. Even so, the competition won’t be light, as senior Josh Pearson, sophomore Jake Brown, sophomore Ashton Larson and freshman Derek Curiel all figure to make an excellent case for a starting spot as well.
Stanfield joins an LSU baseball transfer portal class that includes five other potential impact players, including right-handed pitchers Chandler Dorsey (USF), Zac Cowan (Wofford), Deven Sheerin (Mount Saint Mary’s) and Luke Hayden (Indiana State), as well as slugging infielder Luis Hernandez (Indiana State).
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